Polymer embolic elements with metallic coatings for occlusion of vascular malformations
First Claim
1. A system for occluding a vascular malformation, comprising:
- an elongate embolic member comprising a flexible polymer core that carries a thin conductive surface layer;
an elongate catheter sleeve having a passageway that carries the embolic member;
at least one conductive electrode surface exposed about a distal portion of said passageway for contacting the surface of the embolic member; and
an electrical source coupled to said at least one conductive electrode surface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for occlusion of aneurysms comprising a class of polymer embolic elements that carry a conductive material to provide the element with a specified resistivity. The embolic element is introduced into a targeted vascular malformation from a catheter sleeve that carries an electrode arrangement at its distal terminus. After introducing any selected length of the embolic element into the vascular malformation to mechanically occlude the malformation, the physician delivers electrical current within a first selected power range to the electrode at the catheter terminus. The electrical current flows to the embolic element wherein the specified resistivity of the element controllably causes a selected thickness of coagulum to form about the surface of the embolic element to more fully occupy the volume of the malformation with occlusive material. A controller and feedback circuitry allow the embolic element to be maintained at a selected temperature to insure even build-up of the desired coagulative layer about the electrode, without risk of creating hot-spots within the aneurysm. Thereafter, the physician delivers electrical current at second higher power level to electrode arrangement to cause the embolic element to act as a fuse at the catheter terminus to divide any selected length of deployed embolic element from the remainder of the embolic element still within the catheter sleeve.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for occluding a vascular malformation, comprising:
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an elongate embolic member comprising a flexible polymer core that carries a thin conductive surface layer;
an elongate catheter sleeve having a passageway that carries the embolic member;
at least one conductive electrode surface exposed about a distal portion of said passageway for contacting the surface of the embolic member; and
an electrical source coupled to said at least one conductive electrode surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of disposition of an occlusive element within a targeted site of a patient'"'"'s vasculature, comprising:
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(a) introducing an elongate polymer embolic element carrying a conductive material for providing a specified resistivity through a catheter sleeve in the patient'"'"'s vasculature so that a selected length of the polymer element is disposed within said targeted site, the selected length defined as the portion of the embolic element disposed outwardly of a distal termination of the catheter sleeve;
(b) delivering electrical current flow at a selected power level to at least one electrode carried at the distal termination of the catheter sleeve proximate to the embolic element;
(c) wherein the selected power level causes an energy density in the embolic element to separate the selected length of said element proximate to said at least one electrode; and
(d) withdrawing the catheter sleeve from the patient'"'"'s vasculature leaving said selected length at the targeted site. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A system for occluding a vascular malformation, comprising:
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an elongate embolic member comprising a polymer matrix carrying a conductive material at least partially embedded therein;
an elongate catheter sleeve having a passageway that slidably carries the embolic member;
a conductive electrode surface exposed about a distal portion of said passageway; and
a remote electrical source coupled to said conductive electrode surface. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method of occluding a targeted site of a patient'"'"'s vasculature, comprising:
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providing an elongate embolic element having a resistivity ranging between about 1 ohm per 10 cm. and 500 ohms per 10 cm.;
introducing the elongate embolic element through a catheter sleeve in the patient'"'"'s vasculature so that a selected length of the embolic element is disposed within the targeted site, the selected length occupying a volume of the targeted site to thereby partially mechanically occlude the targeted site; and
delivering electrical current at a selected power level to the embolic element from at least one electrode within a distal portion of the catheter sleeve;
wherein said current delivery step creates a coagulative layer about the embolic element to further mechanically occlude the targeted site. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification