Axially detachable embolic coil assembly

• US 5,350,397 A
• Filed: 11/13/1992
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Target Therapeutics, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Therapeutics, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Palermo, Thomas J., Pham, Phong
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAWSON, GLENN K
• Application Number:
  US07/975,376
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/108, 606/190, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 606/200, 604/11-15, 623/1, 128/898
• 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 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12145 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1495 Electrodes being detachable from a support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0058 X-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section

Abstract

This invention is a surgical instrument and specifically is a device for delivering an embolic coil to a selected site within a vessel in a human body via use of a catheter. In particular, the device involves an embolic coil having an enlarged member, such as a ball attached thereto which coil is released by forcing the enlarged member through an aperture in a socket situated on the distal end of a pusher assembly.

Claims

1. A pusher-coil assembly for use in occluding a selected site within a vessel comprising:

(a) a vasoocclusive coil having a proximal end and a distal end and having an enlarged member with a diameter, said enlarged member fixedly attached to the coil'"'"'s proximal end;

(b) a pusher housing having a distal end and having a socket at its distal end, said socket having a throat aperture diameter smaller than the diameter of the enlarged member within which the enlarged member is held; and

(c) a plunger located within the pusher housing, said plunger axially movable relative to the pusher housing and coil from a first position to a second position, which axial movement pushes the coil and the enlarged member through the socket throat and thus uncouple the coil from the pusher housing.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the enlarged member is a ball.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the vasoocclusive coil is selected from helical, random, or straight.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the socket is slotted.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the socket throat is grooved.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the plunger comprises a plunger wire adapted to move axially within the pusher housing.

7. A method for occluding a selected site within a vessel comprising the steps of:

(a) accessing the site with a distal end of a catheter;

(b) advancing the assembly of claim 2 through the catheter until the ball attached to the coil is located distally of the distal end of the catheter;

(c) pushing the plunger against the ball to detach the coil from the pusher housing; and

(d) withdrawing the catheter from the vessel.