Percutaneous catheter and guidewire having filter and medical device deployment capabilities

Abstract

The invention provides a nested tubing cannula which comprises outer and inner elongate tubular members, both having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween. The inner tubular member is sealed at its distal end and is nested substantially coaxially within the lumen of the outer tubular member, so that the gap between the inner and the outer tubular member defines a second lumen whereas the first lumen is the lumen of the inner tubular member. A tubular sleeve is disposed coaxially between the inner and outer tubular members. A balloon is mounted on a distal region of the outer tubular member and is in communication with the first lumen. The cannula further comprises a port proximal or distal the balloon occluder and is in communication with the second lumen. Methods for making the devices herein are disclosed.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . A filtering device, comprising:
 a guidewire having a proximal section and a distal section; and   a filter assembly coupled to the distal section of the guidewire;   wherein the filter assembly includes a plurality of substantially cylindrical, expandable filter elements, the filter elements configured to substantially engage a wall of a blood vessel in an expanded condition.   
   
   
       3 . The filtering device of  claim 2 , wherein the filter elements comprise sponge-like devices. 
   
   
       4 . The filtering device of  claim 3 , wherein the sponge-like devices are sufficiently porous to permit blood to pass though the sponge-like devices while entrapping embolic material. 
   
   
       5 . The filtering device of  claim 4 , wherein the sponge-like devices have varying porosity. 
   
   
       6 . The filtering device of  claim 5 , wherein the porosity decreases distally. 
   
   
       7 . The filtering device of  claim 2 , further including a sheath having a lumen therethrough;
 wherein the filter assembly is compressed within the lumen to define a contracted condition.   
   
   
       8 . An embolic protection device, comprising:
 a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end; and   a filter assembly including a first expandable sponge-like element and a second expandable sponge-like element mounted on the guidewire;   wherein the sponge-like elements are configured to substantially engage a wall of a blood vessel and permit blood to pass through the elements;   wherein the sponge-like elements are configured to capture embolic material within the elements.   
   
   
       9 . The embolic protection device of  claim 8 , wherein each of the sponge-like elements includes an upstream region and a downstream region, the sponge-like elements having a porosity decreasing from the upstream region to the downstream region. 
   
   
       10 . The embolic protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the porosity is configured such that embolic material enters the upstream region and is captured by the downstream region. 
   
   
       11 . The embolic protection device of  claim 8 , wherein the second expandable sponge-like element is mounted at the distal end of the guidewire, and the first expandable sponge-like element is mounted to the guidewire proximally of the second expandable sponge-like element. 
   
   
       12 . The embolic protection device of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second expandable sponge-like elements are fixedly mounted on the guidewire. 
   
   
       13 . The embolic protection device of  claim 8 , wherein the guidewire extends centrally through the first expandable sponge-like element. 
   
   
       14 . The embolic protection device of  claim 13 , wherein the guidewire extends centrally through the second expandable sponge-like element. 
   
   
       15 . The embolic protection device of  claim 11 , wherein the first expandable sponge-like element is spaced apart from the second expandable sponge-like element. 
   
   
       16 . An embolic protection device, comprising:
 a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end; and   a filter assembly including a first substantially cylindrical, expandable sponge and a second substantially cylindrical, expandable sponge fixedly attached to the guidewire, the sponges configured to permit blood to pass freely through the sponges;   wherein each of the sponges has a peripheral surface configured to substantially engage a wall of a blood vessel when the filter assembly is in an uncompressed state;   wherein each of the sponges has a proximal surface and a distal surface. wherein the proximal surface is sufficiently porous to allow embolic particles to enter the sponge and the distal surface is sufficiently dense to capture and contain the embolic particles within the sponge.   
   
   
       17 . The embolic protection device of  claim 16 , wherein the first expandable sponge is spaced apart from the second expandable sponge. 
   
   
       18 . The embolic protection device of  claim 16 , further including a sheath having a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the filter assembly is in a compressed state when the filter assembly is disposed within the lumen. 
   
   
       19 . The embolic protection device of  claim 18 , wherein the filter assembly is moved between the compressed state and the uncompressed state by movement of the guidewire relative to the sheath.