Abstract: An introduction catheter set for a collapsible, self-expandable implant of the type comprising a number of spring-biased anchoring legs, e.g. a filter for entrapping thrombi or emboli into a blood vessel of a patient comprises a flexible external guide sheath and a flexible internal catheter slidably displaceable inside the guide sheath and having at its distal end a tubular end member, in which a retaining member is slidably arranged for releasably retaining the anchoring legs of the implant in defined angular positions in respect of each other. The retaining member is connected with a flexible displacement member extending throughout the internal catheter with the proximal ends of the displacement member and the internal catheter connected with a first and a second operating member, respectively.

Abstract: In a collapsible filter for introduction into a blood vessel of a patient and of the kind comprising a number of legs (1-4) diverging from an apical hub (5) and each having a reversely turned hook (1b-4b) at its distal end with respect to said hub (5), each leg comprises a central element (1a-4a), bent into a smooth quasi-half sinusoidal form, and two substantially symmetrical curved side elements (1c-4c, 1d-4d) extending on either side of the central element (1a-4a). The filter may as whole may be unfolded from a collapsed insertion condition in which the central and side elements of all legs (1-4) forms a narrow bundle for arrangement in a catheter like insertion instrument into a tulip like filter configuration with the side elements (1c-4c, 1d-4d) interposed between the central elements (1a-4a) of the legs.

Abstract: A plurality of resilient wires interconnected at their respective ends form a collapsible filter basket adapted to be introduced into a blood vessel of a patient. The basket in its expanded and relaxed state forms an apertured, elongate solid of revolution with pointed ends and has a base as measured between the pointed ends at least equal to the maximum diameter thereof. The design of the filter basket of the present invention facilitates insertion and adjustment of position or orientation once inserted and allows large masses of emboli to build up without seriously restricting the free area available for blood flow through the filter.