Claims
- 1. An apparatus for performing balloon angioplasty, comprising:an elongate, hollow guide wire having an outer structure; an elongate inner rod slideably disposed within said outer structure; a longitudinally-extending slot formed in said outer structure; a slideably mounted first annular bushing disposed in encircling relation to said outer structure; a second annular bushing disposed in encircling relation to said outer structure, said second annular bushing being secured to said outer structure; a plurality of jointed members extending between said first and second annular bushings in circumferentially spaced apart relation to one another; said jointed members having a position of repose where they are substantially flush with said outer structure; each joint member of said plurality of joint members having a proximal joint, a distal joint that is longitudinally spaced apart from said proximal joint, and a middle joint that is substantially half-way between said proximal and distal joints; said jointed members having a deployed configuration where each middle joint is displaced radially outwardly, with respect to a longitudinal axis of said coiled outer structure, when each distal joint is displaced toward its associated proximal joint; a diametrically-extending pin connecting said slideably mounted first annular bushing to said elongate inner rod so that advancing and retracting said elongate inner rod closes and opens said jointed members, respectively; a mesh structure of flexible and resilient construction, a first end of said mesh structure being secured to said outer structure at a location adjacent said jointed members; a predetermined extent of said jointed members being ensleeved by said mesh structure; a second end of said mesh structure being enlarged in diameter when said middle joints are displaced radially outwardly; said mesh structure allowing blood to flow therethrough; said mesh structure capturing and retaining emboli from a balloon angioplasty procedure when said middle joints are displaced radially outwardly; and said mesh structure returning to said position of repose when said middle joints are displaced radially inwardly.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DISCLOSURES
This disclosure is a division of a co-pending disclosure of the same title, by the same inventor, filed Apr. 18, 2001, bearing Ser. No. 09/837,672, which is a division of Ser. No. 09/426,438, issued Jul. 24, 2001 a disclosure of the same title, by the same inventor, filed Oct. 25, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,672.
US Referenced Citations (5)