MEDICAL IMPLANT DETACHMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090062726A1
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bsoton Scientific Scimed Incorporated
• Inventors: Ma, Christina, Chu, Stella, Oo, Elena, Que, Like, Williams, Michael, Teoh, Clifford, Ramzipoor, Kamal, McGill, Scott, Huang, Ann, Ford, Russell
• Granted Patent: US 8,221,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/57
• 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 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12063 electrolytically detachable

Abstract

An implant assembly comprises an elongated pusher member, and an implantable device (e.g., a vaso-occlusive device) mounted to the distal end of the pusher member. The implant assembly further comprises an electrolytically severable joint disposed on the pusher member, wherein the implantable device detaches from the pusher member when the severable joint is severed, and a return electrode carried by the distal end of the pusher member (e.g., a coil disposed about the pusher member) in proximity to, but electrically isolated from, the severable joint. The implant assembly further comprises a terminal carried by the proximal end of the pusher member in electrical communication with the severable joint.

Claims

1. An implant assembly, comprising:

an elongated pusher member having a proximal end and a distal end;

an implantable device mounted to the distal end of the pusher member;

an electrolytically severable joint disposed on the pusher member, wherein the implantable device detaches from the pusher member when the severable joint is severed;

a terminal carried by the proximal end of the pusher member in electrical communication with the severable joint; and

a return electrode carried by the distal end of the pusher member in proximity to, but electrically isolated from, the severable joint.

3. The implant assembly of claim 1, wherein one or both of the severable joint and the return electrode comprises silver chloride.

5. The implant assembly of claim 1, wherein the return electrode comprises a coil disposed about the pusher member.

2. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

6-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of implanting a medical device within a patient, comprising:

introducing the medical device within the patient via a pusher member; and

conveying electrical energy to a joint disposed on the pusher member and conveying electrical energy from a return electrode carried by the pusher member to induce an electrolytic reaction between the joint and the return electrode, wherein the joint is severed to detach the medical device from the pusher member at a target site within the patient.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrolytic reaction comprises releasing chloride ions from the return electrode.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the return electrode comprises a coil disposed about the pusher member.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrical energy is conveyed to the joint via the pusher member.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrical energy is conveyed from the return electrode via the pusher member.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrical energy is conveyed from the return electrode to a ground electrode via the tissue of the patient.

22. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

29-31. -31. (canceled)

32. An implant assembly, comprising:

an elongated pusher member having a proximal end and a distal end, the pusher member including a stiffening member and an electrically conductive sheath disposed over the stiffening member;

an implantable device mounted to the distal end of the pusher member;

an electrolytically severable joint disposed on the pusher member, wherein the implantable device detaches from the pusher member when the severable joint is severed;

a terminal carried by the proximal end of the pusher member;

a return electrode carried by the distal end of the pusher member; and

an electrically conductive path extending between the terminal and one of the severable joint and the return electrode, wherein the electrically conductive path includes the electrically conductive sheath.

34. The implant assembly of claim 32, wherein the return electrode is mounted to the pusher member.

35. The implant assembly of claim 32, wherein the electrically conductive sheath comprises at least one of a coil, mesh, or braid disposed over the pusher member.

38. The implant assembly of claim 32, wherein the electrically conductive path extends between the terminal and the return electrode, and the electrically conductive sheath and the stiffening member are electrically isolated from each other.

41. The implant assembly of claim 32, further comprising:

another terminal carried by the proximal end of the pusher member, the pusher member including another electrically conductive sheath disposed over the stiffening member; and

another electrically conductive path extending between the other terminal and another of the severable joint and the return electrode, the other electrically conductive path including the other electrically conductive sheath.

33. (canceled)

36-37. -37. (canceled)

39-40. -40. (canceled)

42-45. -45. (canceled)

46. An implant assembly, comprising:

an elongated pusher member having a proximal end and a distal end, the pusher member including a stiffening member and an electrically conductive sheath disposed over the stiffening member;

an implantable device mounted to the distal end of the pusher member;

an electrolytically severable joint disposed on the pusher member, wherein the implantable device detaches from the pusher member when the severable joint is severed;

a terminal carried by the proximal end of the pusher member; and

an electrically conductive path extending between the terminal and the severable joint, wherein the electrically conductive path includes the electrically conductive sheath.

49. The implant assembly of claim 46, wherein the electrically conductive sheath comprises at least one of a coil, mesh, or braid disposed over the pusher member.

52. The implant assembly of claim 46, wherein the stiffening member has a proximal section having a first diameter and a distal section having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter, and the electrically conductive sheath only extends along the distal section of the stiffening member.

47-48. -48. (canceled)

50-51. -51. (canceled)

53-54. -54. (canceled)

55. An implant assembly, comprising:

an elongated pusher member having a proximal end and a distal end;

an implantable device mounted to the distal end of the pusher member;

an electrolytically severable joint disposed on the pusher member, wherein the implantable device detaches from the pusher member when the severable joint is severed;

a terminal carried by the proximal end of the pusher member in electrical communication with the severable joint; and

a return electrode carried by the distal end of the pusher member, the return electrode being electrically isolated from the severable joint and being configured to remain with the pusher member when the severable joint is severed.

58. The implant assembly of claim 55, further comprising another terminal carried by the proximal end of the pusher member in electrical communication with the return electrode.

56-57. -57. (canceled)

59-106. -106. (canceled)

107. A medical system, comprising:

an implant assembly including an elongated pusher member having a proximal end and a distal end, an implantable device mounted to the distal end of the pusher member, and an electrolytically severable joint disposed on the pusher member, wherein the implantable device detaches from the pusher member when the severable joint is severed; and

an electrical power supply coupled to the implant assembly, the power supply configured for conveying pulsed electrical energy to the severable joint.

113. The medical system of claim 107, wherein the power supply includes a constant current source for conveying the electrical energy.

115. The medical system of claim 107, wherein the power supply includes a constant voltage source for conveying the electrical energy.

108-112. -112. (canceled)

114. (canceled)

116-120. -120. (canceled)

121-145. -145. (canceled)

146. A method of implanting a medical device within a patient, comprising:

introducing the medical device within the patient via a pusher member;

conveying electrical energy from a constant current source to a joint disposed on the pusher member to degrade an oxide layer on the joint; and

subsequently conveying electrical energy from a constant voltage source to the joint to induce an electrolytic reaction at the joint, wherein the joint is severed to detach the medical device from the pusher member at a target site within the patient.

147-155. -155. (canceled)