Embolic protection device and method of use

Abstract

A method of embolic protection during a medical procedure in a patient's body vessel includes inserting a medical device having an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member into the body vessel. A flexible filter portion has one end attached to the distal end of the inner tubular member and the other end attached to the distal end of the outer tubular member. The filter portion is deployed within the body vessel so that the filter portion extends distally from the outer tubular member and expands radially outward to engage the filter body with an enclosing body vessel wall. A medical instrument is inserted through the inner tubular member to perform the medical procedure. The filter portion allows the passage of blood cells to surrounding vessels and prevents emboli from entering surrounding vessels. After removing medical instrument, the medical device is also removed from the body vessel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to medical devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a medical device for embolic protection.

2. Background

With the continuing advance of medical techniques, interventional procedures are more commonly being used to actively treat stenosis, occlusions, lesions, or other defects within a patient's blood vessels. Often the treated regions are in the coronary, carotid, renal, peripheral, cerebral and other blood vessels. For example, atherectomy or thrombectomy devices can be used to remove atheroma or thrombus. Another procedure for treating an occluded or stenosed blood vessel is angioplasty. During angioplasty, an inflatable balloon is introduced into the occluded region. The balloon is inflated, pushing against the plaque or other material of the stenosed region and increasing the intralumenal diameter of the vessel. As the balloon presses against the material, portions of the material may inadvertently break free from the plaque deposit. These emboli may flow downstream where they may block more distal and smaller blood vessel restricting blood flow to a vital organ, such as the brain. Consequences of embolization include stroke, diminished renal function, and impairment of peripheral circulation possibly leading to pain and amputation.

To prevent the risk of damage from emboli, various filtering devices have been proposed. Such devices typically have elements that form legs or a mesh that would capture embolic material, but allow blood cells to flow between the elements. Capturing the emboli in the filter device prevents the material from being lodged downstream in a smaller blood vessel. The filter may then be removed along with the embolic material after the procedure has been performed and the risk from emboli has decreased.

Many challenges exist with filtering devices. Often it is desirable to deploy filter devices, from the proximal side of a stenosis. Therefore, the profile of the filtering device should be significantly smaller than the opening in the stenosed vessel. If the profile of the filtering device is not significantly smaller than the opening, there is an increased risk of dislodging emboli during insertion of the device. Further, if the filter portion is not held against the inside of the vessel wall, there is a risk that embolic material may pass between the filter and the vessel wall. In addition, if the filtering device becomes filled with particles blood flow through the filtering device may be compromised.

In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need for an improved medical device for embolic protection.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved medical device for embolic protection and an improved method of embolic protection during a medical procedure, the medical device being applicable to blood vessel, renal, and other applications similar in nature.

In one embodiment, the medical device includes outer and inner catheters and a flexible filter portion attached to both the outer and inner catheters. The outer catheter includes a proximal end and a distal end. An outer lumen is formed through the proximal and distal ends of the outer catheter, defining a proximal opening at the proximal end and a distal opening at the distal end. The inner catheter is movable within the outer catheter and includes a proximal end and a distal end. An inner lumen is formed through the proximal and distal ends of the inner catheter, defining a proximal opening at the proximal end and a distal opening at the distal end.

In this embodiment, the flexible filter portion includes a body extending from a first end to a second end. The first end of the filter portion is attached to the distal end of the inner catheter and the second end of the filter portion is attached to the distal end of the outer catheter. The outer and inner catheters are movable relative to one another to move the filter portion between a collapsed state for delivery and removal of the device and an expanded state for engaging the filter body with a body vessel wall. The distal end of the inner catheter is arranged proximal to the distal end of the outer catheter such that the filter body is everted and defines an everted distal cavity within the distal end of the outer catheter in the collapsed state. The distal end of the inner catheter is movable distal to the distal end of the outer catheter such that the filter body is generally non-everted and defines a cylindrical body extending distally from the distal end of the outer catheter in the expanded state. In both the collapsed and expanded states, the distal ends of the outer catheter and the inner catheter are longitudinally separated by approximately the length of the filter body.

In another embodiment, the medical device includes an elongate outer tubular member and an elongate inner tubular member movable within the outer tubular member. Each of the outer and inner tubular members have a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen formed through the proximal and distal ends defining a proximal opening at the proximal end and a distal opening at the distal end. The medical device further includes a flexible everting filter portion including a body extending from a first end to a second end. The first end is attached to the distal end of the inner tubular member and the second end is attached to the distal end of the outer tubular member. The filter portion is movable between a collapsed delivery and removal configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. The inner and outer tubular members are movable relative to one another to extend the filter portion from the outer tubular member. The filter portion is biased to expand radially outward to engage the filter body with an enclosing body vessel wall in the expanded configuration.

The present invention also includes an improved method of embolic protection during a medical procedure in a patient's body vessel. The method comprises inserting a medical device into an operative position within the body vessel. The medical device includes an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member movable within the outer tubular member. Each of the outer and inner tubular members has a proximal end and a distal end. A lumen is formed through the proximal and distal ends of each of the outer and inner tubular members, defining a proximal opening at the proximal end and a distal opening at the distal end.

In this embodiment, the medical device further includes a flexible filter portion having a body extending from a first end to a second end. The first end of the filter portion is attached to the distal end of the inner tubular member and the second end of the filter portion is attached to the distal end of the outer tubular member. The filter portion is compressed in an everted state within the distal end of the outer tubular member, defining a collapsed configuration during insertion of the medical device.

The method of embolic protection further includes deploying the filter portion within the body vessel to an expanded configuration in which the filter portion extends from the outer tubular member and is biased to expand radially outward to engage the filter body with an enclosing body vessel wall. After the filter portion is deployed within the body vessel, a medical procedure is performed upstream of the filter portion. This includes inserting an elongate medical instrument through the lumen of the inner tubular member into the body vessel adjacent a treatment site and performing the medical procedure. After the medical procedure has been performed, the elongate medical instrument is removed from within the inner tubular member and the body vessel. The inner and outer tubular members are movable relative to one another to position the filter portion back into the collapsed state and the medical device is removed from within the body vessel.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description and the appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a side cross-sectional view of an embolic protection device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, in an everted state for delivery or removal of the device within a patient's body vessel;

FIG. 1 b is a side cross-sectional view of the embolic protection device of FIG. 1a, in a partially everted state;

FIG. 1 c is a side cross-sectional view of the embolic protection device of FIG. 1a, in a generally non-everted state;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of an embolic protection device deployed within an aorta in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of an embolic protection device deployed within an abdominal aorta in the general vicinity of the renal arteries in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of embolic protection during a medical procedure in a patient's body vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following provides a detailed description of currently preferred embodiments of the present invention. The description is not intended to limit the invention in any manner, but rather serves to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1a-c, an embolic protection device embodying the principles of the present invention is denoted by reference numeral 10. The device 10 includes an outer catheter 12, an inner catheter 20, and a flexible filter portion 28. The term catheter as used herein refers to any catheter, cannula, tube, sheath, or the like which is inserted into a patient's vascular system for delivery or withdrawal of fluids and/or introduction of catheters and the like. As illustrated in FIGS. 1a-c, the outer catheter 12 has a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16 and a lumen 18 formed through the proximal and distal ends 14, 16, defining a proximal opening 15 at the proximal end 14 and a distal opening 17 at the distal end 16. The inner catheter 20 has a proximal end 22 and a distal end 24 and a lumen 26 formed through the proximal and distal ends 24, 26, defining a proximal opening 23 at the proximal end 22 and a distal opening 25 at the distal end 24.

