Vibrating medical device assembly and method of retrieving embedded implantable device

1. A method of retrieving an implanted device that is partially embedded in soft tissue at a site comprising the steps of:

coupling a vibration transmission apparatus to the implanted device;

disembedding the implanted device from the soft tissue at least in part by generating a vibration in a vibration generator, transmitting the vibration from the vibration generator along the vibration transmission apparatus to the implanted device, and vibrating the implanted device; and

moving the implanted device away from the site.

2. The method of claim 1 including changing at least one of a vibration magnitude and a vibration frequency during the disembedding step.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the implanted device is a pacemaker lead.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the disembedding step includes unscrewing the pacemaker lead from the soft tissue while transmitting the vibration.

5. A method of retrieving an implanted device that is partially embedded in soft tissue at a site comprising the steps of:

coupling a vibration transmission apparatus to the implanted device;

disembedding the implanted device from the soft tissue at least in part by generating a vibration with a vibration generator, transmitting the vibration along the vibration transmission apparatus to the implanted device, and vibrating the implanted device;

moving the implanted device away from the site; and

wherein the moving step includes pulling the implanted device from outside of a sheath into the sheath.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the disembedding step includes placing at least a portion of the vibration transmission apparatus in tension while transmitting the vibration.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the coupling step includes grasping the implanted device with a snare.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the vibration transmission apparatus includes a cannula with a distal end in contact with the implanted device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the implanted device is a blood filter;

the grasping step includes snaring an end of the blood filter;

receiving the end from outside the cannula into the cannula; and

contacting a distal end of the cannula with a leg of the blood filter.

10. A method of retrieving an implanted blood filter that is partially embedded in soft tissue at a site comprising the steps of:

coupling a vibration transmission apparatus to the implanted blood filter;

disembedding the implanted blood filter from the soft tissue at least in part by generating a vibration with a vibration generator located outside a body, transmitting the vibration along the vibration transmission apparatus to the implanted blood filter, and vibrating the implanted blood filter; and

moving the blood filter away from the site.

11. The method of claim 10 including a step of placing one portion of the vibration transmission apparatus in tension, and an other portion of the transmission apparatus in compression during the disem bedding step.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the vibration transmission apparatus includes a cannula; and

wherein the disembedding step includes coupling opposite ends of the cannula with the vibration generator and the implanted blood filter, respectively.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the coupling step includes snaring the implanted blood filter.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the moving step includes moving the blood filter into a sheath.