A blood filter delivery system for delivering a blood filter into a vein includes a push rod for pushing the blood filter through and out of a catheter, the push rod having a filter positioning assembly on one end. The filter positioning assembly includes positioner members, which retain anchor members of the filter. The filter positioning assembly can position the end of the delivery catheter near the blood vessel centerline before releasing the filter's anchor members, thereby helping to align the blood filter along the centerline of the blood vessel.

A vascular filter system for deploying a vascular filter utilizes a plurality of tensors that extend radially outward from a deployment sheath. The ends of the tensors are coupled with an attachment ring of the vascular filter and a plurality of attachment barbs are coupled with the attachment ring for securing the filter to the vessel wall. A method for retrieving the vascular filter from the vessel utilizes a reverse curve catheter, a guidewire that extends there through and an intravascular snare. The guidewire is advanced around the filter and into the snare, which secures the guidewire around the filter for retrieval. A vessel distention device utilizes one or more distention tensors having a distention feature on the extended end, such as a blunt tip, to press on the inside vessel wall. The distention tensors extend out radially from a sheath to press on the vessel wall.

The self-centering inferior vena cava filter is provided, which includes a filter portion, a support portion, and a retrieval portion. The filter portion is configured to filter thrombi and includes at least two layers of filter members extending along a central axis of the self-centering inferior vena cava filter, the at least two layers of filter members are adjacent to each other and staggered around the central axis. The support portion is configured to prevent the self-centering inferior vena cava filter from tilting, and extends outwardly radially from a center point of the support portion in a direction close to the filter portion and then curls inwardly radially in a direction away from the filter portion, and is supported on a blood vessel wall by point contact. The retrieval portion is connected with at least one of the filter portion and the support portion.

A blood filter delivery system for delivering a blood filter into a vein includes a push rod for pushing the blood filter through and out of a catheter, the push rod having a filter positioning assembly on one end. The filter positioning assembly includes positioner members, which retain anchor members of the filter. The filter positioning assembly can position the end of the delivery catheter near the blood vessel centerline before releasing the filter's anchor members, thereby helping to align the blood filter along the centerline of the blood vessel.

A method of implanting a vessel filter by a femoral approach comprising the steps of providing a sheath with a pusher and the vessel filter positioned therein and providing a sheath centering structure movable within the sheath. The centering structure has a distal portion expandable from a collapsed position within the sheath to an expanded position outside the sheath. The steps further include inserting the sheath into the vessel, moving the centering structure with respect to the sheath to enable the centering structure to move from the collapsed position to the expanded position to move a distal tip of the sheath away from a vessel wall and to a more centered position, and subsequently exposing the vessel filter from the sheath to enable the filter to move from a collapsed position to an expanded position. An implantation system is also provided.

Apparatus for permanent placement across an ostium of a left atrial appendage in a patient, which includes a filtering membrane configured to extend across the ostium of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane has a permeable structure which allows blood to flow through but substantially inhibits thrombus from passing therethrough. The apparatus also includes a support structure attached to the filtering membrane which retains the filtering membrane in position across the ostium of the left atrial appendage by permanently engaging a portion of the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The support structure may be radially expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration which engages the ostium or the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane may define an opening therethrough that is configured to expand from a first size which inhibits the passage of thrombus therethrough to a second size which allows an interventional device, e.g., an expansion balloon, to pass therethrough, and wherein the opening is resiliently biased towards the first size.

In some aspects, the present disclosure pertains to self-expanding emboli-capturing centering devices for centering a medical instrument in a conduit within a patient. The centering devices comprise (a) an elongate shaft, (b) a self-expanding centering member having an open distal end and an inner surface forming a central lumen with a flared distal portion, the centering member being configured such that a fluid flowing in a distal-to-proximal direction that is received by the open distal end flows proximally along the flared distal portion of the central lumen before exiting the central lumen through one or more openings in a proximal portion of the centering member, and (c) a filter material configured to filter the fluid received by the open distal end of the centering member. Other aspects of the present disclosure pertain to systems and methods employing such centering devices.

A removable blood clot filter includes a number of locator members and anchor members disposed radially and extending angularly downward from a hub. The locator members include a number of linear portions having distinct axes configured to place a tip portion approximately parallel to the walls of a blood vessel when implanted to apply sufficient force to the vessel walls to position the filter near the vessel centerline. The anchor members each include a hook configured to penetrate the vessel wall to prevent longitudinal movement due to blood flow. The hooks may have a cross section sized to allow for a larger radius of curvature under strain so that the filter can be removed without damaging the vessel wall.

A method of preparing a filter for delivery into a body vessel. The filter includes a hub disposed along a longitudinal axis and a plurality of anchor members extending from the hub. Each anchor member includes either a cranial extension or a caudal extension at a distal end thereof. At least one anchor member distal end may be spaced from the hub at each of a first, second, and third distance along the longitudinal axis. The filter also includes a plurality of locator members extending from the hub, the locator members alternatingly interposed between the anchor members.

The present invention provides a removable vena cava filter for capturing and treating blood clots in a blood vessel. The filter comprises a hub, a plurality of struts extending distally from the hub, and a tubular member disposed through the hub. The tubular member has a proximal end and a distal portion including a plurality of perforations. A catheter may be attached to the proximal end of the tubular member. Fluid may be injected into the catheter to treat blood clots captured in the filter.