System And Method For Locating Detachment Zone Of A Detachable Implant

• US 20160100819A1
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microvention Incorporated (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microvention Incorporated (Terumo Corporation)
• Inventors: Tieu, Tai D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,299,755 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12113 within an aneurysm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12122 within the heart for closing a cardiac septal defect A61B17/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1214 Coils or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12154 having stretch limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12068 detachable by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2053 Tracking an applied voltage gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30668 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• 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 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0042 Microcatheters, cannula or the like having outside diameters around 1 mm or less
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 : Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 : by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 : Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 : Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 : using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers

Abstract

A system and method for quickly detaching an implant and for locating the detachment zone of a detachable implant. A sensor determines a sudden change in the local environment as the sensor passes from within a microcatheter to being exposed to the vasculature. The sensor may be a temperature sensor, ultrasonic sensor, pressure sensor or the like. If the detachable implant assembly uses a heater coil to detach the implant, the heater coil may be used as a sensor. Additionally, the implant itself may be used as a sensor if a change in electrical resistance is detectable as the implant exits the microcatheter and changes shape.

Claims

1. A method for determining when an implant has advanced out of a microcatheter, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing an implant through a lumen of a microcatheter;

obtaining sensor data representative of an environment through which the implant is advancing;

monitoring the sensor data to determine when the implant has advanced out of the microcatheter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of advancing an implant comprises advancing a coil.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining sensor data representative of an environment through which the implant is advancing comprises obtaining a value selected from the group of values consisting of:

temperature, pressure, distance, frequency, and electrical current.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining sensor data representative of an environment through which the implant is advancing comprises obtaining sensor data representative of the environment within the lumen of the microcatheter and sensor data representative of the environment outside of the microcatheter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining sensor data representative of an environment through which the implant is advancing comprises employing an ultrasonic waves.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said implant comprises a coil and wherein the step of obtaining sensor data representative of an environment through which the implant is advancing comprises obtaining a resistance value from said coil implant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining sensor data representative of an environment through which the implant is advancing comprises obtaining a resistance value from a resistance-type heater.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating when the implant has advanced out of a microcatheter to a human interface device.

9. A method of deploying an implant from a pusher, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing an implant through a lumen of a microcatheter;

obtaining sensor data representative of an environment through which the implant is advancing;

monitoring the sensor data to determine when the implant has advanced out of the microcatheter; and

deploying the implant based on said monitoring.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of obtaining sensor data representative of an environment through which the implant is advancing comprises obtaining a value selected from the group of values consisting of:

temperature, pressure, distance, frequency, and electrical current.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of deploying the implant based on said monitoring comprises breaking a tether coupling the implant to the pusher.