Filter membrane with increased surface area

Abstract

A filtering device with an increased surface area, and method of making and using the same. The present invention comprises a filtering device including an elongate shaft and a filter coupled to the shaft. The filter may include a filter membrane configured to have an increased surface area.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . A filtering device, comprising: 
 an elongated shaft having a proximal section and a distal section;    a filter coupled to the distal section of the elongated shaft, the filter including a filter frame and a pleated filter membrane operable between a collapsed position and an expandable position, the filter membrane including a proximal region and a distal region; and    one or more support fibers operatively coupled to the filter membrane.    
     
     
         3 . The filtering device of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated shaft comprises a guidewire.  
     
     
         4 . The filtering device of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated shaft comprises a tubular filter cartridge slidably disposed over a guidewire.  
     
     
         5 . The filtering device of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more fibers are longitudinally disposed along a length of the filter  
     
     
         6 . The filtering device of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more fibers are attached to the filter frame and the elongated shaft.  
     
     
         7 . The filtering device of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more fibers extend from the filter frame to a distal end of the filter.  
     
     
         8 . The filtering device of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more fibers are radially spaced apart from each other, and wherein the radial spacing between each fiber and the elongated shaft increases towards said proximal region.  
     
     
         9 . The filtering device of  claim 2 , wherein the filter membrane includes a number of folds or pleats for augmenting the surface area of the filter.  
     
     
         10 . The filtering device of  claim 9 , wherein the folds or pleats are defined by inward deflections of the filter membrane.  
     
     
         11 . The filtering device of  claim 9 , wherein the folds or pleats are defined by one or more bonds between the filter membrane and the elongated shaft.  
     
     
         12 . The filtering device of  claim 11 , wherein said bonds are longitudinally disposed along a length of the filter membrane.  
     
     
         13 . The filtering device of  claim 12 , wherein the bonds are disposed along only the distal region of the filter membrane.  
     
     
         14 . The filtering device of  claim 12 , wherein the bonds are disposed along only the proximal region of the filter membrane.  
     
     
         15 . The filtering device of  claim 12 , wherein the bonds are disposed along the entire length of the filter membrane.  
     
     
         16 . The filtering device of  claim 2 , wherein the filter includes one or more sinusoidal ribs.  
     
     
         17 . The filtering device of  claim 2 , further comprising a distal apex ring member slidably disposed along the elongated shaft, said ring member adapted to actuate the filter between an inverted position and an evened position.  
     
     
         18 . A filtering device, comprising: 
 an elongated shaft having a proximal section and a distal section;    a filter coupled to the distal section of the elongated shaft, the filter including a filter frame and a filter membrane operable between a collapsed position and an expandable position, the filter membrane including a proximal region, a distal region, and a number of folds or pleats defining an augmented surface area of the filter; and    one or more support fibers operatively coupled to the folds or pleats of the filter membrane, said one or more support fibers being longitudinally disposed along a length of the filter.    
     
     
         19 . The filtering device of  claim 18 , wherein said one or more fibers are attached to the filter frame and the elongated shaft.  
     
     
         20 . The filtering device of  claim 18 , wherein said one or more fibers extend from the filter frame to a distal end of the filter.  
     
     
         21 . The filtering device of  claim 18 , wherein said one or more fibers are radially spaced apart from each other, and wherein the radial spacing between each fiber and the elongated shaft increases towards said proximal region.  
     
     
         22 . The filtering device of  claim 18 , wherein the filter membrane includes a number of folds or pleats for augmenting the surface area of the filter.  
     
     
         23 . The filtering device of  claim 18 , wherein the folds or pleats are defined by inward deflections of the filter membrane.  
     
     
         24 . The filtering device of  claim 18 , wherein the folds or pleats are defined by one or more bonds between the filter membrane and the elongated shaft.  
     
     
         25 . The filtering device of  claim 18 , wherein the filter includes one or more sinusoidal ribs.  
     
     
         26 . The filtering device of  claim 18 , further comprising a distal apex ring member slidably disposed along the elongated shaft, said ring member adapted to actuate the filter between an inverted position and an everted position.  
     
     
         27 . A filtering device, comprising: 
 an elongated shaft having a proximal section and a distal section;    a filter coupled to the distal section of the elongated shaft, the filter including a filter frame and a filter membrane operable between a collapsed position and an expandable position, the filter membrane including a proximal region, a distal region, and a number of folds or pleats each defining an inward deflection of the filter membrane;    one or more support fibers operatively coupled to the folds or pleats of the filter membrane, each of said one or more fibers being radially spaced apart from each other; and    wherein the radial spacing between each fiber and the elongated shaft increases towards the proximal region of said filter membrane.