Method and device for filtering body fluid

1. A method for filtering emboli from blood flowing through a lumen defined by the walls of a vessel at a desired location in the vessel comprising:

providing a guidewire;

providing a filter element carried on a distal portion of the guidewire, the filter element having a distal end, the guidewire extending to at least the distal end of the filter element, the filter element being expandable from a collapsed delivery configuration when the filter is constrained to an expanded deployed configuration when the filter element is unrestrained, the filter element having a shape in the expanded configuration which forms a cavity having a proximally facing opening defined by a proximally facing lip;

providing a plurality of retraction members, each retraction member having a distal end which engages the proximally facing lip and a proximal end connected to the guidewire and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal ends;

providing a retrieval catheter having a lumen sized to accommodate the guidewire and the retraction members, the retrieval catheter having a distal end;

advancing the guidewire and filter element in its collapsed delivery configuration through the vessel until the filter element is located at the desired location;

expanding the filter element to its expanded deployed configuration;

filtering emboli from blood flowing through the vessel with the filter;

advancing the retrieval catheter through the vessel distally along the guidewire while the filter element is in the expanded deployed configuration until the distal end of the retrieval catheter is distal of the proximal ends of the retraction members and the intermediate portions are drawn into the lumen of the retrieval catheter and the proximally facing opening of the filter element is substantially closed; and

withdrawing the retrieval catheter, guidewire and filter element from the vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the filter element is self-expandable.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the filter element comprises metal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the filter element comprises a radiopaque material.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the retraction members comprise wire.

6. A method for filtering emboli from blood flowing through a lumen defined by the walls of a vessel at a desired location in the vessel comprising:

providing a delivery catheter defining a lumen extending therethrough, the delivery catheter sized to be accommodated within the lumen of the vessel;

providing a guidewire sized to be accommodated within the lumen of the delivery catheter;

providing a filter element carried on a distal portion of the guidewire, the filter element having a distal end, the guidewire extending to at least the distal end of the filter element, the filter element being expandable from a collapsed delivery configuration when the filter is constrained in the lumen of the delivery catheter to an expanded deployed configuration when the filter element is unrestrained, the filter element having a shape in the expanded configuration which forms a cavity having a proximally facing opening defined by a proximally facing lip;

providing a plurality of retraction members, each retraction member having a distal end connected to the proximally facing lip and a proximal end connected to the guidewire and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal ends;

providing a retrieval catheter having a lumen sized to accommodate the guidewire and the retraction members, the retrieval catheter having a distal end;

introducing the delivery catheter into the lumen of the vessel;

advancing the guidewire and filter element in its collapsed delivery configuration through the lumen of the delivery catheter until the filter element is located at the desired location;

expanding the filter element to its expanded deployed configuration;

withdrawing the delivery catheter from the vessel;

filtering emboli from blood flowing through the vessel with the filter;

advancing the retrieval catheter through the vessel distally along the guidewire while the filter element is in the expanded deployed configuration until the distal end of the retrieval catheter is moved from the proximal ends of the retraction members towards the distal ends of the retraction members so that the intermediate portions are drawn into the lumen of the retrieval catheter and the distal ends of the retraction members are moved towards the guidewire to draw the proximally facing lip of the filter element radially inwardly in the direction of the guidewire until the proximally facing opening is substantially closed; and

withdrawing the retrieval catheter, guidewire and filter element from the vessel.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the filter element is self-expandable.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the filter element comprises metal.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the filter element comprises a radiopaque material.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the retraction members comprise wire.

11. A method for capturing thrombi removed at a desired location from the wall of a vessel comprising:

providing a guidewire;

providing a basket element carried on a distal portion of the guidewire, the basket element having pores and having a distal end, the basket element being expandable from a collapsed delivery configuration when the basket is constrained to an expanded deployed configuration when the basket element is unrestrained, the basket element having a shape in the expanded configuration which forms a cavity having a proximally facing opening defined by a proximally facing lip;

providing a catheter having a lumen sized to accommodate the guidewire and the basket element, the catheter having a distal end;

advancing the guidewire and basket element in its collapsed delivery configuration within the lumen of the catheter through the vessel until the distal end of the catheter and the basket element are located distal of the desired location;

expanding the basket element to its expanded deployed configuration;

removing thrombi from the wall of the vessel at the desired location in the vessel;

capturing the removed thrombi in the basket element, the proximally facing opening being sized to allow the thrombi to enter the basket, the pores being sized to retain the thrombi in the basket;

placing the proximally facing opening of the basket element within the lumen of the catheter; and

withdrawing the catheter, guidewire and basket element from the vessel.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the basket element is self-expandable.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the basket element comprises metal.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the basket element comprises a radiopaque material.