Instrumentation Laboratory

Meditech, Ltd.

Gaillard R Nolan

William E Flynn

Mark J Tolkoff

James K Herms

Jonathan McGrath

A blood clot filtration device, for implantation percutaneously, for preventing movement of blood clots within a blood vessel. The device has a head and a plurality of legs extending therefrom. The legs include a first linear leg portion of predetermined length emanating distally from the head generally parallel to the axis of the device; a second multi-angled leg portion of relatively greater length extending generally outwardly from the distal end of the first linear leg portion at an acute angle to the axis, to form, with other second leg portions, a conical aspect, the second leg portion having a series of discrete linear segments arrayed generally tangent to a cone defined by the second leg portions of the set of legs; and a hook portion at the distal end of each the leg extending outwardly, away from the axis in a manner for engaging the blood vessel to fix the position of the device therewithin. The configuration of the legs, including the first linear portion, and the use of a high strength titanium alloy for the head, formed by fusing, and legs produces a filter which is able to tolerate severe compression for introduction percutaneously through a small sheath without yielding. Preferably a central wire segment is disposed axially, with the first linear leg portions of the filter disposed closely thereabout.

Implantable filter

The fluid valve essentially comprises a support structure designed rotatably to support an inlet within a certain oscillatory ambit and stationarily supporting a plurality of outlets within the oscillatory ambit, and operative means for effecting fluid-tight communication seriatim between the inlet and one of the outlets. The inlet is preferably a blunt needle provided with a side port and each of the outlets comprises an inverted 'Y'-shaped member formed of an entrance portion and a pair of leg portions. The needle is designed to be thrust into the entrance portion, so that its side port establishes fluid-tight communication with one of the leg portions. Means are provided, including a pneumatic cylinder, for effecting relative motion between the inlet and the outlets. There is also a means for normally closing off all the entrance portions of the outlets except the selected one, and only during the entry of the blunt needle therein. Such means includes a plurality of pinch rods and a cylindrical cam mounted about the pneumatic cylinder and provided with a channel to cooperate with one end of the pinch rods so as to open the selected outlet when the needle is thrust therein. Means are also provided for selectively indexing the needle within the oscillatory ambit which comprises both electrical and mechanical parts.

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Acton, MA, United States of America

Gaillard R Nolan