Absorbable Vascular Filter

Abstract

An absorbable vascular filter is disclosed for deployment within a vessel for temporary filtering of body fluids. A preferred embodiment is the placement of such absorbable vascular filter within the inferior vena cava (IVC) to filter emboli for the prevention of pulmonary embolism for a limited duration in time. Once protection from PE is complete, the filter is sequentially biodegraded according to a planned schedule determined by the absorption properties of the filter components. Hence the temporary absorbable vascular filter obviates the long term complications of permanent IVC filters such as increased deep vein thrombosis, while also circumventing the removal requirement of metal retrievable IVC filters.

1 . An absorbable filter comprising:
 a circumferential element attached to a vessel; and   a plurality of absorbable capture elements affixed to the circumferential element for capturing unwanted substances flowing in a vessel for a limited period of time.   
     
     
         2 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein more than one absorbable capture element has both ends attached to the circumferential element to form a loop, such that collectively the loops form a capture basket. 
     
     
         3 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein more than one absorbable capture element has both ends attached to the circumferential element to form a loop, and at least one capture element serves to integrate the loops to form a capture basket. 
     
     
         4 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein more than one absorbable capture element has both ends attached to the circumferential element to form a loop that does not extend to the radial center of the circumferential element, and at least one capture element serves to integrate the loops to form a capture basket. 
     
     
         5 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a subset of the absorbable capture elements are chosen to sequentially degrade in time to avoid simultaneous bulk release of capture elements in the vessel over time. 
     
     
         6 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the capture members are fabricated from absorbable materials including, but not limited to, polydioxanone, polytrimethylene carbonate, polyglactin, polyglycolic acid, poliglecaprone, polyglytone, and polylacticoglycolic acid. 
     
     
         7 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the capture members are absorbable sutures. 
     
     
         8 . A device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the capture members are constructed from absorbable sutures including, but not limited to, Vicryl, Monocryl, PDS, PDS II, Dexon, Dexon II, Maxon, PLGA, Surgical Gut, Ethibond, Panacryl, Caprosyn, 
     
     
         9 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential element is non-absorbable. 
     
     
         10 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential element is absorbable. 
     
     
         11 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential element is fabricated of materials including, but not limited to, Nitinol, Elgiloy, Phynox, stainless steel, MP35N alloy, titanium alloy, platinum alloy, niobium alloy, cobalt alloy, or tantalum wire. 
     
     
         12 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential element is fabricated of absorbable materials including, but not limited to, polydioxanone, polytrimethylene carbonate, polyglactin, polyglycolic acid, poliglecaprone, polyglytone, or polylacticoglycolic acid. 
     
     
         13 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential element comprises an anchor element or barb for attachment to a vessel. 
     
     
         14 . An absorbable filter comprising:
 a circumferential element attached to a vessel; and   a capture basket affixed to the circumferential element for capturing unwanted substances flowing in a vessel for a limited period of time.   
     
     
         15 . A device as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the capture basket is a mesh. 
     
     
         16 . A device as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the capture basket is fabricated from materials including, but not limited to, polypropylene, polypropylene encapsulated in polydioxanone, polypropylene co-knitted with polyglycolic acid fibers, polyethylene terephathalate, and ePTFE. 
     
     
         17 . A device as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the capture basket is fabricated from materials including, but not limited to, C-QUR, PROCEED, Bard Sepramesh IP Composite, Parietiex Composite and DUALAMESH. 
     
     
         18 . A method for delivering a filter as claimed in 1 and 14 with a delivery catheter wherein the delivery comprises:
 inserting the filter, in compressed form, within a delivery catheter to a desired position within a vessel; and   deploying the filter in expanded form at the desired position within a vessel; and   subsequently removing delivery catheter from the vessel.