US20040082967A1 — Multiple membrane embolic protection filter

Claim 1

Independent Claim 31 words

1 . An embolic protection filter comprising: a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member; and a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 31 words

1 . An embolic protection filter comprising: a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member; and a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

2 . The embolic protection filter of claim 1 , wherein said elongated member is a guidewire.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

3 . The embolic protection filter of claim 1 , wherein said elongated member is a hypo-tube.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

4 . The embolic protection filter of claim 1 , wherein said elongated member is a catheter.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

5 . The embolic protection filter of claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second filter membranes comprise a microporous membrane.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

6 . The embolic protection filter of claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second filter membranes comprise a woven or braided mesh screen.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

7 . The embolic protection filter of claim 1 , wherein the first filter membrane includes a first set of openings, and wherein the second filter membrane includes a second set of openings.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

8 . The embolic protection filter of claim 7 , wherein the size of the first set of openings is the same as the size of the second set of openings.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

9 . The embolic protection filter of claim 7 , wherein the size of the first set of openings is larger than the size of the second set of openings.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

10 . The embolic protection filter of claim 1 , further comprising a filter frame adapted to support the first and second filter membranes within a body lumen.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

11 . The embolic protection filter of claim 10 , wherein said filter frame comprises a plurality of support struts.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

12 . The embolic protection filter of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of support struts are biased in an outward direction.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

13 . The embolic protection filter of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of support struts comprise a first set of support struts and a second set of support struts.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

14 . The embolic protection filter of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of support struts comprise a first set of support struts, a second set of support struts, and a connecting member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

15 . The embolic protection filter of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of support struts are formed of a metal.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

16 . The embolic protection filter of claim 15 , wherein said metal is stainless steel.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

17 . The embolic protection filter of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of support struts are formed of a shape-memory material.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

18 . The embolic protection filter of claim 17 , wherein said shape-memory material is a nickel-titanium alloy.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

19 . The embolic protection filter of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator mechanism.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 42 words

20 . The embolic protection filter of claim 19 , wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a first set of retrieval members configured to engage the first filter membrane, and a second set of retrieval members configured to engage the second filter membrane.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 26 words

21 . The embolic protection filter of claim 20 , wherein each of said first and second sets of retrieval members comprise one or more wires.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

22 . The embolic protection filter of claim 20 , wherein said elongated member includes a first opening configured to receive the first set of retrieval members, and a second opening configured to receive the second set of retrieval members.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 35 words

23 . The embolic protection filter of claim 19 , wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a tubular member having a reduced inner diameter portion adapted to engage a barb attached to the embolic protection filter.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

24 . The embolic protection filter of claim 19 , wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a holding tube.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 35 words

25 . The embolic protection filter of claim 19 , wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a tubular member having several reduced inner diameter portions configured to engage several recesses formed on the embolic protection filter.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 49 words

26 . An embolic protection filter comprising: a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member; a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane; a filter frame adapted to support the first and second filter membranes within a vessel; and an actuator mechanism.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 49 words

26 . An embolic protection filter comprising: a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member; a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane; a filter frame adapted to support the first and second filter membranes within a vessel; and an actuator mechanism.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

27 . The embolic protection filter of claim 26 , wherein said elongated member is a guidewire.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 17 words

28 . The embolic protection filter of claim 26 , wherein said elongated member is a hypo-tube.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 17 words

29 . The embolic protection filter of claim 26 , wherein said elongated member is a catheter.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

30 . The embolic protection filter of claim 26 , wherein each of said first and second filter membranes comprise a microporous membrane.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 26 words

31 . The embolic protection filter of claim 26 , wherein each of said first and second filter membranes comprise a woven or braided mesh screen.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 32 words

32 . The embolic protection filter of claim 26 , wherein the first filter membrane includes a first set of openings, and wherein second filter membrane includes a second set of openings.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 31 words

33 . The embolic protection filter of claim 32 , wherein the size of the first set of openings is the same as the size of the second set of openings.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 30 words

34 . The embolic protection filter of claim 32 , wherein the size of the first set of openings is larger than the size of the second set of openings.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 20 words

35 . The embolic protection filter of claim 26 , wherein said filter frame comprises a plurality of support struts.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 22 words

36 . The embolic protection filter of claim 35 , wherein said plurality of support struts are biased in an outward direction.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 30 words

37 . The embolic protection filter of claim 35 , wherein said plurality of support struts comprise a first set of support struts and a second set of support struts.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 33 words

38 . The embolic protection filter of claim 35 , wherein said plurality of support struts comprise a first set of support struts, a second set of support struts, and a connecting member.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 21 words

39 . The embolic protection filter of claim 35 , wherein said plurality of support struts are formed of a metal.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 16 words

40 . The embolic protection filter of claim 39 , wherein said metal is stainless steel.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 22 words

41 . The embolic protection filter of claim 35 , wherein said plurality of support struts are formed of a shape-memory material.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 18 words

42 . The embolic protection filter of claim 41 , wherein said shape-memory material is a nickel-titanium alloy.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 42 words

43 . The embolic protection filter of claim 26 , wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a first set of retrieval members configured to engage the first filter membrane, and a second set of retrieval members configured to engage the second filter membrane.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 26 words

44 . The embolic protection filter of claim 43 , wherein each of said first and second sets of retrieval members comprise one or more wires.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 40 words

45 . The embolic protection filter of claim 43 , wherein said elongated member includes a first opening configured to receive the first set of retrieval members, and a second opening configured to receive the second set of retrieval members.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 35 words

46 . The embolic protection filter of claim 26 , wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a tubular member having a reduced inner diameter portion adapted to engage a barb attached to the embolic protection filter.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 18 words

47 . The embolic protection filter of claim 26 , wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a holding tube.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 35 words

48 . The embolic protection filter of claim 26 , wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a tubular member having several reduced inner diameter portions configured to engage several recesses formed on the embolic protection filter.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 92 words

49 . An embolic protection filter comprising: a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member; a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane; a filter frame adapted to support the first and second filter membranes within a body lumen, said filter frame comprising a first set of filter supports coupled to the first filter membrane, and a second set of filter supports coupled to the second filter membrane; and an actuator mechanism for selectively engaging the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 92 words

49 . An embolic protection filter comprising: a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member; a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane; a filter frame adapted to support the first and second filter membranes within a body lumen, said filter frame comprising a first set of filter supports coupled to the first filter membrane, and a second set of filter supports coupled to the second filter membrane; and an actuator mechanism for selectively engaging the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 109 words

50 . A method of filtering embolic debris within a body lumen, comprising the steps of: providing an embolic protection filter having a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member, a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane, and an actuator mechanism; inserting the embolic protection filter into the body lumen distal a lesion or stenosis; deploying the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen; collecting embolic debris within the first filter membrane; engaging the actuator mechanism to collapse the first filter membrane at least in part within the body lumen; and collecting embolic debris within the second filter membrane.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 109 words

50 . A method of filtering embolic debris within a body lumen, comprising the steps of: providing an embolic protection filter having a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member, a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane, and an actuator mechanism; inserting the embolic protection filter into the body lumen distal a lesion or stenosis; deploying the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen; collecting embolic debris within the first filter membrane; engaging the actuator mechanism to collapse the first filter membrane at least in part within the body lumen; and collecting embolic debris within the second filter membrane.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 162 words

51 . A method of filtering embolic debris within a body lumen, comprising the steps of: providing an embolic protection filter having a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member, and a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane, said first and second filter membranes each having a number of openings thereon; inserting the embolic protection filter into the body lumen distal a lesion or stenosis; deploying the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen such that the openings on the first filter membrane are misaligned with the openings on the second filter membrane; collecting embolic debris within the embolic protection filter; providing an actuator mechanism configured to rotate the first filter membrane relative to the second filter membrane; engaging the actuator mechanism such that the openings on the first filter membrane are aligned with the openings on the second filter membrane; and continuing to collect embolic debris within the embolic protection filter.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 162 words

51 . A method of filtering embolic debris within a body lumen, comprising the steps of: providing an embolic protection filter having a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member, and a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane, said first and second filter membranes each having a number of openings thereon; inserting the embolic protection filter into the body lumen distal a lesion or stenosis; deploying the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen such that the openings on the first filter membrane are misaligned with the openings on the second filter membrane; collecting embolic debris within the embolic protection filter; providing an actuator mechanism configured to rotate the first filter membrane relative to the second filter membrane; engaging the actuator mechanism such that the openings on the first filter membrane are aligned with the openings on the second filter membrane; and continuing to collect embolic debris within the embolic protection filter.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 180 words

52 . A method of filtering embolic debris within a body lumen, comprising the steps of: providing an embolic protection filter having a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member, and a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane, the first and second filter membranes each having a number of openings thereon, wherein the openings on the first filter membrane are larger than the openings on the second filter membrane; inserting the embolic protection filter into the body lumen distal a lesion or stenosis; deploying the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen such that the openings on the first filter membrane are misaligned with the openings on the second filter membrane; collecting embolic debris within the embolic protection filter; providing an actuator mechanism configured to rotate the first filter membrane relative to the second filter membrane; engaging the actuator mechanism such that the openings on the first filter membrane are aligned with the openings on the second filter membrane; and continuing to collect embolic debris within the embolic protection filter.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 180 words

52 . A method of filtering embolic debris within a body lumen, comprising the steps of: providing an embolic protection filter having a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member, and a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane, the first and second filter membranes each having a number of openings thereon, wherein the openings on the first filter membrane are larger than the openings on the second filter membrane; inserting the embolic protection filter into the body lumen distal a lesion or stenosis; deploying the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen such that the openings on the first filter membrane are misaligned with the openings on the second filter membrane; collecting embolic debris within the embolic protection filter; providing an actuator mechanism configured to rotate the first filter membrane relative to the second filter membrane; engaging the actuator mechanism such that the openings on the first filter membrane are aligned with the openings on the second filter membrane; and continuing to collect embolic debris within the embolic protection filter.

Multiple membrane embolic protection filter

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