Detachable embolic coil assembly using interlocking hooks and slots

• US 6,099,546 A
• Filed: 01/13/1997
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Target Therapeutics, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Therapeutics, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gia, Son
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, HOA B
• Application Number:
  US08/782,584
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 128/899, 606/108, 606/116-117, 606/191, 606/195, 606/198, 604/57, 604/59, 604/60, 604/62, 604/891.1, 604/892.1
• US Class Current: 606/191
• 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 17/12145 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12068 detachable by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• 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 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0905 extendable, e.g. mechanisms for extension

Abstract

This invention is a surgical instrument and specifically is a device for delivering embolic coils to a selected site within the vasculature or other lumen of a human body via use of a catheter. The invention includes the coils as well. In particular, the device uses embolic coils having a receiving slot on one end of the coil; a catheter control wire or pusher guidewire having a hook which cooperatingly engages the coil'"'"'s receiving slot is used as a coil pusher to eject the coil at the chosen site. The coils of this invention may also be placed within the lumen with a catheter in a nose-to-tail fashion and pushed into the body lumen. Pushing the coil assembly via the pusher from the distal end of the catheter body uncouples the most distal coil.

Claims

1. A method for occluding a selected site in the body'"'"'s vasculature comprising the steps of:

a) accessing the selected vascular site with the distal end of a catheter lumen and a pusher assembly consisting essentially of a pusher engaged to a coil assembly, wherein said pusher has an engageable hook on a distal end, said engageable hook having a portion engaged with a slot in an end of said coil assembly;

b) pushing said pusher assembly to advance said coil assembly through the catheter lumen to the selected vascular site;

c) advancing said coil assembly out of the distal end of the catheter lumen;

d) disengaging said engageable hook on said pusher from said coil assembly slot; and

e) removing the catheter and said pusher from the vasculature.

2. The method of claim 1 where the portion of the engageable hook coordinatively engaging the slot in the coil assembly is "W" shaped.

3. The method of claim 1 where the portion of the engageable hook coordinatively engaging the slot in the coil assembly is "V" shaped.

4. The method of claim 1 where the engageable hook is a bent ribbon.