| abstract |
Implantable blood filtering device (20) and method for filtering embolic material (circles) from blood flowing from at least one of source veins (62) and (68) into the sink vein (64) of a venous furcation (60). Device (20) is an expansible, tubular shaped porous mesh-like element (22) of filaments (24), having first end region (e1) positional in a first source vein of venous furcation (60), second end region (e2) positional in a second source vein or in sink vein (64) of venous furcation (60), and middle filtering zone (F) circumferentially and longitudinally extending between first (e1) and second (e2) end regions, whereby middle filtering zone (F) of element (22) when so positioned in venous furcation (60), filters embolic material from blood passing through pores (26) of middle filtering zone (F), while substantially not disturbing flow of blood through venous furcation (60), thereby preventing embolic material from entering sink vein (64) of venous furcation (60). |