Method of forming medical devices; intravascular occlusion devices
First Claim
1. A method of forming a medical device comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a metal fabric formed of a plurality of strands, the strands being formed of a metal which can be heat treated to substantially set a desired shape;
(b) deforming the metal fabric outwardly to generally conform to an internal surface of a molding element;
(c) heat treating the metal fabric in contact with the internal surface of the molding element at an elevated temperature, the temperature and the duration of the heat treatment being sufficient to substantially set the shape of the fabric in its deformed state; and
(d) removing the metal fabric from contact with the internal surface of the molding element, whereby the metal fabric defines a medical device which can be collapsed for passage through a catheter for deployment in a channel of the patient'"'"'s body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of forming a medical device and medical devices which can be formed in accordance with the method. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of a) providing a metal fabric formed of a plurality of strands formed of a metal which can be heat treated to substantially set a desired shape; b) deforming the metal fabric to generally conform to a surface of a molding element; c) heat treating the metal fabric in contact with the surface of the molding element to substantially set the shape of the fabric in its deformed state; and d) removing the metal fabric from contact with the molding element. The resulting metal fabric will define a medical device which can be collapsed for passage through a catheter or the like for deployment in a channel of a patient'"'"'s body. Medical devices made in accordance with this method can have varying structures.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of forming a medical device comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a metal fabric formed of a plurality of strands, the strands being formed of a metal which can be heat treated to substantially set a desired shape; (b) deforming the metal fabric outwardly to generally conform to an internal surface of a molding element; (c) heat treating the metal fabric in contact with the internal surface of the molding element at an elevated temperature, the temperature and the duration of the heat treatment being sufficient to substantially set the shape of the fabric in its deformed state; and (d) removing the metal fabric from contact with the internal surface of the molding element, whereby the metal fabric defines a medical device which can be collapsed for passage through a catheter for deployment in a channel of the patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of forming a medical device for deployment in a channel in a patient'"'"'s body, the device having a pre-set expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration enabling passage of the device to a catheter, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a metal fabric formed of a plurality of strands having a first relative orientation with respect to one another, the strands being formed of a metal which can be heat treated to substantially set a desired shape; (b) generally conforming the metal fabric to an internal surface of a molding element to substantially define the device'"'"'s expanded configuration, thereby reorienting the relative positions of the strands with respect to one another; (c) treating the metal fabric while conformed to the internal surface of the molding element to substantially set the strands in their reoriented relative positions; and (d) removing the metal fabric from contact with the internal surface of the molding element, whereby the metal fabric defines a medical device which can be deformed into its collapsed configuration for passage through a catheter for deployment in a channel of a patient'"'"'s body, and which substantially resumes its pre-set expanded configuration in such channel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method of forming and using a medical device comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a tubular fabric braid formed of a plurality of strands, the strands being formed of a material which can be heat treated to substantially set a desired shape; (b) axially compressing the tubular braid to urge the fabric outwardly to generally conform to an internal surface of a molding element; (c) heat treating the tubular braid in contact with the internal surface of the molding element at an elevated temperature, the temperature and the duration of the heat treatment being sufficient to substantially set the shape of the tubular braid in its deformed state; and (d) removing the tubular braid from contact with the internal surface of the molding element, whereby the fabric defines a medical device which can be collapsed for passage through a catheter for deployment in a channel of a patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification