Abstract: A vascular filter comprises an emboli-capturing portion having a set of helical filter-wires joined at a central region and extending in a given direction along the blood vessel in a diverging relationship to the axis of the filter, the wires terminating in free ends constructed to engage the walls of said vessel. A major mid-portion of the length of the free ended wires are of generally helical form, cooperatively related to form an effective emboli capturing array. Anchoring is accomplished by a separate assembly formed of struts and anchoring devices. A parallelogram supporting strut assembly and other means for providing linear engagement with the wall of the vena cava are shown. The parallelogram structure is shown to have filter capability by itself as well.

Abstract: A blood clot filter comprising: an anchoring portion comprising a generally cylindrical self-expanding body formed from resilient material, the generally cylindrical body having proximal and distal ends and defining an axial direction and having a structure of variable size diameter expandable from a low-profile compressed condition to a larger profile expanded condition, wherein the resilient material urges the generally cylindrical body to radially expand and to thereby apply anchoring radial force against the inner wall surface of the blood vessel; and a generally conical filtering portion axially aligned with the generally cylindrical body having an open proximal end coupled to the distal end of the anchoring portion and having an apical distal end. Also disclosed is a blood clot filter having one or more hooks fixedly coupled to the anchoring portion and formed from compliant material having an original shape that bends under stress yet returns to its original shape when unstressed.

Abstract: A self-centering blood clot filter is provided. The filter includes an anchoring portion including a generally cylindrical radially expandable body including an axial lumen extending therethrough. The filter further includes a filtering portion including a conical body concentrically aligned within the axial lumen of the anchoring portion. The conical body of the filtering portion is tapered to form a distal tip. As such, the blood clot filter can be properly centered within the lumen of a vessel for effective lysing of blood clots.

Abstract: A vascular filter-comprises an emboli-capturing portion having a set of helical filter-wires joined at a central region and extending in a given direction along the blood vessel in a diverging relationship to the axis of the filter, the wires terminating in free ends constructed to engage the walls of said vessel. A major mid-portion of the length of the free ended wires are of generally helical form, cooperatively related to form an effective emboli capturing array. Anchoring is accomplished by a separate assembly formed of struts and anchoring devices. A parallelogram supporting strut assembly and other members for providing linear engagement with the wall of the vena cava are shown. The parallelogram structure is shown to have filter capability by itself as well.

Abstract: This invention is a blood clot filter having an anchoring portion (402) which includes a generally cylindrical self-expanding body. A generally conical filtering portion (400) is axially aligned with the cylindrical body (402), has an open proximal end (406) coupled to a distal end of the anchoring portion, and an apical distal end (404). In a preferred embodiment, the filter portion (400) is formed from strands (410) of resilient material that extend from the apical distal end (404) to the open proximal end (406). The strands (410) form twisted pairs (408) that converge at the apical distal end (404). The strands (410) diverge from the twisted pairs (408) in crossing paths to form a pattern of open filtering cells (A)(B)(C). The filter also has hooks (413) coupled to the anchoring portion (402) and formed from compliant material having an original shaped that bends under stress yet returns to its original shaped when unstressed.

Abstract: A vascular filter comprises an emboli-capturing portion having a set of helical filter-wires joined at a central region and extending in a given direction along the blood vessel in a diverging relationship to the axis of the filter, the wires terminating in free ends constructed to engage the walls of said vessel. A major mid-portion of the length of the free ended wires are of generally helical form, cooperatively related to form an effective emboli capturing array. Anchoring is accomplished by a separate assembly formed of struts and anchoring devices. A parallelogram supporting strut assembly and other means for providing linear engagement with the wall of the vena cava are shown. The parallelogram structure is shown to have filter capability by itself as well.

Abstract: A blood clot filter including an anchoring portion including a generally cylindrical self-expanding body formed from resilient material, the generally cylindrical body having proximal and distal ends and defining an axial direction and having a structure of variable size diameter expandable from a low-profile compressed condition to a larger profile expanded condition, wherein the resilient material urges the generally cylindrical body to radially expand and to thereby apply anchoring radial force against the inner wall surface of the blood vessel; and a generally conical filtering portion axially aligned with the generally cylindrical body having an open proximal end coupled to the distal end of the anchoring portion and having an apical distal end. Also disclosed is a blood clot filter having one or more hooks fixedly coupled to the anchoring portion and formed from compliant material having an original shape that bends under stress yet returns to its original shape when unstressed.