In this embodiment, the filter portion 28 includes a flexible filter body 30 movable from an everted state to a generally non-everted state. As shown in FIGS. 1a-c, the filter body 30 extends from a first end 32 attached to the distal end 24 of the inner catheter 20 to a second end 34 attached to the distal end 16 of the outer catheter 12. In a preferred embodiment, the filter portion 28 is compressed within the distal end 16 of the outer catheter 12, defining the everted state. Preferably, as the filter portion 28 moves to the generally non-everted state, i.e., extends distally from the distal end 16 of the outer catheter 12, the filter portion 28 radially expands to engage the filter body 30 with an enclosing body vessel wall. This is discussed in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 as the expanded, generally non-everted deployed state is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 1 a illustrates an everted state for insertion and removal of the device 10 within a patient's body vessel. In the everted state of FIG. 1a, the inner catheter 20 is proximally disposed within the lumen 18 of the outer catheter 12, the distal end 24 of the inner catheter 20 being arranged proximal to the distal end 16 of the outer catheter 12. In the everted state, the filter body 30 is everted, i.e., rolled inwardly and proximally, through the distal opening 17 of the outer catheter 12 and through a distal portion of the lumen 18 of the outer catheter 12. The inner wall 13 of the outer catheter 12 compresses the everted filter portion 28, defining a collapsed, everted state. Thus, the filter body 30 extends proximally from the second end 34 attached to the distal end 16 of the outer catheter 12 to the first end 32 attached to the distal end 24 of the inner catheter 20, defining an everted cavity or concave region 31 within the distal end 16 of the outer catheter 12.

In this embodiment, the filter body 30 includes an interior surface 36 and an exterior surface 38. In the everted state, the interior surface 36 faces the inner wall 13 of the outer catheter 12 and the exterior surface 38 defines the everted cavity 31 in fluid communication with the lumen 26 of the inner catheter 20. As illustrated in FIG. 1a, the length of the everted cavity 31 is greatest in the everted state, i.e., the filter portion 28 has the greatest degree of eversion in the everted state.

The everting nature of the filter portion 28 may be further understood with reference to a common article of clothing, a sock. A sock may be removed, allowed to hang toe downward, a hand inserted within the interior, the distal toe region pinched with fingers from within, and the pinched region pulled upward, forming an everted toe region which is pulled inside out to form an exterior distal cavity or dimple near the closed end of the sock. The open end of the sock has a proximal opening bounded by a proximal mouth region. The degree of eversion of the sock may be increased by moving the pinched region upward or the open end downward, increasing the amount of material within the distal exterior cavity. The terms filter sock or roll sock may be used interchangeably with filter portion 28 in describing and claiming the present invention.

In this embodiment, the outer and inner catheters 12, 20 are movable relative to one another to move the filter portion 28 to a generally non-everted state. For example, the outer catheter 12 may be moved proximally relative to the inner catheter 20 to unroll the filter portion 28 from the everted state. In another example, the inner catheter 20 may be moved distally relative to the outer catheter 12 to unroll the filter portion 28 from the everted state, or both the outer and inner catheters 12, 20 may be moved proximally and distally, respectively, to unroll the filter portion 28 from the everted state.

FIG. 1 b illustrates a partially everted state in which at least one of the outer and inner catheters 12, 20 is moved relative to the other to move the inner catheter 20 distally within the lumen 18 of the outer catheter 12. In a partially everted state, the distal end 24 of the inner catheter 20 remains proximal to the distal end 16 of the outer catheter 12 and the filter body 30 maintains its everted shape. However, the degree of eversion is smaller than in the everted state, i.e., the length of the everted cavity 31 in a partially everted state is shorter than the length of the everted cavity 31 in the everted state of FIG. 1a. Thus, the length of the everted cavity decreases with decreasing eversion.

As illustrated in FIG. 1b, in a partially everted state, a first portion of the interior surface 36 of the filter body 30 faces the inner wall 13 of the outer catheter 12 and a second portion of the interior surface 36 faces a third portion of the interior surface 36. Further, in a partially everted state, a first portion of the exterior surface 38 of the filter body 30 defines the everted cavity 31 and a second portion of the exterior surface 38 of the filter body 30 faces the interior of a body vessel when disposed within a patient's body vessel.

