A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region wherein the filter is movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel. A first region has a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter and the second region is flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The second region includes a vessel engaging portion at the second end portion. The second region includes a plurality of spaced apart struts with adjacent struts being joined.
1. A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region and a midpoint defined on a longitudinal axis of the filter and defined as a point equidistant from a proximalmost end of the filter and a distalmost end of the filter, the filter movable between a collapsed position for delivery to a vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel, the first region having a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion to direct particles toward a center of the filter, the first region including a plurality of longitudinally extending struts extending from the converging region, the plurality of longitudinally extending struts extending longitudinally through the first region and into the second region, the longitudinally extending struts being unconnected proximal of the midpoint such that the longitudinally extending struts are unconnected between the converging region and the midpoint, the second region being flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the second region including a vessel engaging portion at the second end portion, a first set of connecting struts extending from a distal portion of the longitudinally extending struts, the first set of connecting struts including a plurality of connecting struts each emanating from one of the longitudinally extending struts and extending toward a distal portion of the filter, each of the connecting struts of the first set extending toward another of the connecting struts from the first set to thereby join adjacent longitudinally extending struts distal of the midpoint at a terminal end of the second end portion to thereby join a distal end of the longitudinally extending struts, and a second set of connecting struts extending from adjacent longitudinally extending struts in a direction opposite the direction the first connecting struts extend, each of the connecting struts of the second set extending toward another of the connecting struts from the second set to thereby join adjacent connecting struts of the second set at a joined region distal of the midpoint and pointing toward a proximal portion of the filter.
2. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein adjacent struts of the first set of connecting struts form a substantially V-shaped connection.
3. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein adjacent struts of the second set of connecting struts form a substantially V-shaped connection.
4. The vessel filter of claim 3 , wherein adjacent struts of the first set of connecting struts form a substantially V-shaped connection and the V-shaped connection of the first set of connecting struts face in an opposite direction than the V-shaped connection of the second set of connecting struts.
5. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein the second set of connecting struts are axially aligned.
6. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein the second set of connecting struts are staggered axially.
7. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein the connecting struts of the first set are integrally formed with the longitudinal struts.
8. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein the connecting struts of the second set are integrally formed with the longitudinal struts.
9. The vessel filter of claim 8 , wherein the connecting struts of the first set are integrally formed with the longitudinal struts.
10. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein two connecting struts of the first set and two connecting struts of the second set form a closed geometric shape.
11. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein the filter is formed from a laser cut tube and composed of shape memory material.
12. The vessel filter of claim 1 , further comprising vessel engaging hooks extending from a region where connecting struts of the first set of struts are joined.