Apparatus for deployment of micro-coil using a catheter

• US 8,100,918 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micrus Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Micrus Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Gandhi, Deepak, Ramzipoor, Kamal
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITCZAK, CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US12/856,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20100305605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 604/113, 604/114, 604/93.01, 604/95.05, 604/531, 606/108, 606/191, 606/192, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 606/200, 606/32, 623/1.23, 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 623/1.19
• US Class Current: 606/108
• 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, said elongated, flexible pusher member having a shaft with a distal end;

an elongated mandrel disposed in said elongated, flexible pusher member and having a distal portion extending distally beyond said distal end of said shaft of said elongated, flexible pusher member;

a connector fiber connecting a therapeutic device to said elongated mandrel and having a distal portion, the connector fiber being capable of being severed by heat;

a plurality of collars disposed over said connector fiber and said distal portion of said mandrel and retaining said connector fiber on said mandrel; and

a heater disposed within one of said plurality of collars adjacent to the connector fiber for heating the connector fiber to cause the connector fiber to be severed and release the therapeutic device and to thereby detach the therapeutic device from the elongated mandrel when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of collars comprises a first collar and a second collar disposed distally of said first collar at said distal portion of said mandrel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said heater is disposed within said second collar.

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

5. 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.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shaft of said flexible pusher member comprises a heat insulating shaft, and wherein said heat insulating shaft is disposed over at least a portion of said elongated mandrel.

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

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

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

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said therapeutic device to be placed within the vasculature of a patient is connected to a connector ring, and the connector fiber passes through the connector ring.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said therapeutic device comprises a vasoocclusive device.

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

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of collars are formed of polyethylene terephthalate.