Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a filter has a generally conical shape formed by a set of filter legs extending from a free distal end to an apex of the assembly and specifically to a coupling device. A retrieval element such as a hook extends from the hub of. A spacer member is disposed at the hub and is formed of a plurality of curved wire elements. The spacer member has a radius or width smaller than the greatest radius of the filter device, defined by the free ends of the filter legs. The spacer member allows the filter assembly to tilt within a vessel but limits the tilt to a maximum desired or permitted tilt, ensuring that the retrieval device remains spaced from the vessel wall and therefore not subject to tissue ingrowth.

Abstract: The implantable medical device includes at least one frame having a rounded shape and formed of a plurality of rounded legs. In one embodiment, the device includes two frames having similar rounded shapes and coupled to one another by means of a flexible coupling. The flexible coupling enables the frames to tilt relative to one another and relative to a vessel in which the device is deployed. The rounded nature of the frames enables the frames to tilt in the vessel while retaining proper contact to the vessel wall and the functional characteristics of the frames. The device may have just one frame in some embodiments and three or more frames in other embodiments. The device may be a filter, an occluding device or any other suitable medical device.

Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a filter includes a plurality of struts arranged in a generally conical form with each strut having a first end, a second end, and an operative length between the first and second ends. Each strut is able to flex along its operative length and includes a strut skeleton having a first flexural modulus and a reinforcement element extending along the operative length and attached to the strut skeleton. The reinforcement element and the strut skeleton together have a second flexural modulus greater than the first flexural modulus. One of the reinforcement element and the strut skeleton varies in one of amount and composition continuously along the operative length such that the second flexural modulus varies in a continuous manner along the operative length. The reinforcement element is biodegradable thereby changing the flexural modulus from the second flexural modulus to the first flexural modulus.

Abstract: The implantable medical device includes at least one frame having a rounded shape and formed of a plurality of rounded legs. In one embodiment, the device includes two frames having similar rounded shapes and coupled to one another by means of a flexible coupling. The flexible coupling enables the frames to tilt relative to one another and relative to a vessel in which the device is deployed. The rounded nature of the frames enables the frames to tilt in the vessel while retaining proper contact to the vessel wall and the functional characteristics of the frames. The device may have just one frame in some embodiments and three or more frames in other embodiments. The device may be a filter, an occluding device or any other suitable medical device.

Abstract: A vascular filter includes a hub and a basket portion. The filter is formed from a plurality of strands of a biocompatible material such as a polymer or a super-elastic metal alloy. The strands are intertwined to form the hub the strands are then secured by forming a knot such as a crown knot or a splice, and the free ends of the strands form a basket portion of the filter. The filter may thus be formed only by the strands, thereby avoiding problems associated with known methods of joining legs to form a filter.

Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a filter has a generally conical shape formed by a set of filter legs extending from a free distal end to an apex of the assembly and specifically to a coupling device. A retrieval element such as a hook extends from the hub of. A spacer member is disposed at the hub and is formed of a plurality of curved wire elements. The spacer member has a radius or width smaller than the greatest radius of the filter device, defined by the free ends of the filter legs. The spacer member allows the filter assembly to tilt within a vessel but limits the tilt to a maximum desired or permitted tilt, ensuring that the retrieval device remains spaced from the vessel wall and therefore not subject to tissue ingrowth.