the present invention relates to a low profile vascular filter system for use in percutaneous angioplasty and stenting , and substantially reduces the risk of distal embolization during interventional procedures . the low profile vascular filter system is designed to address the clinical problems of poor pushability and trackability through the vasculature , and loss of guidewire position upon removal of guidewire - based filters . the low profile vascular filter system comprises a guidewire having proximal and distal markers , and a filter deployment and delivery system coaxially disposed around the guidewire . the filter deployment and delivery system comprises an inner member and an outer member , with a filter removably attached near the distal end of the inner member , and proximal and distal basket sleeves attached near the proximal and distal ends of the filter . the low profile vascular system also comprises a retrieval catheter coaxially disposable around the guidewire and the filter . fig1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the low profile vascular filter system in accordance with the present invention . in this exemplary embodiment , the low profile vascular filter system comprises a guidewire 7 , and a filter deployment and delivery system 12 , coaxially disposed around the guidewire 7 . the filter deployment and delivery system 12 comprises an outer member 13 and an inner member 15 , with the outer member 13 coaxially disposed around the inner member 15 , and the inner member 15 coaxially disposed around the guidewire 7 . the inner member 15 comprises a filter 1 , removably attached near the distal end of the inner member 15 . the filter 1 is collapsed into and constrained by the distal end of the outer member 13 . as illustrated in fig2 , the filter 1 , in the exemplary embodiment , comprises a proximal basket sleeve 2 and a distal basket sleeve 6 , and a plurality of struts 3 therebetween to form a filter membrane support structure . the filter 1 further comprises at least one marker 4 attached to at least one strut 3 . the filter 1 further comprises a permeable filter membrane 5 attached near the distal basket sleeve 6 and attached to the plurality of struts 3 , as illustrated in fig2 . the filter 1 has a smaller first diameter for delivery , as illustrated in fig1 , and a larger second diameter for deployment , as illustrated in fig2 . as illustrated in fig3 , the low profile vascular filter system in this exemplary embodiment comprises a guidewire 7 , having a floppy tip 11 , a distal marker 10 and a proximal marker 9 . these markers 10 , 9 serve two purposes . first , the markers 10 , 9 identify the future location of the filter 1 , under fluoroscopy , after the guidewire 7 , without the filter 1 , is inserted into the lumen . secondly , as illustrated in fig4 , the distal marker 10 serves as a stop for the distal basket sleeve 6 after the filter has been positioned onto the guidewire 7 . the distal basket sleeve 6 has a diameter greater than the maximum diameter of the proximal marker 9 , but not greater than the maximum diameter of the distal marker 10 . the proximal basket sleeve 2 has a diameter that is not greater than the maximum diameter of the proximal marker 9 . accordingly , the filter may be positioned between the distal marker 10 and the proximal marker 9 , as illustrated in fig4 . fig5 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the present invention , wherein the proximal basket sleeve 2 and a modified proximal marker 9 a lock together to minimize longitudinal movement of the device , while still allowing rotational movement of the device . the modified proximal marker 9 a comprises a protruding ridge 9 b which is engaged by an indentation 9 c within the proximal basket sleeve 2 . this may minimize movement of the filter 1 within the lumen , thereby avoiding potential vessel damage and / or accidental release of embolic particulates . as illustrated in fig6 , the exemplary embodiment of the present invention further comprises a retrieval catheter 16 . the retrieval catheter 16 is coaxially disposable around the guidewire 7 ( fig1 ). the distal end 20 of the retrieval catheter 16 has a larger diameter than the body of the retrieval catheter 16 . the distal end 20 of the retrieval catheter 16 may be inserted over the filter 1 ( fig1 ) to capture and collapse the filter 1 , and to remove the filter 1 from the lumen . as illustrated in fig1 , 2 , 3 , 4 and 6 , the low profile vascular filter system may be used to introduce a low profile guidewire into the lumen of a vessel , followed by delivery and deployment of a filter to capture embolic particulates released during the procedure . the guidewire and / or filter may then be retrieved and removed from the lumen . the guidewire 7 , as illustrated in fig3 , may be introduced into the lumen of a vessel through femoral access . the guidewire 7 , with a floppy tip 11 , is positioned past an occlusion in a vessel , with distal marker 10 and proximal marker 9 identifying the future position of the filter under fluoroscopy . then , as illustrated in fig1 , the filter deployment and delivery system may be introduced over the guidewire 7 and advanced through the lumen of the vessel . the filter 1 is removably attached near the distal end of the inner member 15 , and the filter 1 assumes a smaller first diameter when collapsed and constrained within the distal end of the outer member 13 . as illustrated in