Comparative in vitro evaluation of the nitinol inferior vena cava filter.

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Abstract
An [human] inferior vena cava filter made from nitinol, a thermal shape memory alloy, was evaluated. A series of in vitro experiments was designed to assess its shape recovery, orientation, and positioning after delivery and its embolus-capturing efficiency. For comparison, the Mobin-Uddin and Kimray-Greenfield filters were tested. The nitinol filter was easily and accurately delivered and was superior to the other filters in its ability to capture emboli. It also showed no tendency to migrate or to elevate the upstream hydrostatic pressures significantly.