FIG. 1 c illustrates the filter portion 28 in a generally non-everted state in which the inner catheter 20 is extended through the distal opening 17 of the outer catheter 12 to unroll the everted filter portion to a generally non-everted state. FIG. 1c is merely illustrative of the relative positioning of the filter portion 28 in relation to the inner and outer catheters 20, 12 in a generally non-everted state. FIG. 1c does not illustrate the generally non-everted filter portion 28 in the preferred expanded state as later shown and described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In the generally non-everted state of FIG. 1c, the filter body 30 extends distally from the second end 34 attached to the distal end 16 of the outer catheter 12 to the first end 32 attached to the distal end 24 of the inner catheter 20 such that the filter body 30 no longer defines an everted cavity 31. In this embodiment, the filter body 30 extends from the second end 34 and curves inward and proximally toward the first end 32, defining a proximally facing concave surface 42 adjacent the attachment point of the first end 32 to the distal end 24 of the inner catheter 20.

Further illustrated in FIG. 1c, in the generally non-everted state, the interior surface 36 of the filter body 30 defines the interior 29 of the filter body 30. In the generally non-everted state, the interior 29 of the filter body 30 is in fluid communication with the lumen 18 of the outer catheter 12 such that the inner catheter 20 passes though the lumen 18 and the distal opening 17 of the outer catheter 12 and through the interior 29 of the filter body 30. The interior surface 36 thus faces the outer wall 21 of the inner catheter 20 and the exterior surface 38 faces the interior of a body vessel when disposed within a patient's body vessel.

The term “generally non-everted” includes the embodiment of FIG. 1c, wherein the filter body 30 no longer defines an everted cavity 31, but wherein a very small portion of the filter body 30 curves inward and proximally, thus defining the proximally facing concave surface 42. The term “generally non-everted” further includes embodiments such as those illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the filter body 30 does define an everted cavity 31, but wherein the everted cavity is substantially smaller than in the everted state of FIG. 1a and the partially everted state of FIG. 1b, such that the filter body 30 is capable of engaging the body vessel wall and performing its intended function, i.e., preventing downstream flow of emboli or thrombi.

In both the everted and non-everted states of FIGS. 1a and 1c, respectively, the distal ends 16, 24 of respective outer and inner catheters 12, 20 are longitudinally separated by a distance 40 which is approximately the length of the filter body 30. The term “approximately the length of the filter body 30” includes a length equal to the length of the filter body 30 less the very small portion of the filter body 30 which either curves inward and proximally near the first end 32 in the non-everted state (i.e., the proximally facing concave surface 42), or curves inward and proximally near the second end 34 in the everted state (FIG. 1a), give or take the difference in length between the filter body 30 in the collapsed state and the filter body 30 in the expanded state. The distance 40 is thus substantially equal to the length of the everted cavity 31 in the everted state.

FIGS. 2 and 4 show an embolic protection device 10 deployed within a patient's aorta 50 in an expanded, generally non-everted deployed state. In this embodiment, the device 10 is inserted in the collapsed, everted state into the aorta 50 in a retrograde fashion. Preferably, this is done through a peripheral arterial access, such as the femoral artery or subclavian artery, using the Seldinger technique or an arterial cutdown. Accordingly, the outer and inner catheters 12, 20 should have a length sufficient to reach from the arterial access point where the device 10 is inserted to the ascending aorta 56 of the patient. For femoral artery deployment, the outer and inner catheters 12, 20 preferably have a length of about 80-120 cm. The inner catheter 20 is preferably longer than the outer catheter 12 by about at least the length of the filter body 30 in the expanded, generally non-everted state such that the proximal ends 14, 22 of both the outer and inner catheters 12, 20, respectively, are accessible from outside the patient's body to control the movement of the outer and inner catheters 12, 20 relative to one another.

In this embodiment, the position of the device 10 may be monitored using fluoroscopy or ultrasound. Appropriate markers, which may include radiopaque markers and/or sonoreflective markers, may be located on the distal ends 16, 24 of the outer and/or inner catheters 12, 20, and/or the filter portion 28 to enhance imaging and to show the position of the device 10 and the deployment state of the filter portion 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the device 10 is positioned within the descending thoracic aorta 54 proximal to a treatment site near the ascending aorta 56. The outer and inner catheters 12, 20 are movable relative to one another to deploy the filter portion 28 to the expanded, generally non-everted state proximal to the treatment site.

In this embodiment, the filter portion 28 is made of an expandable fine mesh material configured to expand to conform to the diameter of the body vessel. Thus, the diameter of the filter portion 28 in the collapsed, everted state is smaller than the diameter of the filter portion 28 in the expanded, generally non-everted state. The mesh filter portion 28 has a cylindrical geometry in the generally non-everted deployed state which includes an open region at the second end 34 and an enclosed region extending from the second end to the first end 32. In the generally non-everted state, the second end 34 is attached to and extends distally from the distal end 16 of the outer catheter 12, thus defining the open region through which the lumen 18 of the outer catheter 12 fluidly communicates with the interior 29 of the filter portion 28. The filter body 30 extends distally from the second end 34 and curves inwardly and proximally toward the first end 32 attached to the distal end 24 of the inner catheter 20, thus defining the proximally facing concave surface 42. The proximally facing concave surface 42 extends from the portion of the filter body 30 which engages the body vessel wall 51 toward the first end 32 attached to the distal end 24 of the inner catheter 20.

In this embodiment, the filter portion 28 may be attached to the inner and outer catheters 20, 12 by any suitable means in the art. For example, the filter portion 28 may be thermally or adhesively bonded to each of the inner and outer catheters 20, 12, on either the inside or outside of the inner and outer catheters 20, 12. Alternatively, the filter portion 28 may be an integral part of one of the inner and outer catheters 20, 12. For example, one of the inner and outer catheters 20, 12 may be formed from an inner layer of braided wire and an outer layer of polymer. The filter portion 28 may be an extension of the braided wire of one of the inner and outer catheters 20, 12 without the surrounding outer polymer layer. The filter portion 28 may be attached to the other one of the inner and outer catheters 20, 12 via thermal or adhesive bonding, or any other suitable means.

In this embodiment, the mesh material making up the filter portion 28 includes a plurality of elements 44, such as wires, fibers, or strands, which can be used to form the mesh material through a variety of methods, for example, braiding, knitting, weaving, helically winding, and counterwinding. The mesh material can be fused at some or all of the element 44 intersection points. The mesh material can also be electrospun, and formed of sheet or film having holes formed by laser drilling, punching dissolving components selectively, and the like. The elements 44 can be formed of material such as wire, which can be metallic or polymeric wire. The wire may be substantially circular in cross section or may have any number of square, rectangular or irregular cross sectional profiles.

The mesh material is formed such that the diameter of the filter portion 28 can expand or contract while maintaining its generally cylindrical geometry. To facilitate deployment of the device 10, the filter portion 28 is preferably biased to expand. However, when contracted, the cylindrical geometry is everted and provides a smaller profile during insertion and removal of the device 10 and facilitates delivery of the device 10 through the stenosis. The elements 44 may be comprised of any suitable material such as a superelastic material, stainless steel wire, cobalt-chromium-nickel-molybdenum-iron alloy, or cobalt-chrome alloy. Alternatively, the elements 44 may be formed of a synthetic material. For example, Nylon, Dacron, Thorolon, or ePTFE may be used. The fine mesh material of the filter portion 28 may be a woven or knitted fabric such as Dacron polyester or nylon mesh, or other textile fabrics, or it may be a nonwoven fabric, such as spun bonded polyolefin or ePTFE or other nonwoven materials. The fine mesh material of the filter portion 28 may be woven, knitted or otherwise formed from monofilament or multifilament fibers. The mesh material of the filter portion 28 may also be a fine wire mesh or a combination of wire and textile fibers. Depending on the application, the mesh material may include multiple layers or a composite mesh of elements 44, such as a nano-fiber mesh. Alternatively, the fine mesh material may be an open cell foam material.

Further, it is understood that the elements 44 may be formed of any other suitable material that will result in a flexible everting geometry, such as shape memory alloys. The mesh material is preferably self-expanding. The self-expanding mesh material can be formed totally or in part from self-expanding Nitinol, Elgiloy, titanium, or stainless steel wires and the like, and combinations thereof. The self-expanding mesh material can also be formed of engineering polymers, for example, liquid crystal polymer, PEEK, polyamide, polyester, and the like. A preferred mesh material is formed of Nitinol wires, which can be heat set to the desired expanded shape. The mesh material can preferably be heat set to a desired bias shape using any suitable method known in the art. In another example, the mesh material is highly elastic, and preformed by mechanical overstress to the desired expanded shape. The mesh material may be made partly or totally radiopaque by means of plating, core wires, tracer wires, or fillers that have good x-ray absorption characteristics compared to the human body.

In this embodiment, the mesh material includes openings 46 between the elements 44 that are large enough to allow the flow of blood therethrough, but small enough to prevent the passage of emboli or thrombi therethrough. Accordingly, the elements 44 may be configured such that the openings 46 between the elements 44 are between about 1-200 micrometers. The preferred opening or pore size of the mesh filter body 30 depends on the specific application and whether to prevent the passage of macroemboli only or macroemboli and microemboli. In most cases the pore size of the mesh filter body 30 will preferably be in the range of about 1-200 micrometers. For preventing the passage of macroemboli only, the pore size of the mesh filter body 30 will preferably be in the range of about 50-200 micrometers. For preventing the passage of macroemboli and microemboli, the pore size of the mesh filter body 30 will preferably be in the range of about 1-100 micrometers. In other applications, such as for treating thomboembolic disease, a larger pore size, e.g. up to 1000 micrometers or larger, may be useful. A filter body 30 having openings 46 of these sizes will allow blood cells to pass through the openings 46 while larger emboli or thrombi are restrained by the elements 44 from traveling downstream within the body vessel. In some embodiments, a combination of filter materials having different pore sizes may be used.

Alternatively or additionally, the mesh material of the filter portion 28 may be made of or coated with an adherent material or substance to capture or hold embolic debris or thrombi which comes into contact with the filter portion 28. Suitable adherent materials include, but are not limited to, known biocompatible adhesives and bioadhesive materials or substances, which are hemocompatible and non-thrombogenic. In a preferred embodiment, only the upstream side of the elements 44 of the proximally facing concave surface 42 of the filter portion 28 is coated with the adherent material to positively capture the embolic debris which comes in contact with the proximally facing concave surface 42 of the filter portion 28.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the filter portion 28 is positioned proximal to a medical surgical or treatment site, wherein the filter portion 28 is configured to move to the expanded, generally non-everted state to engage the body vessel wall. In this embodiment, the expanded filter portion 28 includes a cylindrical geometry adapted to span the diameter of the patient's body vessel, such that the filter portion 28 is radially biased against the wall of the vessel. An elongate medical instrument 60, such as a third catheter, is insertable through the lumen 26 of the inner catheter 20 in order to perform a medical procedure upstream of the filter portion 28. If any embolic materials are dislodged during the medical procedure, the enclosed region of the filter portion 28 prevents the embolic materials from traveling downstream through the body vessel and into surrounding vessel branches. The openings 46 defined by the elements 44 making up the porous mesh material of the filter portion 28 allow blood cells to flow downstream through the body vessel and into surrounding vessel branches. Thus, in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the filter portion 28 permits blood flow to continue to the left and right renal 57, 58 and the abdominal aorta, yet prevents emboli or thrombi from entering into the left and right renal 57, 58 and the abdominal aorta.

After the medical procedure has been performed, the elongate medical instrument 60 is withdrawn from within the inner catheter 20 and the patient's body vessel. In this embodiment, the outer and inner catheters 12, 20 are movable relative to one another to roll or evert the filter portion 28 back into its collapsed, everted state for removal of the medical device 10. Preferably, as the filter portion 28 is manipulated into its collapsed, everted state, the everted cavity 31 swallows or captures the restrained emboli or thrombi within the outer catheter 12 for removal from the patient's body vessel. The medical device 10 is then withdrawn from within the patient's body vessel.

Referring to FIG. 3, a device 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is positioned within the patient's aorta directly at the branch site of the left and right renal 57, 58. In this embodiment, a plurality of markers 70a and 70b is integrated into the filter portion 28 to help the physician monitor the deployment of the filter portion 28. The markers are preferably tungsten loaded nylon. In this embodiment, the markers 70a are preferably positioned in an axial direction to mark the renal branch site and the markers 70b are preferably positioned perpendicular to the axial direction to follow the deployment of the expandable filter portion 28.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the device 10 in FIG. 3 taken along line 5-5, along the proximally facing concave surface 42 of the filter portion 28. As illustrated, in the region defined by the proximally facing concave surface 42, the elements 44 engage the body vessel wall 51 and traverse the lumen of the body vessel towards the distal end 24 of the inner catheter 20, thus defining the enclosed region of the filter portion 28.

Referring to FIG. 6, a method of embolic protection during a medical procedure is provided. The method includes inserting (80) a medical device 10, as discussed in the forgoing paragraphs, into an operative position within a body vessel of a patient. During insertion, the filter portion 28 is in the collapsed, everted configuration.

The filter portion 28 is deployed (82) to the expanded, generally non-everted configuration within the body vessel. Deploying the filter portion 28 includes moving the outer and inner catheters 12, 20 relative to one another such that the distal end 24 of the inner catheter 20 and the first end 32 of the filter portion 28 extend distally from the distal end 16 of the outer catheter 12.

An elongate medical instrument 60, such as a catheter, is inserted (84) within the lumen 26 of the inner catheter 20 via the proximal opening 23 of the inner catheter 20. The medical instrument 60 passes through the distal opening 25 of the inner catheter 20 and the first end 32 of the filter portion 28 to perform the medical procedure within the body vessel of the patient upstream of the filter portion 28. The filter portion 28 permits blood flow to surrounding vessels while preventing any dislodged emboli or thrombi from flowing downstream and entering surrounding vessels.

After the medical procedure is performed (86), the medical instrument 60 is removed (88) from within the inner catheter 20 and the body vessel of the patient. Thereafter, the medical device 10 is removed (90) from within the body vessel of the patient. Removing the medical device 10 includes moving the outer and inner catheters 12, 20 relative to one another to evert the filter portion 28 back into its collapsed, everted state, wherein the distal end 24 of the inner catheter 20 and the first end 32 of the filter portion 28 are arranged proximally within the outer catheter 12. Preferably, as the filter portion 28 is everted back into its collapsed everted state, emboli or thrombi are collected within the everted cavity 31 at the distal end 16 of the outer catheter 12 and removed with the medical device 10.

As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the above description is meant as an illustration of the implementation of the principles of this invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope or application of this invention in that the invention is susceptible to modification variation and change, without departing from the spirit of this invention, as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A method of embolic protection during a medical procedure in a patient's body vessel, comprising the steps of: inserting a medical device into an operative position within the body vessel, the medical device including an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member movable within the outer tubular member, each of the outer and inner tubular members having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen formed through the proximal and distal ends defining a proximal opening at the proximal end and a distal opening at the distal end, the medical device further comprising a flexible filter portion having a body extending from a first end to a second end, the first end being attached to the distal end of the inner tubular member and the second end being attached to the distal end of the outer tubular member, the filter portion being compressed in an everted state within the distal end of the outer tubular member defining a collapsed configuration during insertion of the medical device;deploying the filter portion within the body vessel to an expanded configuration wherein the filter portion extends distally from the outer tubular member and is biased to expand radially outward to engage the filter body with an enclosing body vessel wall;inserting an elongate medical instrument through the lumen of the inner tubular member to perform the medical procedure within the body vessel, wherein the filter portion allows the passage of blood cells to surrounding vessels and prevents emboli from entering surrounding vessels;removing the elongate medical instrument from within the inner tubular member and the body vessel; andremoving the medical device from within the body vessel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first end of the filter portion attached to the distal end of the inner tubular member is arranged proximal to the distal end of the outer tubular member such that the filter body is everted and defines a distal cavity within the distal end of the outer catheter in the collapsed configuration, wherein deploying the filter portion to the expanded configuration includes moving the inner and outer tubular members relative to one another such that the first end of the filter portion attached to the distal end of the inner tubular member is arranged distal to the second end of the filter portion attached to the distal end of the outer tubular member, the filter body defining a cylindrical distal extension of the outer tubular member in the expanded configuration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein removing the medical device includes moving the inner and outer tubular members relative to one another to evert the filter portion into the collapsed configuration and proximally retracting the medical device from within the body vessel.