fig4 , the distal basket sleeve 10 is advanced over the proximal marker 9 , but not the distal marker 10 . in the exemplary embodiment , the distal marker 10 serves as a stop to prevent the filter 1 from advancing distally . the filter 1 is now in position between proximal marker 9 and distal marker 10 , and the outer member 13 may be retracted to allow the filter 1 to achieve its larger second diameter . the inner member 15 may also be retracted , and the filter 1 remains in position on the guidewire . at this point , additional interventional devices , such as balloon catheters and stent delivery systems , may be advanced over the guidewire to complete the interventional procedure . the filter remains in position capturing embolic particulates . then , the retrieval catheter 16 , as illustrated in fig6 , may be advanced over the guidewire 7 to collapse and retrieve the filter 1 . if the filter 1 has become filled with embolic particulates , and the procedure is incomplete , the retrieval catheter may retrieve filter 1 only , and allow the guidewire 7 to remain in position for the balance of the procedure . the guidewire 7 may be made from any number of suitable materials , and may preferably be made from stainless steel or nickel - titanium alloy . the filter struts 3 may be made from any number of suitable materials , and are preferably made from nickel - titanium alloy . the filter markers 4 may be made from any number of suitable materials , and are preferably made from a radiopaque material such as gold , platinum , tantalum , niobium , molybdenum , rhodium , palladium , silver , hafnium , tungsten or iridium . the proximal marker 9 and the distal marker 10 on the guidewire 7 may be made from any number of suitable materials , and are preferably made from radiopaque materials such as gold , platinum , tantalum , niobium , molybdenum , rhodium , palladium , silver , hafnium , tungsten or iridium . the proximal basket sleeve 2 and the distal basket sleeve 6 on the filter 1 may be made from any number of suitable materials , and are preferably made from radiopaque materials such as gold , platinum , tantalum , niobium , molybdenum , rhodium , palladium , silver , hafnium , tungsten or iridium . the filter 1 may also comprise coatings or any other suitable means for enhancing the radiopacity of the device . the permeable filter membrane 5 may be made from any number of suitable materials , and is preferably made from a flexible polymeric material with elastomeric properties including , polyurethane , polyethylene or a co - polymer thereof , as well as combinations thereof . the permeable filter membrane 5 may comprise any number and configuration of openings / holes and preferably comprises openings / holes wherein the hole size is from about twenty to about three hundred microns in diameter . the openings / holes may be created by any suitable means , and may preferably be created by laser drilling . in alternate embodiments , the filter membrane 5 may comprise a porous material rather than manufactured openings / holes . the outer member 13 and the retrieval catheter 16 may be made from any number of suitable materials , and are preferably made from a polymeric material . the inner member 15 may be made from any number of suitable materials , and is preferably made from a polymeric or metallic material . the filter 1 may be removably attached to the inner member 15 by any suitable means , and may preferably be attached via a friction fit or a releasable latch . the permeable filter membrane 5 may be attached to the struts 3 by any suitable means , and may preferably be attached by a bonding or welding process . the struts 3 may be attached to the basket sleeves 2 , 6 by any suitable means , and may preferably be attached by a bonding or welding process . the filter markers 4 may be attached to the struts by any suitable means , and are preferably attached to the struts by a bonding or welding process . the guidewire distal marker 10 and the guidewire proximal marker 9 may be attached to the guidewire by any suitable means , and are preferably attached to the guidewire by a bonding or welding process . although shown and described is what is believed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments , it is apparent that departures from specific designs and methods described and shown will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . the present invention is not restricted to the particular constructions described and illustrated , but should be constructed to cohere with all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims .
a removable , low profile , vascular filter system for capture and retrieval of emboli while allowing continuous perfusion of blood , comprising a guidewire having proximal and distal markers , a filter delivery and deployment system , having an outer member and an inner member , and a filter removably attached near the distal end of the inner member . the filter comprises proximal and distal basket sleeves which position the filter between the proximal and distal markers on the guidewire , after the guidewire is in position past the vessel occlusion . the guidewire placement prior to filter delivery may facilitate access to the interventional site , especially through tortuous anatomy . also , retrievability of the filter from the wire may avoid loss of guidewire position , which may occur following removal of filters permanently attached to guidewires .