U.S. patent application number 14/577923 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-04 for filamentary devices for treatment of vascular defects.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sequent Medical Inc.. Invention is credited to Brian J. Cox, Philippe Marchand, Robert F. Rosenbluth.
Application Number | 20150150563 14/577923 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41255880 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150150563 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marchand; Philippe ; et
al. |
June 4, 2015 |
FILAMENTARY DEVICES FOR TREATMENT OF VASCULAR DEFECTS
Abstract
Devices and methods for treatment of a patient's vasculature
with some embodiments configured for delivery with a microcatheter
for treatment of the cerebral vasculature of a patient. Some
embodiments may include a permeable shell configured to occlude
blood flow therethrough.
Inventors: |
Marchand; Philippe; (Lake
Forest, CA) ; Cox; Brian J.; (Laguna Niguel, CA)
; Rosenbluth; Robert F.; (Laguna Niguel, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sequent Medical Inc. |
Aliso Viejo |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
41255880 |
Appl. No.: |
14/577923 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12434465 |
May 1, 2009 |
|
|
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14577923 |
|
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|
61050124 |
May 2, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/194 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 17/12022 20130101;
A61B 17/12113 20130101; A61B 17/12145 20130101; A61B 2017/12054
20130101; A61B 17/1219 20130101; A61B 2017/12068 20130101; A61B
17/12177 20130101; A61M 2025/105 20130101; A61B 17/12172 20130101;
A61M 29/02 20130101; A61B 2017/00867 20130101; A61B 17/12118
20130101; A61B 2017/00526 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/12 20060101
A61B017/12 |
Claims
1. A device for treating an aneurysm comprising: a resilient body
made of plural filaments extending between a distal end and a
proximal end of the body; the body being deformable to a placement
configuration for engaging the body with an aneurysm, the body
being materially biased to an enlarged configuration in which the
body presents a curvilinear surface to tissue abutting the body;
the proximal end being everted to form a concave proximal cavity
defining a proximal periphery, a proximal hub assembly being
disposed in the proximal cavity, wherein the proximal hub assembly
is connectable to a tether and the proximal hub assembly includes a
hub cavity for mechanically capturing a knot associated with the
tether.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximal hub assembly defines
a proximal end and the proximal end of the proximal hub assembly is
recessed distally from the proximal periphery.
3. The device of claim 1, the filaments including at least plural
first filaments interwoven with at least plural second filaments,
the first filaments having a first diameter and the second
filaments having a second diameter.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximal hub assembly defines
a proximal end and the proximal end of the proximal hub assembly is
not recessed distally from the proximal periphery.
5. The device of claim 1, comprising the tether and a heater coil
surrounding a distal portion of the tether to break the tether
responsive to energization of the heater coil.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the heater coil includes a
close-wound electrical conductor and the close-wound electrical
conductor is connected to first and second lead conductors
configured for electrically energizing the close-wound heater coil,
at least the first conductor extending away from the close-wound
heater coil in a configuration that is less close-wound than the
close-wound heater coil.
7. The device of claim 6, the second conductor extending away from
the close-wound heater coil in a configuration that is less
close-wound than the close-wound heater coil.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal end is everted to form
a distal cavity defining a distal periphery, and a distal hub is
disposed in the distal cavity, the distal hub being connected to
distal ends of at least some of the filaments.
9. The device of claim 1, the filaments including at least plural
first filaments interwoven with at least plural second filaments,
the first filaments having a first diameter and the second
filaments having a second diameter, the second diameter being
different from the first diameter.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximal hub assembly
defines a hub cavity for mechanically capturing a knot associated
with the tether, the hub cavity being established by a proximal
shoulder portion of the proximal hub assembly, the proximal
shoulder portion including an opening through which the tether can
extend but through which opening the knot cannot pass.
11. The device of claim 8, wherein the distal hub defines a distal
end and the distal end of the distal hub is recessed proximally
from the distal periphery.
12. The device of claim 10, wherein the knot is secured by bonding
to a distal end of the tether within the hub cavity.
13. The device of claim 10, wherein the knot is secured by bonding
to proximal ends of the filaments.
14. A device for treating an aneurysm comprising: a resilient body
made of plural filaments extending between a distal end and a
proximal end of the body; the body being deformable to a placement
configuration ftr engaging the body with an aneurysm, the body
being materially biased to an enlarged configuration in which the
body presents a curvilinear surface to tissue abutting the body; a
proximal hub assembly disposed proximally on the body, wherein the
proximal hub assembly is connected to a tether; a heater coil
surrounding a distal portion of the tether to break the tether
responsive to energization of the heater coil, wherein the heater
coil includes a close-wound electrical conductor and the
close-wound electrical conductor is connected to first and second
lead conductors configured for electrically energizing the
close-wound heater coil.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the proximal end is everted to
form a concave proximal cavity defining a proximal periphery.
16. The device of claim 14, wherein the proximal hub assembly
includes a hub cavity for mechanically capturing a knot associated
with the tether.
17. The device of claim 15, wherein the proximal hub assembly
defines a proximal end and the proximal end of the proximal hub
assembly is recessed distally from the proximal periphery.
18. The device of claim 14, the filaments including at least plural
first filaments interwoven with at least plural second filaments,
the first filaments having a first diameter and the second
filaments having a second diameter.
19. The device of claim 15, wherein the proximal hub assembly
defines a proximal end and the proximal end of the proximal hub
assembly is not recessed distally from the proximal periphery.
20. The device of claim 14, comprising a distal hub disposed at the
distal end of the body and connected to at least some of the
filaments.
21. The device of claim 20, wherein the distal end is everted to
form a distal cavity defining a distal periphery, and a distal hub
is disposed in the distal cavity.
22. Apparatus comprising: resilient body composed of filaments with
respective proximal and distal ends; a recessed distal hub securing
the distal ends; a recessed proximal hub assembly securing the
proximal ends; a tether secured to the proximal hub assembly; an
electrically energizable heater coil coiled around a distal segment
of the tether to break the tether when the heater coil is
energized; and insulative tubing covering the heater coil.
23. The device of claim 1, wherein the body includes plural first
filaments including platinum and plural second filaments made of
only nitinol.
24. The device of claim 14, wherein the body includes plural first
filaments including platinum and plural second filaments made of
only nitinol.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. section 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
61/050,124 filed May 2, 2008, by Cox et al. titled "Filamentary
Devices for Treatment of Vascular Defects", which is incorporated
by reference herein in its entirety.
[0002] This application is related to Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/044,822, filed Apr. 14, 2008, entitled
"Methods and Devices for Treatment of Vascular Defects", naming
Brian J. Cox et al. as inventors and designated by attorney docket
number SMI-0103-PV2, Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
60/941,928, filed on Jun. 4, 2007, entitled "Method and Apparatus
for Treatment of a Vascular Defect," naming Brian J. Cox et al. as
inventors, and designated by attorney docket number SMI-0101.PV,
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/094,683, filed on
Jul. 9, 2007, entitled "Vascular Occlusion Devices," naming Brian
J. Cox et al. as inventors, and designated by attorney docket
number SMI-0102-PV, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Set.
No. 60/097,366, filed on Sep. 11, 2007, entitled "Method and
Apparatus for Treatment of a Vascular Defect," naming Dean Schaefer
et al. as inventors, and designated by attorney docket number
SMI-0103-PV, International PCT Patent Application No.
PCT/US2008/065694, published Dec. 11, 2008, number WO 2008/151204,
filed Jun. 3, 2008, entitled "Methods and Devices for Treatment of
Vascular Defects", naming Brian J. Cox et al. as inventors and
designated by attorney docket number SMI-0103-PC, which are all
incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Embodiments of devices and methods herein are directed to
blocking a flow of fluid through a tubular vessel or into a small
interior chamber of a saccular cavity or vascular defect within a
mammalian body. More specifically, embodiments herein are directed
to devices and methods for treatment of a vascular defect of a
patient including some embodiments directed specifically to the
treatment of cerebral aneurysms of patients.
BACKGROUND
[0004] The mammalian circulatory system is comprised of a heart,
which acts as a pump, and a system of blood vessels which transport
the blood to various points in the body. Due to the force exerted
by the flowing blood on the blood vessel the blood vessels may
develop a variety of vascular defects. One common vascular defect
known as an aneurysm results from the abnormal widening of the
blood vessel. Typically, vascular aneurysms are formed as a result
of the weakening of the wall of a blood vessel and subsequent
ballooning and expansion of the vessel wall. If, for example, an
aneurysm is present within an artery of the brain, and the aneurysm
should burst with resulting cranial hemorrhaging, death could
occur.
[0005] Surgical techniques for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms
typically involve a craniotomy requiring creation of an opening in
the skull of the patient through which the surgeon can insert
instruments to operate directly on the patient's brain. For some
surgical approaches, the brain must be retracted to expose the
parent blood vessel from which the aneurysm arises. Once access to
the aneurysm is gained, the surgeon places a clip across the neck
of the aneurysm thereby preventing arterial blood from entering the
aneurysm. Upon correct placement of the clip the aneurysm will be
obliterated in a matter of minutes. Surgical techniques may be
effective treatment for many aneurysms. Unfortunately, surgical
techniques for treating these types of conditions include major
invasive surgical procedures which often require extended periods
of time under anesthesia involving high risk to the patient. Such
procedures thus require that the patient be in generally good
physical condition in order to be a candidate for such
procedures.
[0006] Various alternative and less invasive procedures have been
used to treat cerebral aneurysms without resorting to major
surgery. Some such procedures involve the delivery of embolic or
filling materials into an aneurysm. The delivery of such
vaso-occlusion devices or materials may be used to promote
hemostasis or fill an aneurysm cavity entirely. Vaso-occlusion
devices may be placed within the vasculature of the human body,
typically via a catheter, either to block the flow of blood through
a vessel with an aneurysm through the formation of an embolus or to
form such an embolus within an aneurysm stemming from the vessel. A
variety of implantable, coil-type vaso-occlusion devices are known.
The coils of such devices may themselves be formed into a secondary
coil shape, or any of a variety of more complex secondary shapes.
Vaso-occlusive coils are commonly used to treat cerebral aneurysms
but suffer from several limitations including poor packing density,
compaction due to hydrodynamic pressure from blood flow, poor
stability in wide-necked aneurysms and complexity and difficulty in
the deployment thereof as most aneurysm treatments with this
approach require the deployment of multiple coils.
[0007] Another approach to treating aneurysms without the need for
invasive surgery involves the placement of sleeves or stents into
the vessel and across the region where the aneurysm occurs. Such
devices maintain blood flow through the vessel while reducing blood
pressure applied to the interior of the aneurysm. Certain types of
stents are expanded to the proper size by inflating a balloon
catheter, referred to as balloon expandable stents, while other
stents are designed to elastically expand in a self-expanding
manner. Some stents are covered typically with a sleeve of
polymeric material called a graft to form a stent-graft. Stents and
stent-grafts are generally delivered to a preselected position
adjacent a vascular defect through a delivery catheter. In the
treatment of cerebral aneurysms, covered stents or stent-grafts
have seen very limited use due to the likelihood of inadvertent
occlusion of small perforator vessels that may be near the vascular
defect being treated.
[0008] In addition, current uncovered stents are generally not
sufficient as a stand-alone treatment. In order for stents to fit
through the microcatheters used in small cerebral blood vessels,
their density is usually reduced such that when expanded there is
only a small amount of stent structure bridging the aneurysm neck.
Thus, they do not block enough flow to cause clotting of the blood
in the aneurysm and are thus generally used in combination with
vaso-occlusive devices, such as the coils discussed above, to
achieve aneurysm occlusion.
[0009] A number of aneurysm neck bridging devices with defect
spanning portions or regions have been attempted, however, none of
these devices have had a significant measure of clinical success or
usage. A major limitation in their adoption and clinical usefulness
is the inability to position the defect spanning portion to assure
coverage of the neck. Existing stent delivery systems that are
neurovascular compatible (i.e. deliverable through a microcatheter
and highly flexible) do not have the necessary rotational
positioning capability. Another limitation of many aneurysm
bridging devices described in the prior art is the poor
flexibility. Cerebral blood vessels are tortuous and a high degree
of flexibility is required for effective delivery to most aneurysm
locations in the brain.
[0010] What has been needed are devices and methods for delivery
and use in small and tortuous blood vessels that can substantially
block the flow of blood into an aneurysm, such as a cerebral
aneurysm, with a decreased risk of inadvertent aneurysm rupture or
blood vessel wall damage. In addition, what has been needed are
methods and devices suitable for blocking blood flow in cerebral
aneurysms over an extended period of time without a significant
risk of deformation, compaction or dislocation.
SUMMARY
[0011] Some embodiments of a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature include a self-expanding resilient permeable shell
having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. The
permeable shell also includes a plurality of elongate resilient
filaments with a woven structure secured relative to each other at
proximal ends and distal ends thereof. The permeable shell has a
radially constrained elongated state configured for delivery within
a microcatheter with the thin woven filaments extending
longitudinally from the proximal end to the distal end radially
adjacent each other along a length of the filaments. The permeable
shell also has an expanded relaxed state with a globular and
longitudinally shortened configuration relative to the radially
constrained state with the woven filaments forming the
self-expanding resilient permeable shell in a smooth path radially
expanded from the longitudinal axis between the proximal end and
distal end including a plurality or openings in the shell formed
between the woven filaments, the largest of said openings being
configured to allow blood flow through the openings at a velocity
below a thrombotic threshold velocity. The permeable shell may also
include a configuration wherein at least the distal end has a
reverse bend in an everted recessed configuration such that the
secured distal ends of the filaments are withdrawn axially within
the nominal contour of the permeable shell structure in the
expanded state.
[0012] Some embodiments of a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature include a self-expanding resilient permeable shell
having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. The
permeable shell may also include a plurality of elongate resilient
filaments including large filaments and small filaments of at least
two different transverse dimensions with a woven structure secured
relative to each other at proximal ends and distal ends thereof.
The permeable shell may also include a radially constrained
elongated state configured for delivery within a microcatheter with
the thin woven filaments extending longitudinally from the proximal
end to the distal end radially adjacent each other along a length
of the filaments. The permeable shell also has an expanded relaxed
state with a globular and longitudinally shortened configuration
relative to the radially constrained state with the woven filaments
forming the self-expanding resilient permeable shell in a smooth
path radially expanded from the longitudinal axis between the
proximal end and distal end including a plurality of openings in
the shell formed between the woven filaments. The permeable shell
may be configured such that at least the distal end has a reverse
bend in an everted recessed configuration such that the secured
distal ends of the filaments are withdrawn axially within the
nominal permeable shell structure in the expanded state.
[0013] Some embodiments of a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature include a self-expanding resilient permeable shell
having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. The
permeable shell also includes a plurality of elongate resilient
filaments including large filaments and small filaments of
different transverse diameters with a woven structure secured
relative to each other at proximal ends and distal ends thereof.
The permeable shell may also include a radially constrained
elongated state configured for delivery within a microcatheter with
the woven filaments extending longitudinally from the proximal end
to the distal end radially adjacent each other along a length of
the filaments. The permeable shell also has an expanded relaxed
state with a globular and longitudinally shortened configuration
relative to the radially constrained state with a major transverse
diameter, the woven filaments forming the self-expanding resilient
permeable shell in a smooth path radially expanded from the
longitudinal axis between the proximal end and distal end, and
including a plurality of openings in the shell formed between the
woven filaments. The permeable shell may also be configured such
that at least the distal end has a reverse bend in an everted
recessed configuration such that the secured distal ends of the
filaments are withdrawn axially within the nominal permeable shell
structure in the expanded state. In addition, the permeable shell
may have properties such that the diameter of the permeable shell
in an expanded state, number and diameter of large filaments and
number and diameter of small filaments are configured such that the
permeable shell in an expanded state has a radial stiffness of
about 0.014 pounds force (Ibf) to about 0.284 Ibf defined by the
expression (1.2.times.10.sup.6 Ibf/D.sup.4)(Nidi.sup.4+Nsds.sup.4)
where D is a diameter of the permeable shell in the expanded state
in inches, N.sub.i is the number of large filaments in the
permeable shell, N.sub.s is the number of small filaments in the
permeable shell, d.sub.1 is the diameter of the large filaments in
inches, and d.sub.s is the diameter of the small filaments in
inches. The equation above contemplates two wire sizes, however,
the equation is also applicable to embodiments having one wire size
in which case d, will be equal to ds.
[0014] Some embodiments of a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature includes a self-expanding resilient permeable shell
having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. The
permeable shell also has a plurality of elongate resilient
filaments including large filaments and small filaments of
different transverse diameters with a woven structure secured
relative to each other at proximal ends and distal ends thereof.
The permeable shell may also include a radially constrained
elongated state configured for delivery within a microcatheter with
the thin woven filaments extending longitudinally from the proximal
end to the distal end radially adjacent each other along a length
of the filaments. The permeable shell has an expanded relaxed state
with a globular and longitudinally shortened configuration relative
to the radially constrained state with a major transverse diameter,
the woven filaments forming the self-expanding resilient permeable
shell in a smooth path radially expanded from the longitudinal axis
between the proximal end and distal end, and including a plurality
of openings in the shell formed between the woven filaments. The
permeable shell may also be configured such that at least the
distal end has a reverse bend in an everted recessed configuration
such that the secured distal ends of the filaments are withdrawn
axially within the nominal permeable shell structure in the
expanded state. The permeable shell may further have properties
such that the diameter of the permeable shell in an expanded state,
number of all filaments and diameter of the small filaments are
configured such that the maximum opening size of a portion of the
permeable shell in an expanded state that spans a vascular defect
opening or vascular defect neck is less than about 0.016 inches
with the maximum pore or opening size defined by the expression
(1.7/N.sub.T)(TrD-N.sub.T/2d.sub.w) where D is a diameter of the
permeable shell in the expanded state in inches, NT is the total
number of filaments in the permeable shell, and dx is the diameter
of the small filaments in inches. The pore size for an opening is
defined herein by the largest circular shape that may be disposed
within the opening of a braided filament structure.
[0015] Some embodiments of a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature include a self-expanding resilient permeable shell
having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. The
permeable shell further includes a plurality of elongate resilient
filaments including large filaments and small filaments of
different transverse diameters with a woven structure secured
relative to each other at proximal ends and distal ends thereof.
The permeable shell may also have a radially constrained elongated
state configured for delivery within a microcatheter with the woven
filaments extending longitudinally from the proximal end to the
distal end radially adjacent each other along a length of the
filaments. The permeable shell also includes an expanded relaxed
state with a globular and longitudinally shortened configuration
relative to the radially constrained state with a major transverse
diameter, the woven filaments forming the self-expanding resilient
permeable shell in a smooth path radially expanded from the
longitudinal axis between the proximal end and distal end, and
including a plurality of openings in the shell formed between the
woven filaments. The permeable shell may also be configured such
that at least the distal end has a reverse bend in an everted
recessed configuration such that the secured distal ends of the
filaments are withdrawn axially within the nominal permeable shell
structure in the expanded state. The permeable shell may also have
properties such that the diameter of the permeable shell in an
expanded state, number and diameter of large filaments and number
and diameter of small filaments are configured such that the
permeable shell in a constrained state has an outer transverse
diameter of less than about 0.04 inches defined by the expression
1.48((N.sub.id.sub.1.sup.2+N.sub.sd.sub.s.sup.2)).sup.1/2 where
N.sub.i is the number of large filaments in the permeable shell,
N.sub.s is the number of small filaments in the permeable shell,
d.sub.1 is the diameter of the large filaments in inches, and
d.sub.s is the diameter of the small filaments in inches.
[0016] Some embodiments of a method of treating a vascular defect
of a patient include providing a device for treatment of a
patient's vasculature comprising a self-expanding resilient
permeable shell of woven filaments, the permeable shell having a
proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, a radially
constrained elongated state configured for delivery within a
microcatheter with the woven filaments extending longitudinally
from the proximal end to the distal radially adjacent each other.
The permeable shell may also have an expanded relaxed state with a
globular and axially shortened configuration relative to the
constrained state with the woven filaments forming the
self-expanding resilient permeable shell in a smooth path radially
expanded from the longitudinal axis between the proximal end and
distal end with the shell having a reverse bend at each end in an
everted recessed configuration such that a hub at the distal end is
withdrawn axially within the permeable shell structure. The
permeable shell also has and a plurality of openings in the shell
formed between the woven filaments. Once provided, a delivery
system is advanced within a patient's body such that a distal end
of the delivery system is disposed at a position adjacent or within
a vascular defect to be treated. The device is then axially
advanced within the delivery system while in a radially constrained
state with an elongate delivery apparatus which has a distal end
releasably secured to a proximal end of the device. The device is
further advanced distally until the device emerges from a distal
end of the delivery system. The device is further advanced from the
distal end of the delivery system until it is deployed such that
the woven filaments of the device radially expand from their
radially constrained state, and expand into a globular
configuration of the permeable shell. The deployed device then
covers and acutely occludes at least a portion of an opening or
neck of the vascular defect due to the pore size of the permeable
shell which slows a flow of blood therethrough to a velocity below
a thrombotic threshold velocity.
[0017] Some methods of occluding a vascular defect of a patient's
vasculature include providing an expandable, porous vascular
occlusion device formed from a woven shell of a plurality of
filamentary members that are connected to each other on at least
the proximal ends of the members forming a substantially closed
globular structure with a shape that approximates or is slightly
larger than a size and shape of the vascular defect and wherein the
distal ends of the filamentary members are recessed within a
nominal surface contour of the globular structure of the device.
Once the device is provided, the device may be collapsed for
delivery into the vascular system of the patient. The collapsed
device may then be inserted through an incision in the patient's
body and the device released and expanded at the vascular defect
such that an outer surface contour of the device substantially
fills the vascular defect. The device then substantially occludes
the vascular defect acutely and becomes substantially covered with
clotted blood.
[0018] Some embodiments of a delivery system for deployment of a
device for treatment of a patient's vasculature include a
microcatheter having an inner lumen extending a length thereof and
a device for treatment of a patient's vasculature disposed within
the inner lumen of the microcatheter. The device also includes a
self-expanding resilient permeable shell of thin coupled filaments,
the permeable shell having a proximal end, a distal end, a
longitudinal axis, a radially constrained elongated state
configured for delivery within a microcatheter with the thin woven
filaments extending longitudinally from the proximal end to the
distal radially adjacent each other. The permeable shell also has
an expanded relaxed state with a globular and axially shortened
configuration relative to the constrained state with the woven
filaments forming the self-expanding resilient permeable shell in a
smooth path radially expanded from the longitudinal axis between
the proximal end and distal end. The permeable shell may further
include a reverse bend at each end in an everted recessed
configuration such that a hub at the distal end is disposed axially
within the permeable shell structure. The permeable shell also has
a plurality of openings formed between the woven filaments, the
permeable shell further having a portion when in the expanded
relaxed state that is configured to span an opening of a patient's
vascular defect. The delivery system further includes an elongate
delivery apparatus having a proximal end and a distal end
releasably secured to a proximal hub of the device.
[0019] Some embodiments of a method of manufacturing a device for
treatment of a patient's vasculature include braiding a plurality
of elongate resilient filaments over a cylindrically shaped mandrel
forming a braided tubular member. The elongate filaments of the
braided tubular member may then be heat set in an expanded relaxed
state with a globular and axially shortened configuration relative
to a constrained state with the woven filaments forming the
self-expanding resilient permeable shell in a smooth path radially
expanded from a longitudinal axis of the device between a proximal
end and a distal end of the device with the shell having a reverse
bend at the distal end in an everted recessed configuration such
that a hub at the distal end is withdrawn disposed within the
permeable shell structure and a plurality of openings in the shell
are formed between the woven filaments. The proximal ends of the
filaments are then secured together and the distal ends of the
filaments are secured together.
[0020] Some embodiments of a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature include a self-expanding resilient permeable shell of
thin interconnected filaments that serves as a support structure
and integral defect spanning structure, the permeable shell having
a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, a constrained
cylindrical state configured for delivery within a microcatheter
with the thin interconnected filaments extending from the first end
to the second end. The permeable shell also has an expanded relaxed
state with a globular and axially shortened configuration relative
to the constrained state with filaments forming a smooth arc
between the first end and second end with a reverse bend at each
end in an everted recessed configuration. The permeable shell
further has a defect spanning portion when in the expanded relaxed
state that is configured to span an opening of a patient's vascular
defect.
[0021] Some embodiments of a method of treating a vascular defect
include providing a device for treatment of a patient's vasculature
having a self-expanding resilient permeable shell of thin
interconnected filaments that serves as a support structure and
integral defect spanning structure. The permeable shell also has a
first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, a constrained
cylindrical state configured for delivery within a microcatheter
with the thin interconnected filaments extending from the first end
to the second end. The permeable shell also has an expanded relaxed
state with a globular and axially shortened configuration relative
to the constrained state with filaments forming a smooth arc
between the first end and second end with a reverse bend at each
end in an everted recessed configuration. The permeable shell
further has a defect spanning portion when in the expanded relaxed
state that is configured to span an opening of a patient's vascular
defect. Once provided, the delivery system may be advanced to a
position adjacent a vascular defect to be treated and positioned
with a distal end disposed inside the vascular defect. The device
may then be deployed such that the permeable shell self-expands and
the defect spanning portion of the permeable shell covers at least
a portion of the defect opening or neck.
[0022] Some embodiments of a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature include a self-expanding resilient permeable shell of
thin interconnected filaments that serves as a support structure
and integral defect spanning structure. The permeable shell also
has a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, a constrained
cylindrical state configured for delivery within a microcatheter
with the thin interconnected filaments extending from the first end
to the second end. The permeable shell also has an expanded relaxed
state with a globular and axially shortened configuration relative
to the constrained state with filaments forming a smooth arc
between the first end and second end with a reverse bend at each
end in an everted recessed configuration. The permeable shell
further includes a defect spanning portion when in the expanded
relaxed state that is configured to span an opening of a patient's
vascular defect. Some embodiments of a method of treating a
vascular defect include providing a device for treatment of a
patient's vasculature having a self-expanding resilient permeable
shell of thin interconnected filaments that serves as a support
structure and integral defect spanning structure. The permeable
shell also has a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, a
constrained cylindrical state configured for delivery within a
microcatheter with the thin interconnected filaments extending from
the first end to the second end. The permeable shell further
includes an expanded relaxed state with a globular and axially
shortened configuration relative to the constrained state with
filaments forming a smooth arc between the first end and second end
with a reverse bend at each end in an everted recessed
configuration. The permeable shell also has a defect spanning
portion when in the expanded relaxed state that is configured to
span an opening of a patient's vascular defect. Once the device has
been provided, a delivery system may be advanced to a position
adjacent a vascular defect to be treated. The device is then
positioned inside the vascular defect and deployed such that the
permeable shell self-expands and the defect spanning portion of the
permeable shell covers at least a portion of the defect opening or
neck.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an embodiment of a device for
treatment of a patient's vasculature and a plurality of arrows
indicating inward radial force.
[0024] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a beam supported by two
simple supports and a plurality of arrows indicating force against
the beam.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a
device for treatment of a patient's vasculature.
[0026] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the device for treatment of a
patient's vasculature of FIG. 3.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a transverse cross sectional view of the device of
FIG. 4 taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 4.
[0028] FIG. 6 shows the device of FIG. 4 in longitudinal section
taken along lines 6-6 in FIG. 4.
[0029] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the woven filament structure
taken from the encircled portion 7 shown in FIG. 5.
[0030] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the woven filament structure
taken from the encircled portion 8 shown in FIG. 6.
[0031] FIG. 9 is a proximal end view of the device of FIG. 3.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view of a proximal hub
portion of the device in FIG. 6 indicated by lines 10-10 in FIG.
6.
[0033] FIG. 11 is an elevation view in partial section of a distal
end of a delivery catheter with the device for treatment of a
patient's vasculature of FIG. 3 disposed therein in a collapsed
constrained state.
[0034] FIG. 12 is an elevation view of a distal portion of a
delivery device or actuator showing some internal structure of the
device.
[0035] FIG. 13 is an elevation view of the delivery device of FIG.
12 with the addition of some tubular elements over the internal
structures.
[0036] FIG. 14 is an elevation view of the distal portion of the
delivery device of FIG. 13 with an outer coil and marker in
place.
[0037] FIG. 15 is an elevation view of a proximal portion of the
delivery device.
[0038] FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of a filament
configuration for a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature.
[0039] FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a patient being accessed by
an introducer sheath, a microcatheter and a device for treatment of
a patient's vasculature releasably secured to a distal end of a
delivery device or actuator.
[0040] FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a terminal aneurysm,
[0041] FIG. 19 is a sectional view of an aneurysm.
[0042] FIG. 20 is a schematic view in section of an aneurysm
showing perpendicular arrows which indicate interior nominal
longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the aneurysm.
[0043] FIG. 21 is a schematic view in section of the aneurysm of
FIG. 20 with a dashed outline of a device for treatment of a
patient's vasculature in a relaxed unconstrained state that extends
transversely outside of the walls of the aneurysm.
[0044] FIG. 22 is a schematic view in section of an outline of a
device represented by the dashed line in FIG. 21 in a deployed and
partially constrained state within the aneurysm.
[0045] FIGS. 23-26 show a deployment sequence of a device for
treatment of a patient's vasculature.
[0046] FIG. 27 is an elevation view in partial section of an
embodiment of a device for treatment of a patient's vasculature
deployed within an aneurysm at a tilted angle.
[0047] FIG. 28 is an elevation view in partial section of an
embodiment of a device for treatment of a patient's vasculature
deployed within an irregularly shaped aneurysm.
[0048] FIG. 29 shows an elevation view in section of a device for
treatment of a patient's vasculature deployed within a vascular
defect aneurysm.
[0049] FIG. 30 shows a proximal perspective view of an embodiment
of a device for treatment of a patient's vasculature with a sealing
zone embodiment indicated by a set of dashed lines.
[0050] FIGS. 31-35 illustrate various different embodiments of
braiding patterns that may be used for permeable shells of devices
for treatment of a patient's vasculature.
[0051] FIG. 36 illustrates a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature that includes non-structural fibers in the permeable
shell structure of the device.
[0052] FIG. 37 is an enlarged view of non-structural fibers woven
into filaments of a permeable shell structure.
[0053] FIG. 38 is an elevation view of a mandrel used for
manufacture of a braided tubular member for construction of an
embodiment of a device for treatment of a patient's vasculature
with the initiation of the braiding process shown.
[0054] FIG. 39 is an elevation view of a braiding process for a
braided tubular member used for manufacture of a device.
[0055] FIG. 40 is an elevation view in partial section of an
embodiment of a fixture for heat setting a braided tubular member
for manufacture of a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature.
[0056] FIG. 41 is an elevation view in partial section of an
embodiment of a fixture for heat setting a braided tubular member
for manufacture of a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0057] Discussed herein are devices and methods for the treatment
of vascular defects that are suitable for minimally invasive
deployment within a patient's vasculature, and particularly, within
the cerebral vasculature of a patient. For such embodiments to be
safely and effectively delivered desired treatment site and
effectively deployed, some device embodiments may be configured for
collapse to a low profile constrained state with a transverse
dimension suitable for delivery through an inner lumen of a
microcatheter and deployment from a distal end thereof. Embodiments
of these devices may also maintain a clinically effective
configuration with sufficient mechanical integrity once deployed so
as to withstand dynamic forces within a patient's vasculature over
time that may otherwise result in compaction of a deployed device.
It may also be desirable for some device embodiments to acutely
occlude a vascular defect of a patient during the course of a
procedure in order to provide more immediate feedback regarding
success of the treatment to a treating physician.
[0058] Some embodiments are particularly useful for the treatment
of cerebral aneurysms by reconstructing a vascular wall so as to
wholly or partially isolate a vascular defect from a patient's
blood flow. Some embodiments may be configured to be deployed
within a vascular defect to facilitate reconstruction, bridging of
a vessel wall or both in order to treat the vascular defect. For
some of these embodiments, the permeable shell of the device may be
configured to anchor or fix the permeable shell in a clinically
beneficial position. For some embodiments, the device may be
disposed in whole or in part within the vascular defect in order to
anchor or fix the device with respect to the vascular structure or
defect. The permeable shell may be configured to span an opening,
neck or other portion of a vascular defect in order to isolate the
vascular defect, or a portion thereof, from the patient's nominal
vascular system in order allow the defect to heal or to otherwise
minimize the risk of the defect to the patient's health.
[0059] For some or all of the embodiments of devices for treatment
of a patient's vasculature discussed herein, the permeable shell
may be configured to allow some initial perfusion of blood through
the permeable shell. The porosity of the permeable shell may be
configured to sufficiently isolate the vascular defect so as to
promote healing and isolation of the defect, but allow sufficient
initial flow through the permeable shell so as to reduce or
otherwise minimize the mechanical force exerted on the membrane the
dynamic flow of blood or other fluids within the vasculature
against the device. For some embodiments of devices for treatment
of a patient's vasculature, only a portion of the permeable shell
that spans the opening or neck of the vascular defect, sometimes
referred to as a defect spanning portion, need be permeable and/or
conducive to thrombus formation in a patient's bloodstream. For
such embodiments, that portion of the device that does not span an
opening or neck of the vascular defect may be substantially
non-permeable or completely permeable with a pore or opening
configuration that is too large to effectively promote thrombus
formation.
[0060] In general, it may be desirable in some cases to use a
hollow, thin walled device with a permeable shell of resilient
material that may be constrained to a low profile for delivery
within a patient. Such a device may also be configured to expand
radially outward upon removal of the constraint such that the shell
of the device assumes a larger volume and fills or otherwise
occludes a vascular defect within which it is deployed. The outward
radial expansion of the shell may serve to engage some or all of an
inner surface of the vascular defect whereby mechanical friction
between an outer surface of the permeable shell of the device and
the inside surface of the vascular defect effectively anchors the
device within the vascular defect. Some embodiments of such a
device may also be partially or wholly mechanically captured within
a cavity of a vascular defect, particularly where the defect has a
narrow neck portion with a larger interior volume. In order to
achieve a low profile and volume for delivery and be capable of a
high ratio of expansion by volume, some device embodiments include
a matrix of woven or braided filaments that are coupled together by
the interwoven structure so as to form a self-expanding permeable
shell having a pore or opening pattern between couplings or
intersections of the filaments that is substantially regularly
spaced and stable, while still allowing for conformity and
volumetric constraint.
[0061] As used herein, the terms woven and braided are used
interchangeably to mean any form of interlacing of filaments to
form a mesh structure. In the textile and other industries, these
terms may have different or more specific meanings depending on the
product or application such as whether an article is made in a
sheet or cylindrical form. For purposes of the present disclosure,
these terms are used interchangeably.
[0062] For some embodiments, three factors may be critical for a
woven or braided wire occlusion device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature that can achieve a desired clinical outcome in the
endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms. We have found that
for effective use in some applications, it may be desirable for the
implant device to have sufficient radial stiffness for stability,
limited pore size for near-complete acute (intra-procedural)
occlusion and a collapsed profile which is small enough to allow
insertion through an inner lumen of a microcatheter. A device with
a radial stiffness below a certain threshold may be unstable and
may be at higher risk of embolization in some cases. Larger pores
between filament intersections in a braided or woven structure may
not generate thrombus and occlude a vascular defect in an acute
setting and thus may not give a treating physician or health
professional such clinical feedback that the flow disruption will
lead to a complete and lasting occlusion of the vascular defect
being treated. Delivery of a device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature through a standard microcatheter may be highly
desirable to allow access through the tortuous cerebral vasculature
in the manner that a treating physician is accustomed.
[0063] For some embodiments, it may be desirable to use filaments
having two or more different diameters or transverse dimensions to
form a permeable shell in order to produce a desired configuration
as discussed in more detail below. The radial stiffness of a
two-filament (two different diameters) woven device may be
expressed as a function of the number of filaments and their
diameters, as follows:
s.sub.radial=(1.2.times.10.sup.6 lbf/D.sup.4)(Nid1.sup.4
Nsds.sup.4) [0064] where S.sub.radial is the radial stiffness in
pounds force (Ibf), [0065] D is the Device diameter (transverse
dimension), [0066] N.sub.1 is the number of large filaments, [0067]
N.sub.s is the number of small filaments, [0068] d.sub.1 is the
diameter of the large filaments in inches, and [0069] d.sub.5 is
the diameter of the small filaments in inches.
[0070] Using this expression, the radial stiffness, Sradial may be
between about 0.014 and 0.284 Ibf force for some embodiments of
particular clinical value.
[0071] The maximum pore size in a portion of a device that spans a
neck or opening of a vascular defect desirable for some useful
embodiments of a woven wire device for treatment of a patient's
vasculature may be expressed as a function of the total number of
all filaments, filament diameter and the device diameter. The
difference between filament sizes where two or more filament
diameters or transverse dimensions are used, may be ignored in some
cases for devices where the filament size(s) are very small
compared to the device dimensions. For a two-filament device, the
smallest filament diameter may be used for the calculation. Thus,
the maximum pore size for such embodiments may be expressed as
follows:
Pmax=(1.7/N.sub.T)(mD-(N.sub.Td.sub.w/2)) [0072] where P. is the
average pore size, [0073] D is the Device diameter (transverse
dimension), [0074] NT is the total number of all filaments, and
[0075] d.sub.w is the diameter of the filaments (smallest) in
inches.
[0076] Using this expression, the maximum pore size, Pmax, of a
portion of a device that spans an opening of a vascular defect or
neck, or any other suitable portion of a device, may be less than
about 0.016 inches or about 400 microns for some embodiments. In
some embodiments the maximum pore size for a defect spanning
portion or any other suitable portion of a device may be less than
about 0.012 inches or about 300 microns.
[0077] The collapsed profile of a two-filament (profile having two
different filament diameters) woven filament device may be
expressed as the function:
pc=1.48((Nile+Nsds2))1/2 [0078] where P.sub.c is the collapsed
profile of the device, [0079] N.sub.i is the number of large
filaments, [0080] N.sub.s is the number of small filaments, [0081]
d.sub.1 is the diameter of the large filaments in inches, and
[0082] d.sub.s is the diameter of the small filaments in
inches.
[0083] Using this expression, the collapsed profile Pc may be less
than about 1.0 mm for some embodiments of particular clinical
value. In some embodiments of particular clinical value, the device
may be constructed so as to have all three factors (S.sub.radial,
P.sub.max and P.sub.c) above within the ranges discussed above;
s.sub.radial between about 0.014 Ibf and 0.284 Ibf, P. less than
about 300 microns and P.sub.c less than about 1.0 mm,
simultaneously. In some such embodiments, the device may be made to
include about 70 filaments to about 300 filaments. In some cases,
the filaments may have an outer transverse dimension or diameter of
about 0.0004 inches to about 0.002 inches. As has been discussed,
some embodiments of devices for treatment of a patient's
vasculature call for sizing the device which approximates (or with
some over-sizing) the vascular site dimensions to fill the vascular
site. One might assume that scaling of a device to larger
dimensions and using larger filaments would suffice for such larger
embodiments of a device. However, for the treatment of brain
aneurysms, the diameter or profile of the radially collapsed device
is limited by the catheter sizes that can be effectively navigated
within the small, tortuous vessels of the brain. Further, as a
device is made larger with a given or fixed number of resilient
filaments having a given size or thickness, the pores or openings
between junctions of the filaments are correspondingly larger. In
addition, for a given filament size the flexural modulus or
stiffness of the filaments and thus the structure decrease with
increasing device dimension. Flexural modulus may be defined as the
ratio of stress to strain. Thus, a device may be considered to have
a high flexural modulus or be stiff if the strain (deflection) is
low under a given force. A stiff device may also said to have low
compliance.
[0084] To properly configure larger size devices for treatment of a
patient's vasculature, it may be useful to model the force on a
device when the device is deployed into a vascular site or defect,
such as a blood vessel or aneurysm, that has a diameter or
transverse dimension that is smaller than a nominal diameter or
transverse dimension of the device in a relaxed unconstrained
state. As discussed, it may be advisable to "over-size" the device
in some cases so that there is a residual force between an outside
surface of the device and an inside surface of the vascular wall.
The inward radial force on a device 10 that results from
over-sizing is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 with the arrows
12 in the figure representing the inward radial force. As shown in
FIG. 2, these compressive forces on the filaments 14 of the device
in FIG. 1 can be modeled as a simply supported beam 16 with a
distributed load or force as show by the arrows 18 in the figure.
It can be seen from the equation below for the deflection of a beam
with two simple supports 20 and a distributed load that the
deflection is a function of the length, L to the 4.sup.th
power:
Deflection of Beam=5FL.sup.4I384El [0085] where F=force, [0086]
L=length of beam, [0087] E=Young's Modulus, and [0088] 1=moment of
inertia.
[0089] Thus, as the size of the device increases and L increases,
the compliance increases substantially. Accordingly, an outward
radial force exerted by an outside surface of the filaments 14 of
the device 10 against a constraining force when inserted into a
vascular site such as blood vessel or aneurysm is lower for a given
amount of device compression or over-sizing. This force may be
important in some applications to assure device stability and to
reduce the risk of migration of the device and potential distal
embolization.
[0090] In some embodiments, a combination of small and large
filament sizes may be utilized to make a device with a desired
radial compliance and yet have a collapsed profile which is
configured to fit through an inner lumen of commonly used. A device
fabricated with even a small number of relatively large filaments
14 can provide reduced radial compliance (or increased stiffness)
compared to a device made with all small filaments. Even a
relatively small number of larger filaments may provide a
substantial increase in bending stiffness due to change in the
moment of Inertia that results from an increase in diameter without
increasing the total cross sectional area of the filaments. The
moment of inertia (I) of a round wire or filament may be defined by
the equation:
I=Trd.sup.4/64 [0091] where d is the diameter of the wire or
filament. Since the moment of inertia is a function of filament
diameter to the fourth power, a small change in the diameter
greatly increases the moment of inertia. Thus, a small changes in
filament size can have substantial impact on the deflection at a
given load and thus the compliance of the device,
[0092] Thus, the stiffness can be increased by a significant amount
without a large increase in the cross sectional area of a collapsed
profile of the device 10. This may be particularly important as
device embodiments are made larger to treat large aneurysms. While
large cerebral aneurysms may be relatively rare, they present an
important therapeutic challenge as some embolic devices currently
available to physicians have relatively poor results compared to
smaller aneurysms. As such, some embodiments of devices for
treatment of a patient's vasculature may be formed using a
combination of filaments 14 with a number of different diameters
such as 2, 3, 4, 5 or more different diameters or transverse
dimensions. In device embodiments where filaments with two
different diameters are used, some larger filament embodiments may
have a transverse dimension of about 0.001 inches to about 0.004
inches and some small filament embodiments may have a transverse
dimension or diameter of about 0.0004 inches and about 0.0015
inches, more specifically, about 0.0004 inches to about 0.001
inches. The ratio of the number of large filaments to the number of
small filaments may be between about 2 and 12 and may also be
between about 4 and 8. In some embodiments, the difference in
diameter or transverse dimension between the larger and smaller
filaments may be less than about 0.004 inches, more specifically,
less than about 0.0035 inches, and even more specifically, less
than about 0.002 inches.
[0093] As discussed above, device embodiments 10 for treatment of a
patient's vasculature may include a plurality of wires, fibers,
threads, tubes or other filamentary elements that form a structure
that serves as a permeable shell. For some embodiments, a globular
shape may be formed from such filaments by connecting or securing
the ends of a tubular braided structure. For such embodiments, the
density of a braided or woven structure may inherently increase at
or near the ends where the wires or filaments 14 are brought
together and decrease at or near a middle portion 30 disposed
between a proximal end 32 and distal end 34 of the permeable shell
40. For some embodiments, an end or any other suitable portion of a
permeable shell 40 may be positioned in an opening or neck of a
vascular defect such as an aneurysm for treatment. As such, a
braided or woven filamentary device with a permeable shell may not
require the addition of a separate defect spanning structure having
properties different from that of a nominal portion of the
permeable shell to achieve hemostasis and occlusion of the vascular
defect. Such a filamentary device may be fabricated by braiding,
weaving or other suitable filament fabrication techniques. Such
device embodiments may be shape set into a variety of three
dimensional shapes such as discussed herein.
[0094] Referring to FIGS. 3-10, an embodiment of a device for
treatment of a patient's vasculature 10 is shown. The device 10
includes a self-expanding resilient permeable shell 40 having a
proximal end 32, a distal end 34, a longitudinal axis 46 and
further comprising a plurality of elongate resilient filaments 14
including large filaments 48 and small filaments 50 of at least two
different transverse dimensions as shown in more detail in FIGS. 5,
7 and 18. The filaments 14 have a woven structure and are secured
relative to each other at proximal ends 60 and distal ends 62
thereof. The permeable shell 40 of the device has a radially
constrained elongated state configured for delivery within a
microcatheter 61, as shown in FIG. 11, with the thin woven
filaments 14 extending longitudinally from the proximal end 42 to
the distal end 44 radially adjacent each other along a length of
the filaments.
[0095] As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the permeable shell 40 also has an
expanded relaxed state with a globular and longitudinally shortened
configuration relative to the radially constrained state. In the
expanded state, the woven filaments 14 form the self-expanding
resilient permeable shell 40 in a smooth path radially expanded
from a longitudinal axis 46 of the device between the proximal end
32 and distal end 34. The woven structure of the filaments 14
includes a plurality of openings 64 in the permeable shell 40
formed between the woven filaments. For some embodiments, the
largest of said openings 64 may be configured to allow blood flow
through the openings only at a velocity below a thrombotic
threshold velocity. Thrombotic threshold velocity has been defined,
at least by some, as the time-average velocity at which more than
50% of a vascular graft surface is covered by thrombus when
deployed within a patient's vasculature. In the context of aneurysm
occlusion, a slightly different threshold may be appropriate.
Accordingly, the thrombotic threshold velocity as used herein shall
include the velocity at which clotting occurs within or on a
device, such as device 10, deployed within a patient's vasculature
such that blood flow into a vascular defect treated by the device
is substantially blocked in less than about 1 hour or otherwise
during the treatment procedure. The blockage of blood flow into the
vascular defect may be indicated in some cases by minimal contrast
agent entering the vascular defect after a sufficient amount of
contrast agent has been injected into the patient's vasculature
upstream of the implant site and visualized as it dissipates from
that site. Such sustained blockage of flow within less than about 1
hour or during the duration of the implantation procedure may also
be referred to as acute occlusion of the vascular defect.
[0096] As such, once the device 10 is deployed, any blood flowing
through the permeable shell may be slowed to a velocity below the
thrombotic threshold velocity and thrombus will begin to form on
and around the openings in the permeable shell 40. Ultimately, this
process may be configured to produce acute occlusion of the
vascular defect within which the device 10 is deployed. For some
embodiments, at least the distal end of the permeable shell 40 may
have a reverse bend in an everted configuration such that the
secured distal ends 62 of the filaments 14 are withdrawn axially
within the nominal permeable shell structure or contour in the
expanded state. For some embodiments, the proximal end of the
permeable shell further includes a reverse bend in an everted
configuration such that the secured proximal ends 60 of the
filaments 14 are withdrawn axially within the nominal permeable
shell structure 40 in the expanded state. As used herein, the term
everted may include a structure that is everted, partially everted
and/or recessed with a reverse bend as shown in the device
embodiment of FIGS. 3-6. For such embodiments, the ends 60 and 62
of the filaments 14 of the permeable shell or hub structure
disposed around the ends may be withdrawn within or below the
globular shaped periphery of the permeable shell of the device.
[0097] The elongate resilient filaments 14 of the permeable shell
40 may be secured relative to each other at proximal ends 60 and
distal ends 62 thereof by one or more methods including welding,
soldering, adhesive bonding, epoxy bonding or the like. In addition
to the ends of the filaments being secured together, a distal hub
66 may also be secured to the distal ends 62 of the thin filaments
14 of the permeable shell 40 and a proximal hub 68 secured to the
proximal ends 60 of the thin filaments 14 of the permeable shell
40. The proximal hub 68 may include a cylindrical member that
extends proximally beyond the proximal ends 60 of the thin
filaments so as to form a cavity 70 within a proximal portion of
the proximal hub 68. The proximal cavity 70 may be used for holding
adhesives such as epoxy, solder or any other suitable bonding agent
for securing an elongate detachment tether 72 that may in turn be
detachably secured to a delivery apparatus such as is shown in
FIGS. 11-15.
[0098] For some embodiments, the elongate resilient filaments 14 of
the permeable shell 40 may have a transverse cross section that is
substantially round in shape and be made from a superelastic
material that may also be a shape memory metal. The shape memory
metal of the filaments of the permeable shell 40 may be heat set in
the globular configuration of the relaxed expanded state as shown
in FIGS. 3-6. Suitable superelastic shape memory metals may include
alloys such as NiTi alloy and the like. The superelastic properties
of such alloys may be useful in providing the resilient properties
to the elongate filaments 14 so that they can be heat set in the
globular form shown, fully constrained for delivery within an inner
lumen of a microcatheter and then released to self expand back to
substantially the original heat set shape of the globular
configuration upon deployment within a patient's body.
[0099] The device 10 may have an everted filamentary structure with
a permeable shell 40 having a proximal end 32 and a distal end 34
in an expanded relaxed state. The permeable shell 40 has a
substantially enclosed configuration for the embodiments shown.
Some or all of the permeable shell 40 of the device 10 may be
configured to substantially block or impede fluid flow or pressure
into a vascular defect or otherwise isolate the vascular defect
over some period of time after the device is deployed in an
expanded state. The permeable shell 40 and device 10 generally also
has a low profile, radially constrained state, as shown in FIG. 11,
with an elongated tubular or cylindrical configuration that
includes the proximal end 32, the distal end 34 and a longitudinal
axis 46. While in the radially constrained state, the elongate
flexible filaments 14 of the permeable shell 40 may be disposed
substantially parallel and in close lateral proximity to each other
between the proximal end and distal end forming a substantially
tubular or compressed cylindrical configuration.
[0100] Proximal ends 60 of at least some of the filaments 14 of the
permeable shell 40 may be secured to the proximal hub 68 and distal
ends 62 of at least some of the filaments 14 of the permeable shell
40 are secured to the distal hub 66, with the proximal hub 68 and
distal hub 66 being disposed substantially concentric to the
longitudinal axis 46 as shown in FIG. 4. The ends of the filaments
14 may be secured to the respective hubs 66 and 68 by any of the
methods discussed above with respect to securement of the filament
ends to each other, including the use of adhesives, solder, welding
and the like. A middle portion 30 of the permeable shell 40 may
have a first transverse dimension with a low profile suitable for
delivery from a microcatheter as shown in FIG. 11. Radial
constraint on the device 10 may be applied by an inside surface of
the inner lumen of a microcatheter, such as the distal end portion
of the microcatheter 61 shown, or it may be applied by any other
suitable mechanism that may be released in a controllable manner
upon ejection of the device 10 from the distal end of the catheter.
In FIG. 11 a proximal end or hub 68 of the device 10 is secured to
a distal end of an elongate delivery apparatus 110 of a delivery
system 112 disposed at the proximal hub 68 of the device 10.
[0101] Some device embodiments 10 having a braided or woven
filamentary structure may be formed using about 10 filaments to
about 300 filaments 14, more specifically, about 10 filaments to
about 100 filaments 14, and even more specifically, about 60
filaments to about 80 filaments 14. Some embodiments of a permeable
shell 40 may include about 70 filaments to about 300 filaments
extending from the proximal end 32 to the distal end 34, more
specifically, about 100 filaments to about 200 filaments extending
from the proximal end 32 to the distal end 34. For some
embodiments, the filaments 14 may have a transverse dimension or
diameter of about 0.0008 inches to about 0.004 inches. The elongate
resilient filaments 14 in some cases may have an outer transverse
dimension or diameter of about 0.0005 inch to about 0.005 inch,
more specifically, about 0.001 inch to about 0.003 inch, and in
some cases about 0.0004 inches to about 0.002 inches. For some
device embodiments 10 that include filaments 14 of different sizes,
the large filaments 48 of the permeable shell 40 may have a
transverse dimension or diameter that is about 0.001 inches to
about 0.004 inches and the small filaments 50 may have a transverse
dimension or diameter of about 0.0004 inches to about 0.0015
inches, more specifically, about 0.0004 inches to about 0.001
inches. In addition, a difference in transverse dimension or
diameter between the small filaments 50 and the large filaments 48
may be less than about 0.004 inches, more specifically, less than
about 0.0035 inches, and even more specifically, less than about
0.002 inches. For embodiments of permeable shells 40 that include
filaments 14 of different sizes, the number of small filaments 50
of the permeable shell 40 relative to the number of large filaments
48 of the permeable shell 40 may be about 2 to 1 to about 15 to 1,
more specifically, about 2 to 1 to about 12 to 1, and even more
specifically, about 4 to 1 to about 8 to 1.
[0102] The expanded relaxed state of the permeable shell 40, as
shown in FIG. 4, has an axially shortened configuration relative to
the constrained state such that the proximal hub 68 is disposed
closer to the distal hub 66 than in the constrained state. Both
hubs 66 and 68 are disposed substantially concentric to the
longitudinal axis 46 of the device and each filamentary element 14
forms a smooth are between the proximal and distal hubs 66 and 68
with a reverse bend at each end. A longitudinal spacing between the
proximal and distal hubs 66 and 68 of the permeable shell 40 in a
deployed relaxed state may be about 25 percent to about 75 percent
of the longitudinal spacing between the proximal and distal hubs 66
and 68 in the constrained cylindrical state, for some embodiments.
