Low profile ivc filter

Abstract

Intravascular filtering devices for placement within a blood vessel are disclosed. An intravascular filter in accordance with the present invention may include a plurality of elongated filter legs biased to radially expand from a collapsed position to a conical-shaped position when deployed in a blood vessel. Each of the filter legs may include a hook region configured to engage the vessel wall. The filter legs may vary in length and/or cross-sectional diameter. In certain embodiments, the dimensions and/or orientation of the hook regions can be configured to allow the filter device to be collapsed into a relatively small introducer catheter or sheath.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intravascular filter device for placement within a blood vessel, comprising:
 a plurality of elongated filter legs each having a proximal section, a distal section, and a length, each elongated filter leg including a hook region configured to engage a blood vessel wall;   wherein a first plurality of the plurality of filter legs differs in length from a second plurality of the plurality of filter legs such that the hook region on said at least the first plurality of elongated filter legs is longitudinally offset from the hook region on the second plurality of elongated filter legs.   
     
     
         2 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of elongated filter legs is biased to radially expand from a collapsed position to an expanded position when deployed in the blood vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 2 , wherein a profile of the intravascular filter in the collapsed position is between 5 and 12 Fr. 
     
     
         4 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 1 , wherein each elongated filter leg of the plurality of elongated filter legs are uniform in cross-sectional diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one elongated filter leg of the plurality of elongated filter legs differs in cross-sectional diameter from another elongated filter leg. 
     
     
         6 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated filter legs are formed of a metal. 
     
     
         7 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 6 , wherein said metal is shape-memory metal. 
     
     
         8 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated filter legs further comprises a third plurality of elongated filter legs. 
     
     
         9 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 8 , such that the hook region on said third plurality of elongated filter legs is longitudinally offset from the hook region on the first plurality of elongated filter legs and is longitudinally offset from the hook region of the second plurality of elongated filter legs. 
     
     
         10 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 1 , wherein the hook region of each of the second plurality of elongated filter legs comprises a main section, a reversibly bent section, and a pointed tip section. 
     
     
         11 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 10 , wherein the reversibly bent section of each of the second plurality of elongated filter legs is disposed at an angle relative to the main section thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 10 , wherein the reversibly bent section of each of the second plurality of elongated filter legs is disposed contiguous to the main section and is adapted to form a landing pad that prevents the pointed tip section from distending the blood vessel wall. 
     
     
         13 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 8 , wherein the hook region of each of the third plurality of elongated filter legs comprises a main section, a reversibly bent section, and a pointed tip section. 
     
     
         14 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 13 , wherein the reversibly bent section of each of the third plurality of elongated filter legs is disposed at an angle relative to the main section thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 13 , wherein the reversibly bent section of each of the third plurality of elongated filter legs is disposed contiguous to the main section and is adapted to form a landing pad that prevents the pointed tip section from distending the blood vessel wall. 
     
     
         16 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 1 , further comprising an apical head coupled to the proximal section of each of said plurality of elongated filter legs. 
     
     
         17 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 1 , further comprising an apical head coupled to the distal section of each of said plurality of elongated filter legs. 
     
     
         18 . The intravascular filter device of  claim 1 , wherein the hook region of the plurality of elongated filter legs is adapted to engage the blood vessel wall.