System for detaching an occlusive device within a mammalian body using a solderless, electrolytically severable joint

• US 6,589,230 B2
• Filed: 10/27/1999
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Therapeutics, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Pham, Pete Phong, Chee, U. Hiram, Doan, Hong, Kupiecki, David, Mariant, Michael, Sepetka, Ivan, Gia, Son
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US09/428,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/151, 606/191-200, 606/1, 606/127, 606/213, 604/507, 604/508, 604/510, 604/517, 604/52, 604/164, 604/13, 604/523-539, 623/1.1, 623/2.1, 623/2.11, 623/11.11, 623/66.1, 623/900, 623/902-904
• US Class Current: 606/1
• 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 17/12113 within an aneurysm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12145 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12063 electrolytically detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1495 Electrodes being detachable from a support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts

Abstract

A solderless sacrificial link between a detachable member which is placed at and is intended to remain at a desired site within the mammalian body and the core wire used to introduce the detachable member. The detachable member device may be one used to create emboli in the vascular system or may be of any other type deliverable into the human body and detached into an ionic aqueous environment, either for later removal or permanent placement.

Claims

1. A mammalian implant assembly comprising:

a wire having an axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, a distal portion of the wire comprising a discrete metallic link that is susceptible to electrolytic disintegration in an ionic medium, a section of the wire proximal of said link being insulated so as to not be susceptible to electrolytic disintegration in the ionic medium; and

a detachable implant coupled to the wire by a solder-less attachment at a location that is distal to the discrete metallic link, the implant comprised of a material not susceptible to electrolytic disintegration in an ionic medium.

2. The assembly of claim 1 where the distal end of the wire has a constant diameter.

3. The assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising means for providing column strength to the distal section of the wire.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the wire is tapered.

5. A mammalian implant assembly, comprising:

a wire having an axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, a distal portion of the wire comprising a discrete metallic link that is susceptible to electrolytic disintegration in an ionic medium, a section of the wire proximal of said link being insulated so as to not be susceptible to electrolytic disintegration in the ionic medium;

a detachable implant joined to the wire without solder, the implant comprised of a material not susceptible to electrolytic disintegration in an ionic medium; and

a sleeve comprised of a material not susceptible to electrolytic disintegration in an ionic medium, the sleeve joining the wire to the implant.

6. The assembly of claim 5 where the sleeve is metallic.

7. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the detachable implant is welded to the sleeve.

8. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the detachable implant is crimped onto the sleeve.