Apparatus and method for vascular embolization
First Claim
1. Apparatus for vascular embolization that is deployable through a microcatheter having an axial lumen, comprising:
- a flexible, elongate, hollow deployment tube dimensioned for insertion through the lumen of the microcatheter, the deployment tube having a proximal end and a distal end; and
a filamentous embolic device having a proximal end releasably attached to the distal end of the deployment tube, the embolic device being controllably transformable from a soft, compliant state to a rigid or semi-rigid state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for vascular embolization, deployable through a microcatheter, includes a flexible, elongate deployment tube dimensioned for insertion through the microcatheter, and a filamentous embolic device releasably attached to the distal end of the tube. The embolic device is controllably transformable from a soft, compliant state to a rigid or semi-rigid state. The embolic device may include a polymeric material that is transformable by contact with vascular blood or with a liquid that is cooler than vascular blood, or it may include a metallic material that is transformable by electrolytic corrosion. The embolic device may be a continuous filamentous polymeric extrusion; an elongate microcoil filled with polymeric material; an elongate, multi-segmented chain including polymeric interconnecting portions; or an elongate chain of metal segments that are fused together by electrolytic corrosion. An aneurysm is embolized with this apparatus by deploying a microcatheter so that its distal end is adjacent the aneurysm; deploying the embolic device through the microcatheter and into the aneurysm so that the embolic device forms a web-like mass in the aneurysm; and transforming the embolic device from its soft, compliant state to its rigid or semi-rigid state. The embolic device is advantageously deployed by releasably attaching it to a flexible, elongate deployment tube that is passed through the microcatheter, and then detaching the embolic device from the tube when the embolic device is suitably situated.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. Apparatus for vascular embolization that is deployable through a microcatheter having an axial lumen, comprising:
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a flexible, elongate, hollow deployment tube dimensioned for insertion through the lumen of the microcatheter, the deployment tube having a proximal end and a distal end; and a filamentous embolic device having a proximal end releasably attached to the distal end of the deployment tube, the embolic device being controllably transformable from a soft, compliant state to a rigid or semi-rigid state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vascular embolization device, comprising:
an elongate filamentous element that is controllably transformable from a soft, compliant state to a rigid or semi-rigid state. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of embolizing a vascular site, comprising the steps of:
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(a) deploying a catheter so that its distal end is adjacent the vascular site; (b) providing an elongate, filamentous embolic device that is controllably transformable from a soft, compliant state to a rigid or semi-rigid state; (c) deploying the embolic device through the catheter and into the vascular site so that the embolic device forms a web-like mass in the vascular site; and (d) transforming the embolic device from its soft, compliant state to its rigid or semi-rigid state. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification