Apparatus for deployment of micro-coil using a catheter

• US 6,966,892 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micrus Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Micrus Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ramzipoor, Kamal, Gandhi, Deepak
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/290,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93.01, 604/95.05, 604/533, 604/113, 604/114, 606/108, 606/191, 606/192, 606/194, 606/198, 606/195, 623/1.23
• US Class Current: 604/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• 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 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1214 Coils or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12068 detachable by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12077 Joint changing shape upon application of heat, e.g. bi-metal or reversible thermal memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1209 detachable by electrical current or potential, e.g. electroactive polymer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9505 having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires

Abstract

The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil detachably mounts the therapeutic device to a distal portion of a pusher member. In one embodiment, the therapeutic device is detachably mounted to the distal portion of the pusher member by a tubular collar that can be heated by a heater such as an electrical resistance coil to expand the collar and release and deploy the therapeutic device. The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil may also provide for a pusher member and a connector fiber for securing the therapeutic device to the pusher member. The connector fiber passes through a heater within the distal portion of the pusher member, for heating and breaking the connector fiber to release the therapeutic device when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.

Claims

1. An apparatus for release of a therapeutic device within the vasculature of a patient, comprising:

an elongated, flexible pusher member;

a connector fiber connecting the therapeutic device to the pusher member, the connector fiber being capable of being broken by heat; and

a heater disposed adjacent to the connector fiber for heating the connector fiber to cause the connector fiber to detach the connector fiber from the therapeutic device and to detach the therapeutic device from the flexible pusher member when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heater comprises an electrical resistance heater coil.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control unit, and wherein said heater is connected by electrical connectors to the control unit which supplies electrical current to the heater.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexible pusher member comprises a heat insulating shaft.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connector fiber is formed from a thermoplastic material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connector fiber is formed from polyethylene.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connector fiber passes through the heater.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said therapeutic device to be placed within the vasculature of a patient is connected to an annular connector ring, and the connector fiber passes through the connector ring to connect the therapeutic device to the pusher member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said therapeutic device comprises a vasoocciusive device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said therapeutic device comprises a microcoil.

11. An apparatus for release of a vasoocclusive device through a delivery catheter within the vasculature of a patient, comprising:

an elongated, flexible pusher member;

a connector fiber connecting the vasoocclusive device to the pusher member, the connector fiber being capable of being broken by heat; and

a heater disposed adjacent to the connector fiber for heating the connector fiber to cause the connector fiber to break to detach the connector fiber from the vasoocclusive device and to detach the vasoocclusive device from the flexible pusher member when a desired placement of the vasoocclusive device within the vasculature is achieved.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said heater comprises an electrical resistance heater coil.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a control unit, and wherein said heater is connected by electrical connectors to the control unit which supplies electrical current to the heater.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said flexible pusher member comprises a heat insulating shaft.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said connector fiber is formed from a thermoplastic material.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said connector fiber is formed from polyethylene.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said connector fiber passes through the heater.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said vasoocclusive device is connected to an annular connector ring, and the connector fiber passes through the connector ring to connect the vasoocclusive device to the pusher member.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said vasoocclusive device comprises a microcoil.