Importance

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Abstract

A blood clot filter is inwardly radially collapsible into a collapsed configuration for insertion into a vein, and upon insertion automatically radially expands into a predetermined functional form which is in contact with the inner wall of the vein. In the expanded configuration, the filter comprises a plurality of wires in the form of overlapping loops, with portions of the loops contacting the inner wall of the vein, providing a filter basket at the leading end of the filter; at the trailing end the wires have circumferentially spaced leg portions whose free ends contact the inner wall of the vein. The filter wires are composed of a material having a first, relatively pliable low-temperature condition and a second, relatively rigid high-temperature condition. A guide wire feeder device introduces the filter in its collapsed configuration into the blood vessel of a patient through a standard angiographic catheter. Upon emerging from the catheter, the filter responds to the ambient temperature and assumes its functional form.

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First Claim