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 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.

An inferior vena cava filter (340) for use in the inferior vena cava (4) to capture thrombus (8) passing through the inferior vena cava (4) towards the heart and lungs to prevent pulmonary embolism comprises a proximal support hoop (302), a distal support hoop (312) and a plurality of support struts (303) extending between the proximal support hoop (302) and the distal support hoop (312). The filter (340) also comprises a plurality of capture arms (121) which are movable from a capturing configuration to an open configuration. The capture arms (121) are biased towards the open configuration. A biodegradable suture holds the capture arms (121) in the capturing configuration.

A chemical absorber to absorb and release compounds includes a porous scaffold of lattices, modified surfaces of the scaffold, wherein the modification is selected based upon an ability to bond with or release a particular compound, and a center hole in the scaffold to accommodate a guide wire.

A tethered vena cava filter configured for temporary prophylaxis of pulmonary embolism.

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.

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.

The present invention concerns a filter (1) for a blood vessel, and in particular a vena cava filter, comprising at least two anchoring branches (11) for anchoring the filter in the wall of the blood vessel, the anchoring branches having a fixed end (111) and a free end (112), the fixed ends of the anchoring branches being fixed to one another and the free ends being terminated with a hook (113) oriented toward the outside, characterised in that each of the anchoring branches comprises an anti-transfixion protection (114).

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.

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.