Implantable self-cleaning blood filters
A blood filter device having occlusion-resistant characteristics. The occlusion-resistant characteristics decrease the likelihood of the filter being blocked by thrombi. The filter device ( 252 a, 252 b ) includes at least one anchor portion ( 42 ) for anchoring the filter device within one or more arteries ( 354 a, 354 b ), and a filter portion ( 98 ) for filtering thrombi from the blood entering the artery. In some embodiments, an anchor portion is capped with a filter cap. In various embodiments, the filter cap is protrudes into the aorta to promote occlusion resistance. In one embodiment, the device can be modified in situ to re-establish normal blood flow through the artery in the unlikely case of thrombotic or other blockage of the filter. In some embodiments, a bypass opening or open channel defining an access port is provided to accommodate passage of surgical instruments into the artery and to enable blood flow to bypass the filter should the filter become heavily occluded.
1. A method for implanting a blood filter that includes a filter portion and an anchor portion, said filter portion including an elbow portion and an extension portion, said elbow portion depending from said anchor portion, said extension portion having a proximal end that defines a bypass aperture, said extension portion including a superior face that defines a first porosity and an inferior face opposite said superior face that defines a second porosity, said first porosity being greater than said second porosity, the method comprising:
disposing said anchor portion in a first artery of an aortic arch;
orienting said filter portion so that said bypass aperture is in a downstream direction of a blood flow in said aortic arch; and
positioning said blood filter so that said superior face of said extension portion of said filter portion is in contact with a wall of said aortic arch.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising orienting said extension portion of said filter portion so that said superior face at least partially covers an ostium of a second artery of said aortic arch, said second artery being adjacent said first artery.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said first artery is an innominate artery and said second artery is a left carotid artery.