Vena cava filter catheter and method

1. A vena cava filter catheter, comprising:

a. a catheter having at least one lumen disposed therethrough;

b. a collapsible vena cava filter disposed about a distal portion of the catheter, such that the collapsible vena cava filter is disposed proximal from an opening associated with the at least one lumen; and

c. at least one strand of biocompatible wire having a first state in which the at least one strand has an elongate geometry suitable for traversing the at least one lumen of the catheter and exiting from the opening, and having a second state in which the at least one strand assumes a pre-set geometry in which the at least one strand assumes a tortuous configuration adapted to occupy a space approximating a luminal diameter of an inferior vena cava.

2. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a capture sheath disposed over the catheter such that withdrawal of the catheter into the capture sheath collapses the collapsible filter within the capture sheath.

3. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 2 , wherein the at least one strand of biocompatible wire comprises at least one strand of hollow biocompatible wire having an interior lumen and a plurality of openings disposed through a wall of the hollow biocompatible wire to provide fluid communication between the interior lumen and external to the hollow biocompatible wire.

4. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 3 , further including a biologically active agent adapted to be delivered through the interior lumen to shower thrombus captured within the at least one strand deployed to the second state.

5. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1 , wherein the catheter has a plurality of lumens disposed therethrough and wherein the at least one lumen has an opening proximal to a distal end of the catheter and distal the collapsible vena cava filter.

6. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one strand of biocompatible wire comprises at least one strand of solid biocompatible wire.

7. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one strand of biocompatible wire has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group of cross-sectional shapes consisting of: generally circular; elliptical; oval; regular polygonal; and irregular polygonal.

8. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one strand of biocompatible wire comprises a plurality of strands of biocompatible wires.

9. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of strands of biocompatible wires is helically wound around one another in the first state.

10. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of strands of biocompatible wires is joined at proximal and distal ends and laid adjacent one another in the first state.

11. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1 , further comprising one or more barbs projecting outwardly from a central longitudinal axis of the at least one strand of biocompatible wire in the second state.

12. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 11 , wherein the one or more barbs are adapted to engage with inner walls of the at least one lumen of the catheter, inner walls of a proximal hub in fluid communication with the catheter, or inner walls of a fluid line in fluid communication with the proximal hub to facilitate anchoring of the at least one strand in the second state in a fixed position relative to the lumen.

13. The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a loop on a proximal end of the at least one strand of biocompatible wire, wherein the loop is adapted to be used as a snare for capturing the at least one strand of biocompatible wire.

14. A method for implementing a vena cava filter catheter, wherein the vena cava filter catheter includes a catheter having at least one lumen disposed therethrough, a collapsible vena cava filter disposed about a distal portion of the catheter, such that the collapsible vena cava filter is disposed proximal from an opening associated with the at least one lumen, and at least one strand of biocompatible wire having a first state in which the at least one strand has an elongate geometry suitable for traversing the at least one lumen of the catheter and exiting from the opening, and having a second state in which the at least one strand assumes a pre-set geometry in which the at least one strand assumes a tortuous configuration adapted to occupy a space approximating a luminal diameter of an inferior vena cava, the method comprising the steps of:

a. advancing the at least one strand of biocompatible wire in the first state having an elongate geometry through the at least one lumen of the catheter;

b. pushing the at least one strand out of the catheter through an opening therein such that the at least one strand deploys to the second state having a tortuous configuration adapted to occupy a space approximating a luminal diameter of an inferior vena cava.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one strand of biocompatible wire comprises at least one strand of hollow biocompatible wire having an interior lumen and a plurality of openings disposed through a wall of the hollow biocompatible wire to provide fluid communication between the interior lumen and external to the hollow biocompatible wire, and further comprising the step of introducing a biologically active agent through the interior lumen to shower thrombus captured within the at least one strand deployed to the second state with the biologically active agent.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein a capture sheath is disposed over the catheter, and further comprising the step of withdrawing the catheter into the capture sheath such that the collapsible filter collapses within the capture sheath.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising one or more barbs projecting outwardly from a central longitudinal axis of the at least one strand in the second state and adapted to engage with inner walls of the at least one lumen to facilitate anchoring of the at least one strand in the second state in a fixed position relative to the at least one lumen, and further comprising the step of anchoring the at least one strand to the at least one lumen with the one or more barbs.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising a retrieval interface disposed on a proximal end of the at least one strand, wherein the retrieval interface is selected from the group of retrieval interfaces consisting of: a loop; threads; a detent ring; a detent nipple; and a magnet; and further comprising the steps of: inserting a capture member having a distal end that is adapted to capture the retrieval interface through the at least one lumen of the catheter; and capturing the retrieval interface with the capture member.