Occlusion method and apparatus

• US 6,368,338 B1
• Filed: 03/05/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Wallace, Sidney, Wright, Kenneth C., Kónya, András
• Primary Examiner(s): Reip, David O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, TAN-UYEN THI
• Application Number:
  US09/263,382
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 606/213, 606/151, 606/159, 606/200, 606/191, 606/198, 606/194, 641/04, 641/05
• 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 17/12099 characterised by the location of the occluder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12177 comprising additional materials, e.g. thrombogenic, having filaments, having fibers or being coated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices

Abstract

An occlusion method and apparatus. The occluder includes a elastically deformable members and a jacket. The elastically deformable members are secured in spaced relation and extend in arcuate conformation therebetween. The jacket covers at least a portion of the elastically deformable members. The elastically deformable members are configured to become compressed upon application of a force and to recover the arcuate conformation upon removal of the force to occlude a site.

Claims

1. An occluder comprising:

a plurality of elastically deformable members secured in spaced relation and extending in arcuate conformation therebetween such that one or more of said members do not cross any other member, said plurality of elastically deformable members operable to become compressed upon application of a force and to recover said arcuate conformation upon removal of said force; and

a jacket covering the entire portion of said plurality of elastically deformable members extending in arcuate conformation.

2. The occluder of claim 1, wherein said plurality of elastically deformable members are programmed with thermal memory.

3. The occluder of claim 1, wherein said plurality of elastically deformable members are programmed with superelasticity.

4. The occluder of claim 1, wherein said plurality of elastically deformable members are secured at their ends.

5. The occluder of claim 1, further comprising one or more anchors defined by one or more ends of said plurality of elastically deformable members.

6. The occluder of claim 1, further comprising a pair of clips in spaced relation for securing said plurality of elastically deformable members.

7. The occluder of claim 6, wherein at least one of said clips is interdigitated.

8. The occluder of claim 6, further comprising an eye in operable relation to at least one of said clips.

9. The occluder of claim 1, wherein said jacket comprises DACRON.

10. The occluder of claim 1, wherein said jacket comprises polyurethane.

11. The occluder of claim 1, wherein said plurality of elastically deformable members comprises four or more nitinol wires.

12. The occluder of claim 1, further comprising an occluding agent enclosed within said jacket.

13. The occluder of claim 12, wherein said occluding agent comprises one or more threads of polyester.