Filter system and method

Abstract

A filter system, comprising an elongate filter body defining a lumen and having a proximal end and a distal end. A valve can be provided defining a lumen and having a reversibly sealable opening for unidirectional flow of a fluid through the lumen. The valve can be adjoined proximal the distal end of the elongate filter body, wherein the elongate filter body filters the unidirectional flow of the fluid passing through the lumen of the valve and the lumen of the elongate filter body.

1 . A filter and valve system for use in a body lumen, comprising:
 an elongate filter body having a tubular shaft including an expandable filter region fixedly attached at a distal end of the tubular shaft which together define a lumen extending from a proximal end of the tubular shaft toward a distal end of the expandable filter region, the expandable filter region having a collapsed delivery configuration and an expanded configuration; and   a balloon catheter comprising a catheter shaft including a first lumen and a second inflation lumen coupled in fluid tight communication to a distal inflatable balloon on the catheter shaft,   wherein the distal inflatable balloon has a first collapsed balloon configuration and a second expanded balloon configuration;   a balloon expandable stent mounted on the distal inflatable balloon when the distal inflatable balloon is in the first collapsed balloon configuration; and   a cardiac valve releasably positioned adjacent the balloon expandable stent over at least a portion of the distal inflatable balloon when the distal inflatable balloon is in the first collapsed balloon configuration,   wherein the balloon catheter, balloon expandable stent, and cardiac valve are sized and adapted to pass through the lumen of the tubular shaft and the expandable filter region when the expandable filter region is in the expanded configuration and the distal inflatable balloon is in the first collapsed balloon configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The filter and valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the balloon catheter, balloon expandable stent, and cardiac valve are sized and adapted to pass through the lumen of the tubular shaft and the expandable filter region when the expandable filter region is in the collapsed delivery configuration and the distal inflatable balloon is in the first collapsed balloon configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The filter and valve system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sheath defining a lumen wherein the expandable filter region is at least partially contained within the lumen defined by the sheath when the expandable filter region is in the collapsed delivery configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The filter and valve system of  claim 3 , wherein the expandable filter region is self-expanding and self-expands upon withdrawal of the sheath relative to the expandable filter region. 
     
     
         5 . The filter and valve system of  claim 3 , wherein the expandable filter region is formed from temperature sensitive memory alloy which changes shape at a designated temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The filter and valve system of  claim 5 , wherein the temperature sensitive memory alloy which changes shape at a designated temperature is nitinol or a nitinol-type alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The filter and valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable filter region is formed as a woven, braided, or a knit body. 
     
     
         8 . The filter and valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the cardiac valve includes a support frame and a cover. 
     
     
         9 . The filter and valve system of  claim 8 , wherein the cover is positioned over t least a portion of an outer surface of the support frame. 
     
     
         10 . The filter and valve system of  claim 8 , wherein the cover includes surfaces defining a reversibly sealable opening for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the lumen of the cardiac valve. 
     
     
         11 . The filter and valve system of  claim 1 , wherein cardiac valve is expanded into a deployed state by inflation of the distal inflatable balloon from the first collapsed balloon configuration to the second expanded balloon configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The filter and valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate filter body further includes a fluid tight plug positioned within the lumen defined thereby at the distal end of the tubular shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The filter and valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate filter body further includes a valve defining a valve lumen having a reversibly sealable opening for unidirectional flow of a fluid through the valve lumen. 
     
     
         14 . The filter and valve system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is fixedly attached to the expandable filter region of the elongate filter body.