Actuating constraining mechanism

• US 20050085848A1
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rubicon Medical, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rubicon Medical, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Edmiston, Daryl R., Linder, Richard J., Johnson, Steven W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,699,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/013 Distal protection devices, i.e. devices placed distally in combination with another endovascular procedure, e.g. angioplasty or stenting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• 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 2002/9665 with additional retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical

Abstract

Disclosed is a constraining mechanism that enhances the strength of a medical device, while also preventing over expansion of the device, during a procedure. The medical device includes a plurality of biased struts to which a constraining mechanism is coupled. The constraining mechanism includes a spine, which couples to one of the plurality of struts, and one or more branches extending from the spine. The branches have a curvature enabling the branches to substantially surround the plurality of struts while at the same time avoiding contact with the wall of the blood vessel of the patient when the medical device is deployed.

Claims

1. A mechanism for use with a medical device having a plurality of biased members, the mechanism comprising:

a spine configured to couple with the medical device; and

one or more branches extending from said spine, each of said one or more branches being configured to at least partially surround the plurality of biased members and selectively limit the movement of the plurality of biased members.

2. The mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein said spine comprises one or more ends, each of said one or more ends including a hole configured to couple said spine to one of the plurality of biased members.

3. The mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein said spine comprises a first side and a second side, one or more of said one or more branches extending from each of said first side and said second side.

4. The mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said one or more branches is biased to extend from said spine.

5. The mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said one or more branches is curved towards a first end of said spine.

6. A mechanism for use in a medical device having a plurality of biased members and an actuating member, the mechanism comprising:

a spine configured to mount to the medical device; and

one or more branches extending from said spine, each of said one or more branches having a engagement means for receiving at least a portion of the actuating member, said one or more branches being configured to at least partially surround the plurality of biased members and limit the movement of the plurality of biased members as the actuating member engages with said one or more branches.

7. The mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein said means for receiving comprises a hole adapted to receive the actuating member.

8. The mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein said spine comprises one or more ends, each of said one or more ends having a hole configured to mount said spine to one of said plurality of biased members.

9. The mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein said spine comprises a first side and a second side, one or more of said one or more branches extending from each of said first side and said second side.

10. The mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein said mechanism substantially comprises shape memory material.

11. A mechanism, for use with a medical device having a plurality of biased members and an actuating member, which selectively limits the movement of the plurality of biased members, the mechanism comprising:

a spine having at least one hole adapted to receive at least a portion of a biased member of the plurality of biased members; and

one or more branches extending from said spine, each of said one or more branches including a hole adapted to receive the actuating member and being curved to surround at least a portion of the plurality of biased members.

12. The mechanism as recited in claim 11, wherein said mechanism substantially comprises NiTiNOL.

13. The mechanism as recited in claim 11, wherein said spine slidably cooperates with said at least a portion of the biased member.

14. The mechanism as recited in claim 11, wherein at least two of said one or more branches are separated by a gap, said gap being sufficient to receive one of said one or more branches as said one or more branches surround at least a portion of the plurality of biased members.

15. A medical device comprising:

a guide member having a distal end and a proximal end;

an expandable medical mechanism coupled to said guide member, said expandable medical mechanism including a plurality of biased struts; and

a mechanism mounted to at least one of said plurality of biased struts, said mechanism being adapted to limit movement of said plurality of biased struts and at least partially surround said plurality of biased struts.

16. The medical device as recited in claim 15, wherein said mechanism comprises a spine and one or more branches extending from said spine, said one or more branches being configured to have a curvature toward said expandable medical mechanism and at least partially surround at least a portion of said plurality of biased struts.

17. The medical device as recited in claim 15, wherein said spine comprises one or more ends, each of said one or more ends including a hole configured to couple said spine to one of the plurality of biased struts.

18. The medical device as recited in claim 15, wherein said one or more branches comprise one or more first branches extending from a first side of said spine and one or more second branches extending from a second side of said spine.

19. The medical device as recited in claim 18, further comprising an actuating member, said actuating member engaging with said one or more first branches and said one or more second branches in an alternating manner as said actuating member engages with said one or more branches.

20. The medical device as recited in claim 15, wherein said mechanism substantially comprises NiTiNOL.

21. A process for manufacturing a mechanism for use in a medical device having a plurality of biased members, comprising:

a step for forming a mechanism on a generally planar member, said mechanism having a spine and one or more branches extending from said spine, each of said one or more branches having a hole; and

upon removing said mechanism from said generally planar member, a step for shaping said mechanism for use in selectively constraining the plurality of biased members of the medical device.

22. The process as recited in claim 21, wherein said step for shaping is achieved by heat treating.

23. The process as recited in claim 21, wherein said generally planar member substantially comprises a shape memory material.

24. The process as recited in claim 21, wherein said step for forming a mechanism is achieved by etching.

25. The process as recited in claim 21, further comprising a step for inspecting one or more regions of said planar member to ensure a uniform thickness in each of said one or more regions.