Vaso-occlusive device having pivotable coupling

• US 20060135986A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wallace, Michael P., Ramzipoor, Kamal
• Granted Patent: US 7,608,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• 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 17/12145 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12154 having stretch limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12054 Details concerning the detachment of the occluding device from the introduction device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12063 electrolytically detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12095 Threaded connection

Abstract

An assembly for occluding a vascular site (e.g., an aneurysm) of a human or veterinary patient includes a vaso-occlusive member, a pusher member having a distal end and a severable junction located proximal to the distal end, and a pivotable coupling that couples the pusher member to the occlusive member. A delivery catheter can be used to deliver the vaso-occlusive member to the vascular site. A method of using the assembly to occlude an aneurysm having an aneurysmal sac and an aneurysmal neck, comprises locating the catheter within the aneurysmal neck, and manipulating the pusher member to place the vaso-occlusive member within the aneurysmal sac. The method further comprises severing the severable junction to detach the vaso-occlusive member from the pusher member. As a result, an axial force is applied by the vaso-occlusive member in a proximal direction, which buckles the pivotable coupling to laterally deflect the axial force. The lateral deflection of the axial force caused by the buckling of the pivotable coupling prevents the catheter from being displaced from the aneurysmal neck by the axial force.

Claims

1. An assembly for occluding a vascular site of a human or veterinary patient, the assembly comprising:

a vaso-occlusive member;

a pusher member having a distal end and a severable junction located proximal to the distal end; and

a pivotable coupling that couples the pusher member to the occlusive member.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the severable junction comprises a mechanically severable junction.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the severable junction comprises an electrolytically severable junction.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the vaso-occlusive member comprises a coil.

5. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising a stretch-resisting member, wherein the pivotable coupling anchors the stretch-resisting member within a lumen of the coil.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivotable coupling comprises an element that electrically insulates the pusher member distal end from vaso-occlusive member.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a catheter having a delivery lumen in which the pusher member is slidably disposed.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivotable coupling comprises a flexible sleeve coupled between the pusher member distal end and vaso-occlusive member.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the sleeve is elastomeric.

10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the pivotable coupling further comprises:

a proximal coil coupled to the pusher member distal end; and

a distal coil coupled to the vaso-occlusive member, wherein the sleeve is disposed over the proximal and distal coils.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivotable coupling comprises:

a proximal link member coupled to the pusher member distal end; and

a distal link member coupled to the vaso-occlusive member, wherein the proximal and distal link members pivotably engage each other.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the proximal and distal link members are hooks or loops.

13. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

a proximal coil coupled to the pusher member distal end, wherein the proximal link member is disposed on a distal end of the proximal coil; and

a distal coil coupled to the vaso-occlusive member, wherein the distal link member is disposed on a proximal end of the distal coil.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivotable coupling comprises:

a first ball member coupled to the pusher member distal end;

a second ball member coupled to the vaso-occlusive member; and

a sleeve holding the first and second ball members.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the sleeve comprises a mesh or braid.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the pivotable coupling further comprises a coil mounted to the vaso-occlusive member, wherein the first ball member is formed onto the pusher member distal end, and the second ball member is formed on a proximal end of the coil.

17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivotable coupling comprises a first coil coupled between the pusher member distal end and the vaso-occlusive member, the first coil comprises open-pitched windings between which spaces reside, the vaso-occlusive member comprises a vaso-occlusive coil comprising proximal windings disposed within the spaces between some of the open-pitched windings, and at least some of the spaces between the open-pitched windings remain empty.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the pivotable coupling comprises a second coil coupled between the pusher member distal end and the first coil, the second coil comprising distal windings disposed within the spaces between some of the open-pitched windings.

19. A method of occluding the vascular site using the assembly of claim 1, comprising:

manipulating the pusher member to place the vaso-occlusive member adjacent the vascular site;

severing the severable junction to detach the vaso-occlusive member from the pusher member, wherein an axial force is applied by the vaso-occlusive member in a proximal direction; and

buckling the pivotable coupling to laterally deflect the axial force.

20. A method of occluding the vascular site using the assembly of claim 7, wherein the vascular site comprises an aneurysm having an aneurysmal sac and an aneurysmal neck, comprising:

locating the catheter within the aneurysmal neck;

manipulating the pusher member to place the vaso-occlusive member within the aneurysmal sac;

severing the severable junction to detach the vaso-occlusive member from the pusher member, wherein an axial force is applied by the vaso-occlusive member in a proximal direction; and

buckling the pivotable coupling to laterally deflect the axial force, wherein the catheter is not displaced from the aneurysmal neck by the axial force.