Occlusive implants for hollow anatomical structures, delivery systems, and related methods
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for delivering an occlusive implant in a hollow anatomical structure, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongate flexible delivery tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and defining an internal delivery tube lumen having an inner lumen diameter;
a male coupler at the distal end of the delivery tube and defining an internal male coupler lumen, the male coupler including a plurality of cantilevered flexible legs each including a distal end, each of the legs including an internal surface that defines at least a portion of the male coupler lumen and tapers inwardly toward the distal end of each leg such that an interior diameter of the male coupler lumen decreases in the proximal-to-distal direction; and
an elongate control member received within the delivery tube lumen of the delivery tube and translatable therein proximally and distally, the control member having an outer diameter less than the inner lumen diameter of the internal delivery tube lumen and the internal male coupler lumen but greater than the interior diameter of the male coupler lumen adjacent the distal end of the legs, such that when the control member is advanced distally within the male coupler lumen the control member contacts the internal surfaces of the legs to cause them to flex outwardly,wherein the male coupler defines a constant outer diameter over its length without the control member contacting the internal surfaces of the legs to cause them to flex outwardly.
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Abstract
An implant and delivery system including a female coupler at a proximal end of the implant and a male coupler at a distal end of an elongate tubular delivery member. The male coupler is insertable within the female coupler and expandable under the influence of an elongate control member that is slidable within the tubular delivery member. Expansion of the male coupler locks the implant to the tubular delivery member. Withdrawal of the control member unlocks the implant from the tubular delivery member, enabling placement of the implant within a body.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. Apparatus for delivering an occlusive implant in a hollow anatomical structure, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongate flexible delivery tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and defining an internal delivery tube lumen having an inner lumen diameter; a male coupler at the distal end of the delivery tube and defining an internal male coupler lumen, the male coupler including a plurality of cantilevered flexible legs each including a distal end, each of the legs including an internal surface that defines at least a portion of the male coupler lumen and tapers inwardly toward the distal end of each leg such that an interior diameter of the male coupler lumen decreases in the proximal-to-distal direction; and an elongate control member received within the delivery tube lumen of the delivery tube and translatable therein proximally and distally, the control member having an outer diameter less than the inner lumen diameter of the internal delivery tube lumen and the internal male coupler lumen but greater than the interior diameter of the male coupler lumen adjacent the distal end of the legs, such that when the control member is advanced distally within the male coupler lumen the control member contacts the internal surfaces of the legs to cause them to flex outwardly, wherein the male coupler defines a constant outer diameter over its length without the control member contacting the internal surfaces of the legs to cause them to flex outwardly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for occluding a hollow anatomical structure, the system comprising:
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an occlusive implant including an occluding portion and a tubular female coupler, the female coupler defining a female coupler lumen whose internal diameter increases in the proximal-to-distal direction; an elongate flexible delivery tube defining a delivery tube lumen and having a distal end comprising a male coupler, the male coupler defining a male coupler lumen and including a plurality of cantilevered flexible legs configured to be received within the female coupler lumen, each of the legs including an internal surface that defines at least a portion of the male coupler lumen; and an elongate control member received within the delivery tube lumen and translatable therein proximally and distally, the control member having an outer diameter greater than an interior diameter of the male coupler lumen adjacent a distal end of the male coupler lumen, such that when the control member is advanced distally within the male coupler lumen the control member contacts the internal surfaces of the flexible legs to cause the flexible legs to flex outwardly and contact an inner surface of the female coupler lumen to releasably secure the implant to the delivery device, wherein an outer diameter of the male coupler is constant along its length without the control member contacting the internal surfaces of the flexible legs to cause the flexible legs to flex outwardly. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for delivering an occlusive implant to a treatment site in a vessel of a body using an elongate flexible delivery device, the method comprising:
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accessing vasculature of the body at an access site remote from the treatment site; introducing the implant and the delivery device into the vasculature at the access site; advancing the implant and the delivery device through the vasculature toward the treatment site; positioning the implant at the treatment site; expanding the implant to contact an interior wall of the vessel and at least partially occlude the vessel; disengaging the implant from the delivery device; and withdrawing the delivery device; wherein the implant includes a tubular female coupler defining a female coupler lumen, the delivery device includes a distal end comprising a male coupler, and the male coupler is received within the female coupler lumen, the male coupler defining a male coupler lumen therethrough and including a plurality of cantilevered flexible legs extending distally, wherein disengaging the implant from the delivery device comprises withdrawing an elongate flexible control member received within a lumen of the delivery device and the male coupler lumen, the control member having an outer diameter greater than an interior diameter of the male coupler lumen at a distal end of the male coupler, such that as the control member is withdrawn from the male coupler lumen radially outwardly directed force is released from internal surfaces of the legs to cause the legs to relax and retract radially inwardly, and wherein an outer diameter of the male coupler is constant along its length when the elongate control member is withdrawn. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification