Apparatus for deployment of micro-coil using a catheter

• US 20030069539A1
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deepak Gandhi, Kamal Ramzipoor
• Original Assignee: Deepak Gandhi, Kamal Ramzipoor
• Inventors: Ramzipoor, Kamal, Gandhi, Deepak
• Granted Patent: US 6,966,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• 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 17/12113 within an aneurysm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1214 Coils or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9505 having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires

Abstract

The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil detachably mounts the therapeutic device to a distal portion of a pusher member. In one embodiment, the therapeutic device is detachably mounted to the distal portion of the pusher member by a tubular collar that can be heated by a heater such as an electrical resistance coil to expand the collar and release and deploy the therapeutic device. The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil may also provide for a pusher member and a connector fiber for securing the therapeutic device to the pusher member. The connector fiber passes through a heater within the distal portion of the pusher member, for heating and breaking the connector fiber to release the therapeutic device when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.

Claims

1. An apparatus for release and deployment of a therapeutic device within the vasculature of a patient, comprising:

an elongated, flexible pusher member having an interior lumen and a distal portion;

a tubular collar detachably mounting the therapeutic device to the pusher member for placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature, the tubular collar being expandable when heated and having a closed configuration engaging a proximal portion of the therapeutic device and an open configuration releasing the therapeutic device;

a heater disposed in the tubular collar of the pusher member for heating the tubular collar to cause the tubular collar to expand and release the therapeutic device for detaching and deploying the therapeutic device from the flexible pusher member when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heater comprises an electrical resistance heater coil.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control unit, and wherein said heater is connected by electrical connectors to the control unit which supplies electrical current to the heater coil.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tubular collar is formed from a shape memory material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said shape memory material is a shape memory polymer.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said shape memory material is a shape memory alloy.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tubular collar is formed from a thermoplastic material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said therapeutic device comprises a vasoocclusive device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said therapeutic device comprises a microcoil.

10. An apparatus for release and deployment of a vasoocclusive device within the vasculature of a patient, comprising:

an elongated, flexible pusher member having an interior lumen and a distal portion;

a tubular collar detachably mounting the vasoocclusive device to the pusher member for placement of the vasoocclusive device within the vasculature, the tubular collar being expandable when heated and having a closed configuration engaging a proximal portion of the vasoocclusive device and an open configuration releasing the vasoocclusive device;

a heater disposed in the tubular collar of the pusher member for heating the tubular collar to cause the tubular collar to expand and release the vasoocclusive device for detaching and deploying the vasoocclusive device from the flexible pusher member when a desired placement of the vasoocclusive device within the vasculature is achieved.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said heater comprises an electrical resistance heater coil.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a control unit, and wherein said heater is connected by electrical connectors to the control unit which supplies electrical current to the heater coil.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said tubular collar is formed from a shape memory material.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said shape memory material is a shape memory polymer.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said shape memory material is a shape memory alloy.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said tubular collar is formed from a thermoplastic material.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said vasoocclusive device comprises a microcoil.

18. A method for release and deployment of a therapeutic device within the vasculature of a patient, the steps of the method comprising:

providing a therapeutic device to be placed within the vasculature of a patient;

providing an elongated, flexible pusher member, having an interior lumen, and a distal portion;

providing a tubular collar detachably mounting the therapeutic device to the pusher member for placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature, the tubular collar being expandable when heated and having a closed configuration engaging a proximal portion of the therapeutic device and an open configuration when heated releasing the therapeutic device;

positioning the therapeutic device at a desired placement within a patient'"'"'s vasculature; and

heating a portion of said tubular collar within said interior lumen of said flexible pusher member to expand said tubular collar for detaching and deploying the therapeutic device from the flexible pusher member when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within a patient'"'"'s vasculature is achieved.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said step of heating said tubular collar comprises passing electrical current through said electrical resistance heater to expand said tubular collar.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said therapeutic device comprises a vasoocclusive device.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said therapeutic device comprises a microcoil.

22. An apparatus for release and deployment of a therapeutic device within the vasculature of a patient, comprising:

an elongated, flexible pusher member having an interior lumen and a distal portion;

a connector fiber detachably mounting the therapeutic device to the pusher member for placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature, the connector fiber being capable of being broken by heat;

a heater disposed adjacent to the connector fiber for heating the connector fiber to cause the connector fiber to break and release the therapeutic device for detaching and deploying the therapeutic device from the flexible pusher member when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said heater comprises an electrical resistance heater coil.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a control unit, and wherein said heater is connected by electrical connectors to the control unit which supplies electrical current to the heater coil.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said flexible pusher member comprises a heat insulating shaft.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said connector fiber is formed from a thermoplastic material.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said connector fiber is formed from polyethylene.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said pusher member includes at least one entry port communicating with said interior lumen of said pusher member, and said heater is disposed in the interior lumen of the pusher member adjacent to said at least one entry port.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said connector fiber extends from a proximal portion of the pusher member to form a loop through the connector ring, and back through said at least one port through the pusher member to the proximal portion of the pusher member.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said connector fiber passes through the heater.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said therapeutic device to be placed within the vasculature of a patient is connected to an annular connector ring, and the connector fiber mounting the therapeutic device to the pusher member passes through the connector ring to secure the therapeutic device to the pusher member.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said therapeutic device comprises a vasoocclusive device.

33. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said therapeutic device comprises a microcoil.

34. An apparatus for release and deployment of a vasoocclusive device through a delivery catheter within the vasculature of a patient, comprising:

an elongated, flexible pusher member having an interior lumen and a distal portion;

a connector fiber detachably mounting the vasoocclusive device to the pusher member for placement of the vasoocclusive device within the vasculature, the connector fiber being capable of being broken by heat;

a heater disposed adjacent to the connector fiber for heating the connector fiber to cause the connector fiber to break and release the vasoocclusive device for detaching and deploying the vasoocclusive device from the flexible pusher member when a desired placement of the vasoocclusive device within the vasculature is achieved.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said heater comprises an electrical resistance heater coil.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a control unit, and wherein said heater is connected by electrical connectors to the control unit which supplies electrical current to the heater coil.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said flexible pusher member comprises a heat insulating shaft.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said connector fiber is formed from a thermoplastic material.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said connector fiber is formed from polyethylene.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said pusher member includes a pair of entry ports communicating with said interior lumen of said pusher member, and said heater is disposed in the interior lumen of the pusher member adjacent to said entry ports.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said connector fiber extends from a proximal portion of the pusher member to form a loop through the connector ring, and back through the entry ports through the pusher member to the proximal portion of the pusher member.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said connector fiber passes through the heater.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said vasoocclusive device to be placed within the vasculature of a patient is connected to an annular connector ring, and the connector fiber mounting the vasoocclusive device to the pusher member passes through the connector ring to secure the vasoocclusive device to the pusher member.

44. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said vasoocclusive device comprises a microcoil.

45. A method for release and deployment of a therapeutic device within the vasculature of a patient, the steps of the method comprising:

providing a therapeutic device to be placed within the vasculature of a patient;

providing an elongated, flexible pusher member;

providing a connector fiber detachably mounting the therapeutic device to the pusher member for placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature, the connector fiber being capable of being broken by heating;

positioning the therapeutic device at a desired placement within a patient'"'"'s vasculature; and

heating a portion of said connector fiber to break said portion of said connector fiber for detaching and deploying the therapeutic device from the flexible pusher member when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within a patient'"'"'s vasculature is achieved.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of passing said portion of said connector fiber through an electrical resistance heater disposed within said lumen of said flexible pusher member, and wherein said step of heating said portion of said connector fiber comprises passing electrical current through said electrical resistance heater to break said portion of said connector fiber.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein said therapeutic device comprises a vasoocclusive device.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein said therapeutic device comprises a microcoil.