Structures for permanent occlusion of a hollow anatomical structure

• US 20060212127A1
• Filed: 01/25/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mirizzi, Michael S., Prestezog, Anna G., Thompson, Russell B., Rodriguez, John W., Karabey, Halil I., Farley, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,262,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.750
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• 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 17/12031 complete occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1204 temporary occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12159 Solid plugs; being solid before insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12181 formed by fluidized, gelatinous or cellular remodelable materials, e.g. embolic liquids, foams or extracellular matrices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12186 liquid materials adapted to be injected
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1219 expandable in contact with liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00898 expandable upon contact with fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 Knot pushers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices

Abstract

An apparatus for treating a hollow anatomical structure comprises an implant sized for insertion into a hollow anatomical structure. The implant comprises a plurality of loose, bulked fibers. The fibers are formed from one or more bioabsorbable materials.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating a hollow anatomical structure, said apparatus comprising:

an implant sized for insertion into said hollow anatomical structure, said implant comprising a plurality of loose, bulked fibers, said fibers being formed from one or more bioabsorbable materials.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fibers are radially bulked.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fibers are randomly arranged.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fibers are non-knit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fibers are non-woven.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fibers are formed from an alpha-hydroxy acid.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fibers are formed from material selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polyglycolic-co-lactic acid, polylactic-glycolic acid, polyglycolide-co-lactide, and polyglycolide.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least some of said fibers are from 0.1 denier to 10 denier.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant comprises between 500 and 500,000 fibers.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fibers are joined at a first end portion of said implant.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said fibers are joined at a second end portion of said implant.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant comprises a fixation element configured to limit migration of said implant when in said hollow anatomical structure.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tether coupled with said implant.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said tether is configured to extend beyond at least one end portion of said implant.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said tether extends within said implant.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said tether is formed from a bioabsorbable material having a first bioabsorption rate, said fibers are formed from a bioabsorbable material having a second bioabsorption rate, and said first bioabsorption rate differs from said second bioabsorption rate.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said first bioabsorption rate is lower than said second bioabsorption rate.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said first bioabsorption rate is higher than said second bioabsorption rate.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fibers have a bioabsorption time of 2-24 weeks after implantation.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising an implant locking mechanism.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pull string coupled with said implant, said pull string being operable to expand said implant radially.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said pull string is configured to extend beyond at least one end portion of said implant.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said pull string extends within said implant.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said implant locking mechanism comprises a funnel coupled with said implant.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said pull string is knotted.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said pull string comprises a plurality of bumps along at least a portion thereof.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant further comprises a radially expandable element.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said fibers are positioned generally interior to said expandable element when implanted in said hollow anatomical structure.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said fibers are positioned generally exterior to said expandable element when implanted in said hollow anatomical structure.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said expandable element extends generally the full length of said implant.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said expandable element is positioned generally at an end portion of said implant.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said expandable element comprises a braid.

33. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a self-expanding element configured to anchor said implant when inserted within said hollow anatomical structure.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant additionally comprises a drug.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant additionally comprises a sclerosant.

36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant has a first density associated with an unstressed state of said implant, and a higher second density associated with a radially compressed state of said implant.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fibers comprise first fibers having a first bioabsorption rate and second fibers having a second bioabsorption rate, and wherein said first bioabsorption rate differs from said second bioabsorption rate.

38. An apparatus for treating a hollow anatomical structure, said apparatus comprising:

a scaffold configured for implantation in said hollow anatomical structure, at least a section of said scaffold comprising a plurality of loose fibers that extend generally longitudinally and form a number of bends along the length thereof, said fibers being formed from one or more bioabsorbable materials.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said fibers are randomly arranged in said scaffold.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein one of said fibers comprises a number of said bends which are spaced apart along said fiber by one or more distances which are significantly smaller than the length of said fiber.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said section of said scaffold is non-knit.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said section of said scaffold is non-woven.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein an outer surface of said scaffold is abrasive.

44. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said fibers comprise first fibers having a first bioabsorption rate and second fibers having a second bioabsorption rate, and wherein said first bioabsorption rate differs from said second bioabsorption rate.

45. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said fibers have a bioabsorption time of 2-24 weeks after implantation.

46. A scaffold for treating a hollow anatomical structure, said scaffold comprising:

a plurality of tortuous, non-knit fibers, said fibers being formed from one or more bioabsorbable materials.

47. The scaffold of claim 46, wherein said fibers are randomly arranged.

48. The scaffold of claim 46, wherein said fibers are loosely arranged in said scaffold.

49. The scaffold of claim 46, wherein at least a portion of said scaffold is non-knit and non-woven.

50. The scaffold of claim 46, wherein said fibers comprise first fibers having a first bioabsorption rate and second fibers having a second bioabsorption rate, and wherein said first bioabsorption rate differs from said second bioabsorption rate.

51. The scaffold of claim 46, wherein said fibers have a bioabsorption time of 2-24 weeks after implantation.