Geometric flow regulator

• US 20060106450A1
• Filed: 04/10/2003
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shockwave Medical, Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Neovasc Medical Ltd. (Neovasc Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ben Muvhar, Shmuel
• Application Number:
  US10/524,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106450A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.150
• 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 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12131 characterised by the type of occluding device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/068 Modifying the blood flow model, e.g. by diffuser or deflector
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

A tubular implant for obstructing blood flow through a blood vessel, (110) the implant comprising an outer surface having a geometry of a tube, at least a portion of which is adapted for contacting a blood vessel and an inner surface defining a passage through which blood flows, wherein the distance between the inner surface and the outer surface is non-uniform along an axis of said tube.

Claims

1. A tubular implant for obstructing blood flow through a blood vessel, the implant comprising:

an outer surface having a geometry of a tube, at least a portion of which is adapted for contacting a blood vessel; and

an inner surface defining a passage through which blood flows, wherein the distance between the inner surface and the outer surface is non-uniform along an axis of the tube.

2. An implant according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the inner and outer walls are continuous.

3. An implant according to claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the distance is hollow.

4. An implant according to claim 3, wherein the at least one hollow portion is adapted to be inflated.

5. An implant according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the outer and inner surfaces is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flow passage.

6. An implant according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the outer and inner surfaces is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flow passage.

26. An implant according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the implant is adapted to change configuration upon absorption of fluid.

27. An implant according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the implant comprises resilient materials.

28. An implant according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the implant comprises shape memory materials.

29. An implant according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the implant is adapted to be inflated.

7. An implant for obstructing blood flow in a blood vessel, the implant comprising:

a tubular wall defining a flow passage adapted for encircling a flow of blood through a vessel; and

one or more positionally adjustable flaps projecting from the wall into the blood flow.

8. An implant according to claim 7, wherein the one or more flaps comprise two or more flaps.

9. An implant for obstructing blood flow in a blood vessel, the implant comprising:

a tubular wall defining a flow passage adapted for encircling a flow of blood through a vessel;

two or more positionally adjustable flaps each connected at one end to the tubular wall; and

one or more guide elements connecting the two or more flaps, operative to maintain the two or more flaps in a position in which they partially block the flow passage.

10. The implant according to claim 9 wherein the one or more guide elements deform or break under pressure.

11. The implant according to claim 9, wherein the one or more guide elements comprise two or more guide elements.

12. The implant according to claim 11 wherein the two or more guide elements have different pressure thresholds at which they deform or break.

13. An implant for obstructing blood flow in a blood vessel, the implant comprising:

a tubular wall defining a flow passage adapted for encircling a flow of blood through a vessel; and

at least one non-overlapping flap projecting from the wall into the blood flow.

14. An implant according to claim 13, wherein the at least one flap is substantially planar with a surface of the tubular wall.

15. An implant according to claim 13, wherein the at least one flap is substantially non-planar with a surface of the tubular wall.

16. An implant according to claim 13, wherein the at least one flap is positionally adjustable.

17. An implant according to claim 13, wherein the at least one flap comprises at least two non-overlapping flaps.

18. An implant according to claim 13, comprising a kit that additionally includes a flap angle adjusting tool, the tool comprising a shaft having one or more wing projections adapted to press against one or more flow obstructing flaps.

19. The implant according to claim 18, wherein the one or more wings of the tool are activated in one or both of the following ways:

mechanically; and

inflatably.

20. An implant for obstructing blood flow in a blood vessel, the implant comprising:

a tubular wall defining a flow passage adapted for encircling a flow of blood through a vessel and least one wire of varying effective width adapted to at least partially obstruct blood flow.

21. An implant according to claim 20, wherein the at least one wire curves in a plane of the width of the wire.

22. An implant according to claim 20, wherein the at least one wire is connected to an object.

23. An implant according to claim 20, wherein the at least one wire comprises at least two wires.

24. An implant according to claim 23, wherein the at least two wires are interconnected.

25. An implant according to claim 24, wherein the interconnection comprises at least one curved member.

30. A method of modifying an implant geometry, of a tubular implant with at least one intra-luminal flap, comprising:

contacting at least one intra-lumen flap of an implanted vascular implant with an effector element; and

bending said flap by applying force via said contact.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein contacting comprises pulling said element towards said flap.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein contacting comprises pushing said element towards said flap.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein pushing comprises pushing with enough force to tear an element restraining of said flap.

34. A method according to claim 30, wherein said element comprises a mechanically expandable element.

35. A method according to claim 30, wherein said element comprises a mechanically expandable element.

36. An implant comprising:

a radially expandable tubular sheath; and

at least one flap welded to said sheath and configured to at least partially and rigidly obstruct a lumen of said sheath.

37. An implant according to claim 36, wherein said tubular sheath comprises a wire mesh sheath.

38. An implant according to claim 36, comprising at least two flaps and comprising at least one restraining element interconnecting said flaps and limiting their movement relative to each other.

39. An implant according to claim 38, wherein said restraining element is adapted to be torn by applying force to one or more flaps, while implanted.