Detachment mechanisms for implantable devices

• US 10,478,192 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Teoh, Clifford, Williams, Michael, Mirigian, Gregory E., Carroll, Kirsten, Anderson, James M., Rassat, Jay, Arcand, Benjamin, Sutermeister, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US14/629,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20170354419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12113 within an aneurysm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1214 Coils or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12145 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12068 detachable by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12077 Joint changing shape upon application of heat, e.g. bi-metal or reversible thermal memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1209 detachable by electrical current or potential, e.g. electroactive polymer

Abstract

Disclosed herein are detachment mechanisms for vaso-occlusive devices that allow for rapid operator-controlled release of the vaso-occlusive device into the selected site. Also disclosed are vaso-occlusive assemblies comprising these detachment mechanisms and methods of using these detachment mechanisms and vaso-occlusive assemblies.

Claims

1. An assembly, comprising:

an implantable device that includes a structure having a plurality of adjacent windings extending therefrom; and

a detachment mechanism that includes a first electroactive polymer and a second electroactive polymer each configured to reversibly engage the structure between two of the adjacent windings;

wherein the first and second electroactive polymers move from an expanded configuration to an unexpanded configuration such that the first and second electroactive polymers overlap each other, upon application of heat or electrical energy, to release the implantable device.

2. The assembly of claim 1, the detachment mechanism further comprising an energy source, wherein the first and second electroactive polymers are in direct contact with the energy source.

3. The assembly of claim 1, the detachment mechanism further comprising an energy source, wherein the first and second electroactive polymers are not in direct contact with the energy source.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second electroactive polymers in the unexpanded configuration are substantially disengaged from the structure of the implantable device.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is a vaso-occlusive coil.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the detachment mechanism further comprises an elongate tubular member about the first and second electroactive polymers;

and

wherein the first and second electroactive polymers reversibly engage the structure within the elongate tubular member.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the detachment mechanism further comprises an elongate tubular member about the first and second electroactive polymers;

and

wherein the first and second electroactive polymers reversibly engage the structure outside of the elongate tubular member.

17. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gap between the two of the adjacent windings, and wherein the first and second electroactive polymers reversibly engage the gap.

18. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the detachment mechanism further comprises an elongate tubular member about the first and second electroactive polymers;

and

wherein the first and second electroactive polymers reversibly engage the structure such that the structure is pushed against the elongate tubular member in the expanded configuration.

19. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the detachment mechanism further comprises an elongate tubular member about the first and second electroactive polymers, the elongate tubular member having an aperture configured for a flow of electrolytes therethrough.

6. A method of delivering an implantable device, comprising:

introducing an assembly into a lumen of a patient, the assembly comprising;

an implantable device that includes a structure having a plurality of adjacent windings extending therefrom; and

a detachment mechanism that includes a first electroactive polymer and a second electroactive polymer each configured to reversibly engage the structure between two of the adjacent windings;

wherein the first and second electroactive polymers move from an expanded configuration to an unexpanded configuration such that the first and second electroactive polymers overlap each other, upon application of heat or electrical energy, to release the implantable device; and

applying heat or electrical energy to the first and second electroactive polymers to release the implantable device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the lumen is a vessel and the implantable device when released at least partially occludes an aneurysm within the vessel of the patient.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the implantable device is a vaso-occlusive coil.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first and second electroactive polymers move from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration, upon the application of heat thereto.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising an energy source, wherein the first and second electroactive polymers are in direct contact with the energy source.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising an energy source, wherein the first and second electroactive polymers are not in direct contact with the energy source.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second electroactive polymers in the unexpanded configuration are substantially disengaged from the structure of the implantable device.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising an energy source, wherein the first and second electroactive polymers are in direct contact with the energy source.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising an energy source, wherein the first and second electroactive polymers are not in direct contact with the energy source.