Vaso-occlusive device delivery system

• US 9,717,502 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation, Stryker European Holdings I, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Hancun, Guo, Lantao, Murphy, Richard, Teoh, Clifford, Odell, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS, RICHARD G
• Application Number:
  US14/206,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12031 complete occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1214 Coils or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12154 having stretch limiting means
• 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

Abstract

A vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly includes a pusher assembly having proximal and distal ends, a conductive sacrificial link disposed at the distal end of the pusher assembly, and a vaso-occlusive device secured to the pusher assembly by the sacrificial link. The pusher assembly includes first and second conductors extending between the proximal and distal ends thereof. The sacrificial link is electrically coupled between the first and second conductors, such that the first conductor, sacrificial link and second conductor form an electrical circuit, and, when a disintegration current is applied through the sacrificial link through the first and second conductors, the sacrificial link thermally disintegrates, thereby releasing the attachment member and vaso-occlusive device from the pusher assembly.

Claims

1. A vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly, comprising:

a pusher assembly comprising a pusher conduit defining a pusher lumen and having proximal and distal ends, the pusher conduit forming a first conductor extending between the proximal and distal ends, and the pusher assembly having a second conductors disposed within the pusher lumen and extending between the proximal and distal ends; and

a vaso-occlusive device releasably coupled to the pusher assembly by a connector member, the connector member comprising

a proximal connecting member coupled to the pusher assembly,

a distal connecting member coupled to the vaso-occlusive device, and

a thermally-degradable sacrificial member electrically connected to the first and second conductors, the sacrificial member comprising a proximal portion coupled to the proximal connecting member and a distal portion extending distally of the proximal connecting member and coupled to the distal connecting member to thereby attach the pusher assembly to the vaso-occlusive device,

wherein the sacrificial member generates heat through resistive heating to thermally disintegrate the sacrificial member when a disintegration current is applied through the sacrificial link, thereby releasing the vaso-occlusive device from the pusher assembly.

2. The vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal and distal connectors each have a flattened profile, and wherein the pusher assembly further comprises a distal end coil having open pitch windings,

wherein the proximal connector member defines a plurality of fingers that are interlaced between adjacent open pitched windings of the pusher assembly distal end coil,

wherein the vaso-occlusive member comprises a vaso-occlusive coil having open pitch windings at a proximal end thereof, and

wherein the distal connector member defines a plurality of fingers that are interlaced between adjacent open pitched windings at the proximal end of the vaso-occlusive coil.

3. A vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly, comprising:

a pusher assembly having proximal and distal ends and comprising

first and second conductors extending between the proximal and distal ends of the pusher assembly, and

a thermally-degradable conductive sacrificial link disposed at the distal end of the pusher assembly and electrically coupled between the respective first and second conductors, such that the first conductor, the sacrificial link, and the second conductor form an electrical circuit; and

a vaso-occlusive device secured to the pusher assembly by the sacrificial link, wherein the sacrificial link is configured to generate heat that thermally disintegrates the sacrificial link when a disintegration current is applied through the sacrificial link, thereby releasing the vaso-occlusive device from the pusher assembly;

an attachment member secured to the vaso-occlusive device and secured to the pusher assembly by the sacrificial link, the attachment member comprising a meltable tether,

wherein the meltable tether is configured such that, when a heating current, less than the disintegration current, is applied through the sacrificial link, the sacrificial link is heated by resistive heating to a temperature sufficient to sever the meltable tether without disintegrating the sacrificial link, thereby detaching the vaso-occlusive device from the pusher assembly.

4. The vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly of claim 3, further comprising a power supply electrically connected to the first and second conductors, wherein the power supply is controllable to selectively deliver the disintegration current or the heating current through the sacrificial link.

5. The vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly of claim 3, further comprising a third conductor extending between the proximal and distal ends of the pusher assembly and electrically connected to the sacrificial link, such that the third conductor, sacrificial link, and second conductor form an electrical circuit, wherein the third conductor has a greater resistivity than the first conductor, such that, when the disintegration current is applied through the sacrificial link through the third and second conductors, the sacrificial link is heated by resistive heating to a temperature sufficient to melt the tether without disintegrating the sacrificial link.

6. The vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly of claim 3, further comprising a power supply electrically connected to the first and second conductors, wherein the power supply is controllable to selectively deliver the disintegration current or the heating current through the sacrificial link.

7. The vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly of claim 3, further comprising a third conductor extending between the proximal and distal ends of the pusher assembly and electrically connected to the sacrificial link, such that the third conductor, sacrificial link, and second conductor form an electrical circuit, wherein the third conductor has a greater resistivity than the first conductor, such that, when the disintegration current is applied through the sacrificial link through the third and second conductors, the sacrificial link is heated by resistive heating to a temperature sufficient to melt the tether without disintegrating the sacrificial link.

8. A vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly, comprising:

a pusher assembly having proximal and distal ends and comprising

first and second conductors extending between the proximal and distal ends of the pusher assembly, and

a thermally-degradable conductive sacrificial link disposed at the distal end of the pusher assembly and electrically coupled between the respective first and second conductors, such that the first conductor, the sacrificial link, and the second conductor form an electrical circuit; and

a vaso-occlusive device secured to the pusher assembly by the sacrificial link, wherein the sacrificial link is configured to generate heat that thermally disintegrates the sacrificial link when a disintegration current is applied through the sacrificial link, thereby releasing the vaso-occlusive device from the pusher assembly;

wherein the sacrificial link comprises an electrically conductive polymer tube; and

wherein the electrically conductive polymer tube includes an axial lumen, and wherein a distal end of the first conductor is disposed within the axial lumen.

9. The vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly of claim 8, the vaso-occlusive device comprising a stretch-resisting member having a distal end secured to a distal portion of the vaso-occlusive device, wherein a distal end connector portion of the sacrificial link extends distally of the distal connector member, and is secured to a proximal end of the stretch-resisting member.