The arc of the filaments 14 between the proximal and distal ends 32
and 34 may be configured such that a middle portion of each
filament 14 has a second transverse dimension substantially greater
than the first transverse dimension.
[0103] For some embodiments, the permeable shell 40 may have a
first transverse dimension in a collapsed radially constrained
state of about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm and a second transverse
dimension in a relaxed expanded state of about 4 mm to about 30 mm.
For some embodiments, the second transverse dimension of the
permeable shell 40 in an expanded state may be about 2 times to
about 150 times the first transverse dimension, more specifically,
about 10 times to about 25 times the first or constrained
transverse dimension. A longitudinal spacing between the proximal
end 32 and distal end 34 of the permeable shell 40 in the relaxed
expanded state may be about 25% percent to about 75% percent of the
spacing between the proximal end 32 and distal end 34 in the
constrained cylindrical state.
[0104] For some embodiments, a major transverse dimension of the
permeable shell 40 in a relaxed expanded state may be about 4 mm to
about 30 mm, more specifically, about 9 mm to about 15 mm, and even
more specifically, about 4 mm to about 8 mm.
[0105] An arced portion of the filaments 14 of the permeable shell
40 may have a sinusoidal-like shape with a first or outer radius 88
and a second or inner radius 90 ear the ends of the permeable shell
40 as shown in FIG. 6. This sinusoid-like or multiple curve shape
may provide a concavity in the proximal end 32 that may reduce an
obstruction of flow in a parent vessel adjacent a vascular defect.
For some embodiments, the first radius 88 and second radius 90 of
the permeable shell 40 may be between about 0.12 mm to about 3 mm.
For some embodiments, the distance between the proximal end 32 and
distal end 34 may be less than about 60% of the overall length of
the permeable shell 40 for some embodiments. Such a configuration
may allow for the distal end 34 to flex downward toward the
proximal end 32 when the device 10 meets resistance at the distal
end 34 and thus may provide longitudinal conformance. The filaments
14 may be shaped in some embodiments such that there are no
portions that are without curvature over a distance of more than
about 2 mm. Thus, for some embodiments, each filament 14 may have a
substantially continuous curvature. This substantially continuous
curvature may provide smooth deployment and may reduce the risk of
vessel perforation. For some embodiments, one of the ends 32 or 34
may be retracted or everted to a greater extent than the other so
as to be more longitudinally or axially conformal than the other
end.
[0106] The first radius 88 and second radius 90 of the permeable
shell 40 may be between about 0.12 mm to about 3 mm for some
embodiments. For some embodiments, the distance between the
proximal end 32 and distal end 34 may be more than about 60% of the
overall length of the expanded permeable shell 40. Thus, the
largest longitudinal distance between the inner surfaces may be
about 60% to about 90% of the longitudinal length of the outer
surfaces or the overall length of device 10. A gap between the hubs
66 and 68 at the proximal end 32 and distal end 34 may allow for
the distal hub 66 to flex downward toward the proximal hub 68 when
the device 10 meets resistance at the distal end and thus provides
longitudinal conformance. The filaments 14 may be shaped such that
there are no portions that are without curvature over a distance of
more than about 2 mm. Thus, for some embodiments, each filament 14
may have a substantially continuous curvature. This substantially
continuous curvature may provide smooth deployment and may reduce
the risk of vessel perforation. The distal end 34 may be retracted
or everted to a greater extent than the proximal end 32 such that
the distal end portion of the permeable shell 40 may be more
radially conformal than the proximal end portion. Conformability of
a distal end portion may provide better device conformance to
irregular shaped aneurysms or other vascular defects. A convex
surface of the device may flex inward forming a concave surface to
conform to curvature of a vascular site. FIG. 10 shows an enlarged
view of the filaments 14 disposed within a proximal hub 68 of the
device 10 with the filaments 14 of two different sizes constrained
and tightly packed by an outer ring of the proximal hub 68. The
tether member 72 may optionally be disposed within a middle portion
of the filaments 14 or within the cavity 70 of the proximal hub 68
proximal of the proximal ends 60 of the filaments 14 as shown in
FIG. 6. The distal end of the tether 72 may be secured with a knot
92 formed in the distal end thereof which is mechanically captured
in the cavity 70 of the proximal hub 68 formed by a proximal
shoulder portion 94 of the proximal hub 68. The knotted distal end
92 of the tether 72 may also be secured by bonding or potting of
the distal end of the tether 72 within the cavity 70 and optionally
amongst the proximal ends 60 of the filaments 14 with mechanical
compression, adhesive bonding, welding, soldering, brazing or the
like. The tether embodiment 72 shown in FIG. 6 has a knotted distal
end 92 potted in the cavity of the proximal hub 68 with an
adhesive. Such a tether 72 may be a dissolvable, severable or
releasable tether that may be part of a delivery apparatus 110 used
to deploy the device 10 as shown in FIG. 11 and FIGS. 23-26. FIG.
10 also shows the large filaments 48 and small filaments 50
disposed within and constrained by the proximal hub 68 which may be
configured to secure the large and small filaments 48 and 50 in
place relative to each other within the outer ring of the proximal
hub 68.
[0107] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate some configuration embodiments of
braided filaments 14 of a permeable shell 40 of the device 10 for
treatment of a patient's vasculature. The braid structure in each
embodiment is shown with a circular shape 100 disposed within a
pore 64 of a woven or braided structure with the circular shape 100
making contact with each adjacent filament segment. The pore
opening size may be determined at least in part by the size of the
filament elements 14 of the braid, the angle overlapping filaments
make relative to each other and the picks per inch of the braid
structure. For some embodiments, the cells or openings 64 may have
an elongated substantially diamond shape as shown in FIG. 7, and
the pores or openings 64 of the permeable shell 40 may have a
substantially more square shape toward a middle portion 30 of the
device 10, as shown in FIG. 8. The diamond shaped pores or openings
64 may have a length substantially greater than the width
particularly near the hubs 66 and 68. In some embodiments, the
ratio of diamond shaped pore or opening length to width may exceed
a ratio of 3 to 1 for some cells. The diamond-shaped openings 64
may have lengths greater than the width thus having an aspect
ratio, defined as Length/Width of greater than 1. The openings 64
near the hubs 66 and 68 may have substantially larger aspect ratios
than those farther from the hubs as shown in FIG. 7. The aspect
ratio of openings 64 adjacent the hubs may be greater than about 4
to 1. The aspect ratio of openings 64 near the largest diameter may
be between about 0.75 to 1 and about 2 to 1 for some embodiments.
For some embodiments, the aspect ratio of the openings 64 in the
permeable shell 40 may be about 0.5 to 1 to about 2 to 1.
[0108] The pore size defined by the largest circular shapes 100
that may be disposed within openings 64 of the braided structure of
the permeable shell 40 without displacing or distorting the
filaments 14 surrounding the opening 64 may range in size from
about 0.005 inches to about 0.01 inches, more specifically, about
0.006 inches to about 0.009 inches, even more specifically, about
0.007 inches to about 0.008 inches for some embodiments. In
addition, at least some of the openings 64 formed between adjacent
filaments 14 of the permeable shell 40 of the device 10 may be
configured to allow blood flow through the openings 64 only at a
velocity below a thrombotic threshold velocity. For some
embodiments, the largest openings 64 in the permeable shell
structure 40 may be configured to allow blood flow through the
openings 64 only at a velocity below a thrombotic threshold
velocity. As discussed above, the pore size may be less than about
0.016 inches, more specifically, less than about 0.012 inches for
some embodiments. For some embodiments, the openings 64 formed
between adjacent filaments 14 may be about 0.005 inches to about
0.04 inches.
[0109] Referring to FIGS. 12-15, a delivery apparatus embodiment
110 of the delivery system 112 of FIG. 11 is shown in more detail.
The apparatus 110 includes an elongate core wire 114 that extends
from a proximal end 116 of the apparatus 110 to a distal section
118 of the apparatus 110 as shown in FIG. 12. The core wire 114 is
configured to provide sufficient column strength to push a
constrained device 10 for treatment of a patient's vasculature
through an inner lumen 120 of the microcatheter 61 of the delivery
system 112 as shown in FIG. 11. The core wire 114 also has
sufficient tensile strength to withdraw or proximally retract the
device 10 from a position outside the microcatheter 61 and axially
within the inner lumen 120 of the microcatheter 61. The tether 72
that extends proximally from the proximal hub 68 is secured to the
distal end of the core wire 114 with a length of shrinkable tubing
122 that is disposed over a portion of the tether 72 and a distal
section of the core wire 114 and shrunk over both as shown in FIG.
13, although any other suitable means of securement may be
used.
[0110] A heater coil 124 electrically coupled to a first conductor
126 and a second conductor 128 is disposed over a distal most
portion of the tether 72. The heater coil 124 may also be covered
with a length of polymer tubing 130 disposed over the heater coil
124 distal of the heat shrink tubing 122 that serves to act as a
heat shield and minimizes the leakage of heat from the heater coil
124 into the environment, such as the patient's blood stream,
around the delivery apparatus 110. Once the heat shrink tubing 122
and insulating polymer tubing 130 have been secured to the distal
section 118 of the apparatus 110, the proximal portion of the
tether 72 disposed proximal of the heat shrink tubing 122 may be
trimmed as shown in FIG. 13. An over coil 132 that extends from a
distal end 134 of the delivery apparatus 110 to a proximal section
136 of the apparatus 110 may then be disposed over the heater coil
124, core wire 114, tether 72, first conductor 126 and second
conductor 128 to hold these elements together, produce a low
friction outer surface and maintain a desired flexibility of the
delivery apparatus 110. The proximal section 136 of the apparatus
110 includes the proximal terminus of the over coil 132 which is
disposed distal of a first contact 138 and second contact 140 which
are circumferentially disposed about the proximal section 136 of
the core wire 114, insulated therefrom, and electrically coupled to
the first conductor 126 and second conductor 128, respectively as
shown in FIG. 15.
[0111] The heater coil 124 may be configured to receive electric
current supplied through the first conductor 126 and second
conductor 128 from an electrical energy source 142 coupled to the
first contact 138 and second contact 140 at the proximal section
136 of the apparatus 110. The electrical current passed through the
heater coil 124 heats the heater coil to a temperature above the
melting point of the tether material 72 so as to melt the tether 72
and sever it upon deployment of the device 10.
[0112] Embodiments of the delivery apparatus 110 may generally have
a length greater than the overall length of a microcatheter 61 to
be used for the delivery system 112. This relationship allows the
delivery apparatus 110 to extend, along with the device 10 secured
to the distal end thereof, from the distal port of the inner lumen
120 of the microcatheter 61 while having sufficient length
extending from a proximal end 150 of the microcatheter 61, shown in
FIG. 17 discussed below, to enable manipulation thereof by a
physician. For some embodiments, the length of the delivery
apparatus 110 may be about 170 cm to about 200 cm. The core wire
114 may be made from any suitable high strength material such as
stainless steel. NiTi alloy, or the like. Embodiments of the core
wire 114 may have an outer diameter or transverse dimension of
about 0.010 inch to about 0.015 inch. The over coil 132 may have an
outer diameter or transverse dimension of about 0.018 inch to about
0.03 inch. Although the apparatus embodiment 110 shown in FIGS.
12-15 is activated by electrical energy passed through a conductor
pair, a similar configuration that utilizes light energy passed
through a fiber optic or any other suitable arrangement could be
used to remotely heat a distal heating member or element such as
the heater coil 124 to sever the distal portion of the tether 72.
In addition, other delivery apparatus embodiments are discussed and
incorporated herein that may also be used for any of the device
embodiments 10 for treatment of a patient's vasculature discussed
herein.
[0113] Other delivery and positioning system embodiments may
provide for the ability to rotate a device for treatment of a
patient's vasculature in-vivo without translating torque along the
entire length of the delivery apparatus. Some embodiments for
delivery and positioning of devices 10 are described in co-owned
International PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2008/065694
incorporated above. The delivery and positioning apparatus may
include a distal rotating member that allows rotational positioning
of the device. The delivery and positioning apparatus may include a
distal rotating member which rotates an implant in-vivo without the
transmission of torque along the entire length of the apparatus.
Optionally, delivery system may also rotate the implant without the
transmission of torque in the intermediate portion between the
proximal end and the distal rotatable end. The delivery and
positioning apparatus may be releasably secured to any suitable
portion of the device for treatment of a patient's vasculature.
[0114] Device embodiments discussed herein may be releasable from
any suitable flexible, elongate delivery apparatus or actuator such
as a guidewire or guidewire-like structure. The release of device
embodiments from such a delivery apparatus may be activated by a
thermal mechanism, as discussed above, electrolytic mechanism,
hydraulic mechanism, shape memory material mechanism, or any other
mechanism known in the art of endovascular implant deployment.
[0115] Embodiments for deployment and release of therapeutic
devices, such as deployment of embolic devices or stents within the
vasculature of a patient, may include connecting such a device via
a releasable connection to a distal portion of a pusher or other
delivery apparatus member. The therapeutic device 10 may be
detachably mounted to the distal portion of the apparatus by a
filamentary tether 72, string, thread, wire, suture, fiber, or the
like, which may be referred to above as the tether. The tether 72
may be in the form of a monofilament, rod, ribbon, hollow tube, or
the like. Some embodiments of the tether may have a diameter or
maximum thickness of between about 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm. The tether
72 may be configured to be able to withstand a maximum tensile load
of between about 0.5 kg and 5 kg. For some embodiments, due to the
mass of the device 10 being deployed which may be substantially
greater than some embolic devices, some known detachment devices
may lack sufficient tensile strength to be used for some
embodiments discussed herein. As such, it may be desirable to use
small very high strength fibers for some tether embodiments having
a "load at break" greater than about 15 Newtons. For some
embodiments, a tether made from a material known as Dyneema Purity
available from Royal DSM, Heerlen, Netherlands may be used.
[0116] The tether 72 may be severed by the input of energy such as
electric current to a heating element causing release of the
therapeutic device. For some embodiments, the heating element may
be a coil of wire with high electrical resistivity such as a
platinum-tungsten alloy. The tether member may pass through or be
positioned adjacent the heater element. The heater may be contained
substantially within the distal portion of the delivery apparatus
to provide thermal insulation to reduce the potential for thermal
damage to the surrounding tissues during detachment. In another
embodiment, current may pass through the tether which also acts as
a heating element.
[0117] Many materials may be used to make tether embodiments 72
including polymers, metals and composites thereof. One class of
materials that may be useful for tethers includes polymers such as
polyolefin, polyolefin elastomer such as polyethylene, polyester
(PET), polyamide (Nylon), polyurethane, polypropylene, block
copolymer such as PEBAX or Hytrel, and ethylene vinyl alcohol
(EVA); or rubbery materials such as silicone, latex, and Kraton. In
some cases, the polymer may also be cross-linked with radiation to
manipulate its tensile strength and melt temperature. Another class
of materials that may be used for tether embodiment may include
metals such as nickel titanium alloy (Nitinol), gold, platinum,
tantalum and steel. Other materials that may be useful for tether
construction includes wholly aromatic p polyester polymers which
are liquid crystal polymers (LCP) that may provide high performance
properties and are highly inert. A commercially available LCP
polymer is Vectran, which is produced by Kuraray Co. (Tokyo,
Japan). The selection of the material may depend on the melting or
softening temperature, the power used for detachment, and the body
treatment site. The tether may be joined to the implant and/or the
pusher by crimping, welding, knot tying, soldering, adhesive
bonding, or other means known in the art.
[0118] It should be noted also that many variations of filament and
proximal hub construction such as is detailed above with regard to
FIG. 10 may be used for useful embodiments of a device for
treatment of a patient's vasculature 10. FIG. 16 shows an enlarged
view in transverse cross section of a proximal hub configuration.
For the embodiment shown, the filaments 14 are disposed within a
proximal hub 68 or end portion of the device 10 with the filaments
14 constrained and tightly packed by an outer ring of the proximal
hub 68. A tether member 72 may be disposed within a middle portion
of the filaments 14 or within a cavity of the proximal hub 68
proximal of the proximal ends 60 of the filaments 14. Such a tether
72 may be a dissolvable, severable or releasable tether that may be
part of a release apparatus as discussed above used to deploy the
device.
[0119] FIG. 16 illustrates in transverse cross section an
embodiment of a proximal hub 68 showing the configuration of
filaments which may be tightly packed and radially constrained by
an inside surface of the proximal hub 68. In some embodiments, the
braided or woven structure of the permeable shell 40 formed from
such filaments 14 may be constructed using a large number of small
filaments. The number of filaments 14 may be greater than 125 and
may also be between about 80 filaments and about 180 filaments. As
discussed above, the total number of filaments 14 for some
embodiments may be about 70 filaments to about 300 filaments, more
specifically, about 100 filaments to about 200 filaments. In some
embodiments, the braided structure of the permeable shell 40 may be
constructed with two or more sizes of filaments 14. For example,
the structure may have several larger filaments that provide
structural support and several smaller filaments that provide the
desired pore size and density and thus flow resistance to achieve a
thrombotic threshold velocity in some cases. For some embodiments,
small filaments 50 of the permeable shell 40 may have a transverse
dimension or diameter of about 0.0006 inches to about 0.002 inches
for some embodiments and about 0.0004 inches to about 0.001 inches
in other embodiments. The large filaments 48 may have a transverse
dimension or diameter of about 0.0015 inches to about 0.004 inches
in some embodiments and about 0.001 inches to about 0.004 inches in
other embodiments The filaments 14 may be braided in a plain weave
that is one under, one over structure (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) or a
supplementary weave; more than one warp interlace with one or more
than one weft. The pick count may be varied between about 25 and
200 picks per inch (PPI).
[0120] For some embodiments, the permeable shell 40 or portions
thereof may be porous and may be highly permeable to liquids. In
contrast to most vascular prosthesis fabrics or grafts which
typically have a water permeability below 2,000 mliminicm.sup.2
when measured at a pressure of 120 mmHg, the permeable shell 40 of
some embodiments discussed herein may have a water permeability
greater than about 2,000 mliminicm.sup.2, in some cases greater
than about 2,500 mliminicm.sup.2. For some embodiments, water
permeability of the permeable shell 40 or portions thereof may be
between about 2,000 and 10,000 mliminicm.sup.2, more specifically,
about 2,000 mliminicm.sup.2 to about 15,000 mliminicm.sup.2, when
measured at a pressure of 120 mmHg. Device embodiments and
components thereof may include metals, polymers, biologic materials
and composites thereof. Suitable metals include zirconium-based
alloys, cobalt-chrome alloys, nickel-titanium alloys, platinum,
tantalum, stainless steel, titanium, gold, and tungsten.
Potentially suitable polymers include but are not limited to
acrylics, silk, silicones, polyvinyl alcohol, polypropylene,
polyvinyl alcohol, polyesters (e.g. polyethylene terephthalate or
PET), PolyEtherEther Ketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),
polycarbonate urethane (PCU) and polyurethane (PU). Device
embodiments may include a material that degrades or is absorbed or
eroded by the body. A bioresorbable (e.g. breaks down and is
absorbed by a cell, tissue, or other mechanism within the body) or
bioabsorbable (similar to bioresorbable) material may be used.
Alternatively, a bioerodable J e.g., erodes or degrades over time
by contact with surrounding tissue fluids, through cellular
activity or other physiological degradation mechanisms),
biodegradable (e.g., degrades over time by enzymatic or hydrolytic
action, or other mechanism in the body), or dissolvable material
may be employed. Each of these terms is interpreted to be
interchangeable bioabsorbable polymer. Potentially suitable
bioabsorbable materials include polylactic acid (PLA),
poly(alpha-hydroxy acid) such as poly-L-lactide (PLLA),
poly-D-lactide (PDLA), polyglycolide (PGA), polydioxanone,
polycaprolactone, polygluconate, polylactic acid-polyethylene oxide
copolymers, modified cellulose, collagen, poly(hydroxybutyrate),
polyanhydride, polyphosphoester, poly(amino acids), or related
copolymer materials. An absorbable composite fiber may be made by
combining a reinforcement fiber made from a copolymer of about 18%
glycolic acid and about 82% lactic acid with a matrix material
consisting of a blend of the above copolymer with about 20%
polycaprolactone (PCL).
[0121] In any of the suitable device embodiments 10 discussed
herein, the permeable shell structure 40 may include one or more
fixation elements or surfaces to facilitate fixation of the device
within a blood vessel or other vascular site. The fixation elements
may comprise hooks, barbs, protrusions, pores, microfeatures,
texturing, bioadhesives or combinations thereof. Embodiments of the
support structure may be fabricated from a tube of metal where
portions are removed. The removal of material may be done by laser,
electrical discharge machining (EDM), photochemical etching and
traditional machining techniques. In any of the described
embodiments, the support structure may be constructed with a
plurality of wires, cut or etched from a sheet of a material, cut
or etched from a tube or a combination thereof as in the art of
vascular stent fabrication.
[0122] Permeable shell embodiments 40 may be formed at least in
part of wire, ribbon, or other filamentary elements 14. These
filamentary elements 14 may have circular, elliptical, ovoid,
square, rectangular, or triangular cross-sections. Permeable shell
embodiments 40 may also be formed using conventional machining,
laser cutting, electrical discharge machining (EDM) or
photochemical machining (PCM). If made of a metal, it may be formed
from either metallic tubes or sheet material.
[0123] Device embodiments 10 discussed herein may be delivered and
deployed from a delivery and positioning system 112 that includes a
microcatheter 61, such as the type of microcatheter 61 that is
known in the art of neurovascular navigation and therapy. Device
embodiments for treatment of a patient's vasculature 10 may be
elastically collapsed and restrained by a tube or other radial
restraint, such as an inner lumen 120 of a microcatheter 61, for
delivery and deployment. The microcatheter 61 may generally be
inserted through a small incision 152 accessing a peripheral blood
vessel such as the femoral artery or brachial artery. The
microcatheter 61 may be delivered or otherwise navigated to a
desired treatment site 154 from a position outside the patient's
body 156 over a guidewire 159 under fluoroscopy or by other
suitable guiding methods. The guidewire 159 may be removed during
such a procedure to allow insertion of the device 10 secured to a
delivery apparatus 110 of the delivery system 112 through the inner
lumen 120 of a microcatheter 61 in some cases. FIG. 17 illustrates
a schematic view of a patient 158 undergoing treatment of a
vascular defect 160 as shown in FIG. 18. An access sheath 162 is
shown disposed within either a radial artery 164 or femoral artery
166 of the patient 158 with a delivery system 112 that includes a
microcatheter 61 and delivery apparatus 110 disposed within the
access sheath 162. The delivery system 112 is shown extending
distally into the vasculature of the patient's brain adjacent a
vascular defect 160 in the patient's brain.
[0124] Access to a variety of blood vessels of a patient may be
established, including arteries such as the femoral artery 166,
radial artery 164, and the like in order to achieve percutaneous
access to a vascular defect 160. In general, the patient 158 may be
prepared for surgery and the access artery is exposed via a small
surgical incision 152 and access to the lumen is gained using the
Seldinger technique where an introducing needle is used to place a
wire over which a dilator or series of dilators dilates a vessel
allowing an introducer sheath 162 to be inserted into the vessel.
This would allow the device to be used percutaneously. With an
introducer sheath 162 in place, a guiding catheter 168 is then used
to provide a safe passageway from the entry site to a region near
the target site 154 to be treated. For example, in treating a site
in the human brain, a guiding catheter 168 would be chosen which
would extend from the entry site 152 at the femoral artery up
through the large arteries extending around the heart through the
aortic arch, and downstream through one of the arteries extending
from the upper side of the aorta such as the carotid artery 170.
Typically, a guidewire 159 and neurovascular microcatheter 61 are
then placed through the guiding catheter 168 and advanced through
the patient's vasculature, until a distal end 151 of the
microcatheter 61 is disposed adjacent or within the target vascular
defect 160, such as an aneurysm. Exemplary guidewires 159 for
neurovascular use include the Synchro2.RTM. made by Boston
Scientific and the Glidewire Gold Neuro.RTM. made by MicroVention
Terumo. Typical guidewire sizes may include 0.014 inches and 0.018
inches. Once the distal end 151 of the catheter 61 is positioned at
the site, often by locating its distal end through the use of
radiopaque marker material and fluoroscopy, the catheter is
cleared. For example, if a guidewire 159 has been used to position
the microcatheter 61, it is withdrawn from the catheter 61 and then
the implant delivery apparatus 110 is advanced through the
microcatheter 61.
[0125] Delivery and deployment of device embodiments 10 discussed
herein may be carried out by first compressing the device 10 to a
radially constrained and longitudinally flexible state as shown in
FIG. 11. The device 10 may then be delivered to a desired treatment
site 154 while disposed within the microcatheter 61, and then
ejected or otherwise deployed from a distal end 151 of the
microcatheter 61. In other method embodiments, the microcatheter 61
may first be navigated to a desired treatment site 154 over a
guidewire 159 or by other suitable navigation techniques. The
distal end of the microcatheter 61 may be positioned such that a
distal port of the microcatheter 61 is directed towards or disposed
within a vascular defect 160 to be treated and the guidewire 159
withdrawn. The device 10 secured to a suitable delivery apparatus
110 may then be radially constrained, inserted into a proximal
portion of the inner lumen 120 of the microcatheter 61 and distally
advanced to the vascular defect 160 through the inner lumen
120.
[0126] Once disposed within the vascular defect 160, the device 10
may then allowed to assume an expanded relaxed or partially relaxed
state with the permeable shell 40 of the device spanning or
partially spanning a portion of the vascular defect 160 or the
entire vascular defect 160. The device 10 may also be activated by
the application of an energy source to assume an expanded deployed
configuration once ejected from the distal section of the
microcatheter 61 for some embodiments. Once the device 10 is
deployed at a desired treatment site 154, the microcatheter 61 may
then be withdrawn.
[0127] Some embodiments of devices for the treatment of a patient's
vasculature 10 discussed herein may be directed to the treatment of
specific types of defects of a patient's vasculature. For example,
referring to FIG. 18, an aneurysm 160 commonly referred to as a
terminal aneurysm is shown in section. Terminal aneurysms occur
typically at bifurcations in a patient's vasculature where blood
flow, indicated by the arrows 172, from a supply vessel splits into
two or more branch vessels directed away from each other. The main
flow of blood from the supply vessel 174, such as a basilar artery,
sometimes impinges on the vessel where the vessel diverges and
where the aneurysm sack forms. Terminal aneurysms may have a well
defined neck structure where the profile of the aneurysm 160
narrows adjacent the nominal vessel profile, but other terminal
aneurysm embodiments may have a less defined neck structure or no
neck structure. FIG. 19 illustrates a typical berry type aneurysm
160 in section where a portion of a wall of a nominal vessel
section weakens and expands into a sack like structure ballooning
away from the nominal vessel surface and profile. Some berry type
aneurysms may have a well defined neck structure as shown in FIG.
19, but others may have a less defined neck structure or none at
all. FIG. 19 also shows some optional procedures wherein a stent
173 or other type of support has been deployed in the parent vessel
174 adjacent the aneurysm. Also, shown is embolic material 176
being deposited into the aneurysm 160 through a microcatheter 61.
Either or both of the stent 173 and embolic material 176 may be so
deployed either before or after the deployment of a device for
treatment of a patient's vasculature 10. Prior to delivery and
deployment of a device for treatment of a patient's vasculature 10,
it may be desirable for the treating physician to choose an
appropriately sized device 10 to optimize the treatment results.
Some embodiments of treatment may include estimating a volume of a
vascular site or defect 160 to be treated and selecting a device 10
with a volume that is substantially the same volume or slightly
over-sized relative to the volume of the vascular site or defect
160. The volume of the vascular defect 160 to be occluded may be
determined using three-dimensional angiography or other similar
imaging techniques along with software which calculates the volume
of a selected region. The amount of over-sizing may be between
about 2% and 15% of the measured volume. In some embodiments, such
as a very irregular shaped aneurysm, it may be desirable to
under-size the volume of the device 10. Small lobes or "daughter
aneurysms" may be excluded from the volume, defining a truncated
volume which may be only partially filled by the device without
affecting the outcome. A device 10 deployed within such an
irregularly shaped aneurysm 160 is shown in FIG. 28 discussed
below. Such a method embodiment may also include implanting or
deploying the device 10 so that the vascular defect 160 is
substantially filled volumetrically by a combination of device and
blood contained therein. The device 10 may be configured to be
sufficiently conformal to adapt to irregular shaped vascular
defects 160 so that at least about 75%, in some cases about 80%, of
the vascular defect volume is occluded by a combination of device
10 and blood contained therein.
[0128] In particular, for some treatment embodiments, it may be
desirable to choose a device 10 that is properly oversized in a
transverse dimension so as to achieve a desired conformance, radial
force and fit after deployment of the device 10. FIGS. 20-22
illustrate a schematic representation of how a device 10 may be
chosen for a proper fit after deployment that is initially
oversized in a transverse dimension by at least about 10% of the
largest transverse dimension of the vascular defect 160 and
sometimes up to about 100% of the largest transverse dimension. For
some embodiments, the device 10 may be oversized a small amount
(e.g. less than about 1.5 mm) in relation to measured dimensions
for the width, height or neck diameter of the vascular defect
160.
[0129] In FIG. 20, a vascular defect 160 in the form of a cerebral
aneurysm is shown with horizontal arrows 180 and vertical arrows
182 indicating the approximate largest interior dimensions of the
defect 160. Arrow 180 extending horizontally indicates the largest
transverse dimension of the defect 160. In FIG. 21, a dashed
outline 184 of a device for treatment of the vascular defect 10 is
shown superimposed over the vascular defect 160 of FIG. 20
illustrating how a device 10 that has been chosen to be
approximately 20% oversized in a transverse dimension would look in
its unconstrained, relaxed state. FIG. 22 illustrates how the
device 10 which is indicated by the dashed line 184 of FIG. 21
might conform to the interior surface of the vascular defect 160
after deployment whereby the nominal transverse dimension of the
device 10 in a relaxed unconstrained state has now been slightly
constrained by the inward radial force 185 exerted by the vascular
defect 160 on the device 10. In response, as the filaments 14 of
the device 10 and thus the permeable shell 40 made therefrom have a
constant length, the device 10 has assumed a slightly elongated
shape in the axial or longitudinal axis of the device 10 so as to
elongate and better fill the interior volume of the defect 160 as
indicated by the downward arrow 186 in FIG. 22.
[0130] Once a properly sized device 10 has been selected, the
delivery and deployment process may then proceed. It should also be
noted also that the properties of the device embodiments 10 and
delivery system embodiments 112 discussed herein generally allow
for retraction of a device 10 after initial deployment into a
defect 160, but before detachment of the device 10. Therefore, it
may also be possible and desirable to withdraw or retrieve an
initially deployed device 10 after the fit within the defect 160
has been evaluated in favor of a differently sized device 10. An
example of a terminal aneurysm 160 is shown in FIG. 23 in section.
The tip 151 of a catheter, such as a microcatheter 61 may be
advanced into or adjacent the vascular site or defect 160 (e.g.
aneurysm) as shown in FIG. 24. For some embodiments, an embolic
coil or other vaso-occlusive device or material 176 (as shown for
example in FIG. 19) may optionally be placed within the aneurysm
160 to provide a framework for receiving the device 10. In
addition, a stent 173 may be placed within a parent vessel 174 of
some aneurysms substantially crossing the aneurysm neck prior to or
during delivery of devices for treatment of a patient's vasculature
discussed herein (also as shown for example in FIG. 19). An example
of a suitable microcatheter 61 having an inner lumen diameter of
about 0.020 inches to about 0.022 inches is the Rapid Transit.RTM.
manufactured by Cordis Corporation. Examples of some suitable
microcatheters 61 may include microcatheters having an inner lumen
diameter of about 0.026 inch to about 0.028 inch, such as the
Rebar.RTM. by Ev3 Company, the Renegade Hi-Flow.RTM. by Boston
Scientific Corporation, and the Mass Transit@ by Cordis
Corporation. Suitable microcatheters having an inner lumen diameter
of about 0.031 inch to about 0.033 inch may include the
Marksmen.RTM. by Chestnut Medical Technologies, Inc. and the Vasco
280 by Balt Extrusion. A suitable microcatheter 61 having an inner
lumen diameter of about 0.039 inch to about 0.041 inch includes the
Vasco 35 by Balt Extrusion. These microcatheters 61 are listed as
exemplary embodiments only, other suitable microcatheters may also
be used with any of the embodiments discussed herein.
[0131] Detachment of the device 10 from the delivery apparatus 110
may be controlled by a control switch 188 disposed at a proximal
end of the delivery system 112, which may also be coupled to an
energy source 142, which severs the tether 72 that secures the
proximal hub 68 of the device 10 to the delivery apparatus 110.
While disposed within the microcatheter 61 or other suitable
delivery system 112, as shown in FIG. 11, the filaments 14 of the
permeable shell 40 may take on an elongated, non-everted
configuration substantially parallel to each other and a
longitudinal axis of the catheter 61. Once the device 10 is pushed
out of the distal port of the microcatheter 61, or the radial
constraint is otherwise removed, the distal ends 62 of the
filaments 14 may then axially contract towards each other so as to
assume the globular everted configuration within the vascular
defect 160 as shown in FIG. 25.
[0132] The device 10 may be inserted through the microcatheter 61
such that the catheter lumen 120 restrains radial expansion of the
device 10 during delivery. Once the distal tip or deployment port
of the delivery system 112 is positioned in a desirable location
adjacent or within a vascular defect 160, the device 10 may be
deployed out the distal end of the catheter 61 thus allowing the
device to begin to radially expand as shown in FIG. 25. As the
device 10 emerges from the distal end of the delivery system 112,
the device 10 expands to an expanded state within the vascular
defect 160, but may be at least partially constrained by an
interior surface of the vascular defect 160.
[0133] Upon full deployment, radial expansion of the device 10 may
serve to secure the device 10 within the vascular defect 160 and
also deploy the permeable shell 40 across at least a portion of an
opening 190 (e.g. aneurysm neck) so as to at least partially
isolate the vascular defect 160 from flow, pressure or both of the
patient's vasculature adjacent the vascular defect 160 as shown in
FIG. 26. The conformability of the device 10, particularly in the
neck region 190 may provide for improved sealing. For some
embodiments, once deployed, the permeable shell 40 may
substantially slow flow of fluids and impede flow into the vascular
site and thus reduce pressure within the vascular defect 160. For
some embodiments, the device 10 may be implanted substantially
within the vascular defect 160, however, in some embodiments, a
portion of the device 10 may extend into the defect opening or neck
190 or into branch vessels.
[0134] One exemplary case study that has been conducted includes a
procedure performed on a female canine where an aneurysm was
surgically created in the subject canine. The target aneurysm prior
to treatment had a maximum transverse dimension of about 8 mm, a
length of about 10 mm and a neck measurement of about 5.6 mm. The
device 10 deployed included a permeable shell 40 formed of 144
resilient filaments having a transverse diameter of about 0.0015
inches braided into a globular structure having a transverse
dimension of about 10 mm and a longitudinal length of about 7 mm in
a relaxed expanded state. The maximum size 100 of the pores 64 of
the expanded deployed permeable shell 40 was about 0.013 inches.
The device was delivered to the target aneurysm using a 5 Fr.
Guider Softip XF guide catheter made by Boston Scientific. The
maximum size 100 of the pores 64 of the portion of the expanded
deployed permeable shell 40 that spanned the neck of the aneurysm
again was about 0.013 inches. Five minutes after detachment from
the delivery system, the device 10 had produced acute occlusion of
the aneurysm.
[0135] Another exemplary case study conducted involved treatment of
a surgically created aneurysm in a New Zealand White Rabbit. The
target aneurysm prior to treatment had a maximum transverse
dimension of about 3.6 mm, length of about 5.8 mm and a neck
measurement of about 3.4 mm. The device 10 deployed included a
permeable shell formed of 144 resilient filaments having a
transverse diameter of about 0.001 inches braided into a globular
structure having a transverse dimension of about 4 mm and a length
of about 5 mm in a relaxed expanded state. The pore size 100 of the
portion of the braided mesh of the expanded deployed permeable
shell 40 that was configured to span the neck of the vascular
defect was about 0.005 inches. The device was delivered to the
surgically created aneurysm with a 5 Fr. Envoy STR guide catheter
manufactured by Cordis Neurovascular. A Renegade Hi-Flo
microcatheter manufactured by Boston Scientific having an inner
lumen diameter of about 0.027 inches was then inserted through the
guide catheter and served as a conduit for delivery of the device
10 secured to a distal end of a delivery apparatus. Once the device
10 was deployed within the vascular defect 160, the vascular defect
160 achieved at least partial occlusion at 5 minutes from
implantation. However, due to the sensitivity of the subject animal
to angiographic injection and measurement, no further data was
taken during the procedure. Complete occlusion was observed for the
device when examined at 3 weeks from the procedure.
[0136] For some embodiments, as discussed above, the device 10 may
be manipulated by the user to position the device 10 within the
vascular site or defect 160 during or after deployment but prior to
detachment. For some embodiments, the device 10 may be rotated in
order to achieve a desired position of the device 10 and, more
specifically, a desired position of the permeable shell 40, prior
to or during deployment of the device 10. For some embodiments, the
device 10 may be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the delivery
system 112 with or without the transmission or manifestation of
torque being exhibited along a middle portion of a delivery
catheter being used for the delivery. It may be desirable in some
circumstances to determine whether acute occlusion of the vascular
defect 160 has occurred prior to detachment of the device 10 from
the delivery apparatus 110 of the delivery system 112. These
delivery and deployment methods may be used for deployment within
berry aneurysms, terminal aneurysms, or any other suitable vascular
defect embodiments 160. Some method embodiments include deploying
the device 10 at a confluence of three vessels of the patient's
vasculature that form a bifurcation such that the permeable shell
40 of the device 10 substantially covers the neck of a terminal
aneurysm. Once the physician is satisfied with the deployment, size
and position of the device 10, the device 10 may then be detached
by actuation of the control switch 188 by the methods described
above and shown in FIG. 26. Thereafter, the device 10 is in an
implanted state within the vascular defect 160 to effect treatment
thereof.
[0137] FIG. 27 illustrates another configuration of a deployed and
implanted device in a patients vascular defect 160. While the
implantation configuration shown in FIG. 26 indicates a
configuration whereby the longitudinal axis 46 of the device 10 is
substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the defect 160,
other suitable and clinically effective implantation embodiments
may be used. For example. FIG. 27 shows an implantation embodiment
whereby the longitudinal axis 46 of the implanted device 10 is
canted at an angle of about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees relative
to a longitudinal axis of the target vascular defect 160. Such an
alternative implantation configuration may also be useful in
achieving a desired clinical outcome with acute occlusion of the
vascular defect 160 in some cases and restoration of normal blood
flow adjacent the treated vascular defect. FIG. 28 illustrates a
device 10 implanted in an irregularly shaped vascular defect 160.
The aneurysm 160 shown has at least two distinct lobes 192
extending from the main aneurysm cavity. The two lobes 192 shown
are unfilled by the deployed vascular device 10, yet the lobes 192
are still isolated from the parent vessel of the patient's body due
to the occlusion of the aneurysm neck portion 190.
[0138] Markers, such as radiopaque markers, on the device 10 or
delivery system 112 may be used in conjunction with external
imaging equipment (e.g. x-ray) to facilitate positioning of the
device or delivery system during deployment. Once the device is
properly positioned, the device 10 may be detached by the user. For
some embodiments, the detachment of the device 10 from the delivery
apparatus 110 of the delivery system 112 may be affected by the
delivery of energy (e.g. heat, radiofrequency, ultrasound,
vibrational, or laser) to a junction or release mechanism between
the device 10 and the delivery apparatus 110. Once the device 10
has been detached, the delivery system 112 may be withdrawn from
the patient's vasculature or patient's body 158. For some
embodiments, a stent 173 may be place within the parent vessel
substantially crossing the aneurysm neck 190 after delivery of the
device 10 as shown in FIG. 19 for illustration.
[0139] For some embodiments, a biologically active agent or a
passive therapeutic agent may be released from a responsive
material component of the device 10. The agent release may be
affected by one or more of the body's environmental parameters or
energy may be delivered (from an internal or external source) to
the device 10. Hemostasis may occur within the vascular defect 160
as a result of the isolation of the vascular defect 160, ultimately
leading to clotting and substantial occlusion of the vascular
defect 160 by a combination of thrombotic material and the device
10. For some embodiments, thrombosis within the vascular defect 160
may be facilitated by agents released from the device 10 and/or
drugs or other therapeutic agents delivered to the patient.
[0140] For some embodiments, once the device 10 has been deployed,
the attachment of platelets to the permeable shell 40 may be
inhibited and the formation of clot within an interior space of the
vascular defect 160, device, or both promoted or otherwise
facilitated with a suitable choice of thrombogenic coatings,
anti-thrombogenic coatings or any other suitable coatings (not
shown) which may be disposed on any portion of the device 10 for
some embodiments, including an outer surface of the filaments 14 or
the hubs 66 and 68. Such a coating or coatings may be applied to
any suitable portion of the permeable shell 40. Energy forms may
also be applied through the delivery apparatus 110 and/or a
separate catheter to facilitate fixation and/or healing of the
device 10 adjacent the vascular defect 160 for some embodiments.
One or more embolic devices or embolic material 176 may also
optionally be delivered into the vascular defect 160 adjacent
permeable shell portion that spans the neck or opening 190 of the
vascular defect 160 after the device 10 has been deployed. For some
embodiments, a stent or stent-like support device 173 may be
implanted or deployed in a parent vessel adjacent the defect 160
such that it spans across the vascular defect 160 prior to or after
deployment of the vascular defect treatment device 10.
[0141] In any of the above embodiments, the device 10 may have
sufficient radial compliance so as to be readily retrievable or
retractable into a typical microcatheter 61. The proximal portion
of the device 10, or the device as a whole for some embodiments,
may be engineered or modified by the use of reduced diameter
filaments, tapered filaments, or filaments oriented for radial
flexure so that the device 10 is retractable into a tube that has
an internal diameter that is less than about 0.7 mm, using a
retraction force less than about 2.7 Newtons (0.6 lbf) force. The
force for retrieving the device 10 into a microcatheter 61 may be
between about 0.8 Newtons (0.18 Ibf) and about 2.25 Newtons (0.5
Ibf).
[0142] Engagement of the permeable shell 40 with tissue of an inner
surface of a vascular defect 160, when in an expanded relaxed
state, may be achieved by the exertion of an outward radial force
against tissue of the inside surface of the cavity of the patient's
vascular defect 160 as shown in FIG. 29. A similar outward radial
force may also be applied by a proximal end portion and permeable
shell 40 of the device 10 so as to engage the permeable shell 40
with an inside surface or adjacent tissue of the vascular defect
160. Such forces may be exerted in some embodiments wherein the
nominal outer transverse dimension or diameter of the permeable
shell 40 in the relaxed unconstrained state is larger than the
nominal inner transverse dimension of the vascular defect 160
within which the device 10 is being deployed, i.e., oversizing as
discussed above. The elastic resiliency of the permeable shell 40
and filaments 14 thereof may be achieved by an appropriate
selection of materials, such as superelastic alloys, including
nickel titanium alloys, or any other suitable material for some
embodiments. The conformability of a proximal portion of the
permeable shell 40 of the device 10 may be such that it will
readily ovalize to adapt to the shape and size of an aneurysm neck
190, as shown in FIGS. 20-22, thus providing a good seal and
barrier to flow around the device. Thus the device 10 may achieve a
good seal, substantially preventing flow around the device without
the need for fixation members that protrude into the parent
vessel.
[0143] Some implanted device embodiments 10 have the ends of the
filaments 14 of the permeable shell 40 disposed even with or just
within a plane formed by the apices of the filaments disposed
adjacent to the ends. Some embodiments of the device 10 may also
include a sealing member disposed within or about a perimeter zone
198 or other suitable portion of the permeable shell 40 and be
configured to facilitate the disruption of flow, a fibrotic tissue
response, or physically form a seal between the permeable shell 40
and a surface of the patient's vasculature. The sealing member may
comprise coatings, fibers or surface treatments as described
herein. The sealing member may be in a part or all of an area of
the periphery of the device adjacent where the device contacts the
wall of the aneurysm near the aneurysm neck (sealing zone 198) as
shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. The zone may extend from about the apex
of the outer proximal end radius 88 for a distance up to about 20%
of the height of the expanded device 10. The sealing zone 198 may
include between about 5% and 30% of the device 10 surface area.
Since the flow of blood into an aneurysm 160 generally favors one
side of the opening, the sealing member may be incorporated in or
attached to the permeable shell 40 structure throughout the
peripheral area (sealing zone 198) shown in FIG. 30. Some
embodiments of the sealing member may include a swellable polymer.
In some embodiments, the sealing member may include or bioactive
material or agent such as a biologic material or biodegradable,
bioresorbable or other bioactive polymer or copolymers thereof.
[0144] Any embodiment of devices for treatment of a patient's
vasculature 10, delivery system 112 for such devices 10 or both
discussed herein may be adapted to deliver energy to the device for
treatment of a patient's vasculature or to tissue surrounding the
device 10 at the implant site for the purpose of facilitating
fixation of a device 10, healing of tissue adjacent the device or
both. In some embodiments, energy may be delivered through a
delivery system 112 to the device 10 for treatment of a patient's
vasculature such that the device 10 is heated. In some embodiments,
energy may be delivered via a separate elongate instrument (e.g.
catheter, not shown) to the device 10 for treatment of a patient's
vasculature and/or surrounding tissue at the site of the implant
154. Examples of energy embodiments that may be delivered include
but are not limited to light energy, thermal or vibration energy,
electromagnetic energy, radio frequency energy and ultrasonic
energy. For some embodiments, energy delivered to the device 10 may
trigger the release of chemical or biologic agents to promote
fixation of a device for treatment of a patient's vasculature 10 to
a patient's tissue, healing of tissue disposed adjacent such a
device 10 or both.
[0145] The permeable shell 40 of some device embodiments 10 may
also be configured to react to the delivery of energy to effect a
change in the mechanical or structural characteristics, deliver
drugs or other bioactive agents or transfer heat to the surrounding
tissue. For example, some device embodiments 10 may be made softer
or more rigid from the use of materials that change properties when
exposed to electromagnetic energy (e.g. heat, light, or radio
frequency energy). In some cases, the permeable shell 40 may
include a polymer that reacts in response to physiologic fluids by
expanding. An exemplary material is described by Cox in U.S. Patent
Application No. 2004/0186562, filed Jan. 22, 2004, titled "Aneurysm
Treatment Device and Method of Use", which is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
[0146] Device embodiments 10 and components thereof discussed
herein may take on a large variety of configurations to achieve
specific or generally desirable clinical results. In some device
embodiments 10, the start of the braided structure of the permeable
shell 40 may be delayed from the proximal hub 68 so that the
filaments 1 emanate from the proximal hub 68 in a spoke-like radial
fashion as shown in the proximal end view of a device in FIG. 31. A
flattened analog version of the braid pattern of FIG. 31 is also
shown in FIG. 33. This configuration may result in a smaller width
gap between the filaments 14 at a given radial distance from the
proximal hub 68 relative to a fully braided configuration, the
flattened analog pattern of which is shown in FIG. 34. This may
provide better flow disruption and promote hemostasis in the area
of the device 10 that may be subjected to the highest flow rates.
FIG. 32 illustrates a flattened analog representation of a
non-braided filament structure for reference.
[0147] The woven structure may include a portion where the weave or
braid of the filaments 14 is interrupted as shown in a flat pattern
analog pattern in FIG. 35. In the interrupted region, the filaments
14 may be substantially parallel to each other. The interrupted
area may provide a region with different mechanical characteristics
such as radial stiffness and/or compliance. Further, the
interrupted region may allow for the addition of non-structural
fibers or sealing members 200 as described herein or other elements
to facilitate fixation, healing, fibrosis or thrombosis. The
interrupted region may be within, part of or adjacent to the
sealing member zone 198 as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. The
interrupted region may be less than about 50% of the surface area
and may be between about 5% and 25% of the surface area.
[0148] In some embodiments, filamentary or fibrous members that are
substantially non-structural may be attached or interwoven into the
structural filaments of a portion of the permeable shell to
increase a resistance to the flow of blood through the permeable
shell structure 40. In some embodiments, a plurality of fibers 200
may be attached on the inner surface of the permeable shell 40 near
the proximal hub 68 as shown in FIG. 36. The fibrous members 200
may be the fibers that form the detachment system tether for some
embodiments. In some embodiments, one or more fibers 200 may be
interwoven into the permeable shell filaments 14 as shown in FIG.
37. The non-structural fibers 200, which may be microfibers or any
other suitable fibers, may be polymeric. The non-structural fibers
200 may include, but not limited to, any of the fibers or
microfibers discussed or incorporated herein.
[0149] In some cases, device embodiments for treatment of a
patient's vasculature 10 may generally be fabricated by braiding a
substantially tubular braided structure with filamentary elements
14, forming the braided tubular structure into a desired shape, and
heat setting the braided formed filaments into the desired shape.
Once so formed, the ends of the elongate resilient filaments 14 may
then be secured together relative to each other by any of the
methods discussed above and proximal and distal hubs 66 and 68
added.
[0150] Such a braiding process may be carried out by automated
machine fabrication or may also be performed by hand. An embodiment
of a process for braiding a tubular braided structure by a manual
process is shown in FIG. 38. A plurality of elongate resilient
filaments 14 are secured at one end of an elongate cylindrical
braiding mandrel 202 by a constraining band 204. The band 204 may
include any suitable structure that secured the ends of the
filaments 14 relative to the mandrel 202 such as a band of adhesive
tape, an elastic band, an annular clamp or the like. The loose ends
of the filaments 14 opposite the secured ends are being manipulated
in a braided or woven pattern as indicated by the arrows 206 to
achieve a one over-one under braid pattern for generation of a
braided tubular member 208. As discussed above, although a one
over-one under simple braid pattern is shown and discussed, other
braid or weave patterns may also be used. One such example of
another braid configuration may include a two over-one under
pattern. FIG. 39 illustrates the braided tubular member 208 taking
shape and lengthening as the braiding process continues as
indicated by the arrows 206 in FIG. 39. Once the braided tubular
member 208 achieves sufficient length, it may be removed from the
braiding mandrel 202 and positioned within a shaping fixture such
as the shaping fixture embodiments shown in FIGS. 40 and 41.
[0151] FIG. 40 shows the tubular braided member 208 disposed over
an internal rod mandrel 210 that extends through central lumens of
an internal ball mandrel 212 and a pair of opposed recessed end
forming mandrels 214. The tubular braided member 208 is also
disposed over an outer surface of the internal ball mandrel 212 and
within an inner lumen of each of the end forming mandrels 214. In
order to hold the braided tubular member 208 onto an outer surface
contour of the internal ball mandrel 212, including the recessed
ends 216 thereof, the end forming mandrels 214 are configured to be
pushed against and into the recessed ends 216 of the internal ball
mandrel 212 such that the inside surface of the braided tubular
member 208 is held against the outer contour of the internal ball
mandrel 212 and fixed in place. This entire fixture 220 with the
inside surface of the braided tubular structure 208 held against
the outside surface of the internal ball mandrel 212 may then be
subjected to an appropriate heat treatment such that the resilient
filaments 14 of the braided tubular member 208 assume or are
otherwise shape-set to the outer contour of the central ball
mandrel 212. In some embodiments, the filamentary elements 14 of
the permeable shell 40 may be held by a fixture configured to hold
the permeable shell 40 n a desired shape and heated to about
475-525 degrees C. for about 5-10 minutes to shape-set the
structure.
[0152] The central ball mandrel 212 may be configured to have any
desired shape so as to produce a shape set tubular braided member
208 that forms a permeable shell 40 having a desired shape and size
such as the globular configuration of the device 10 of FIGS. 3-6
above, or any other suitable configuration. As such, the central
ball mandrel 212 may also be a globular-shaped ball with recesses
in opposing sides for the hubs 66 and 68 that is placed inside the
tubular braid 208. A mold or molds that have one or more pieces
that are assembled to form a cavity with the desired device shape
may also be used in conjunction with or in place of the end forming
mandrels 214. Once the heat set process in complete, fibers,
coatings, surface treatments may be added to certain filaments,
portions of filaments, or all of the permeable shell 40 structure
that results. Further, for some embodiments of device processing,
the permeable shell 40 may be formed as discussed above by securing
proximal ends 60 and distal ends 62 of elongate filamentary
elements 14, or to respective proximal and distal hubs 66 and
68.
[0153] FIG. 41 shows another embodiment of a fixture for shape
setting the permeable shell 40 of a device for treatment of a
patient's vasculature. The fixture embodiment 230 of FIG. 41 may be
used in essentially the same manner as the fixture embodiment 220
of FIG. 40, except that instead of a central ball mandrel 212, an
internal tube mandrel 232 is used in conjunction with an external
tube restraint 234 in order to hold the shape of the braided
tubular member 208 during the heat setting process. More
specifically, the tubular braided member 208 is disposed over an
internal rod mandrel 210 that extends through central lumens of the
internal tube mandrel 232 and a pair of opposed recessed end
forming mandrels 214. The tubular braided member 208 is also
disposed over an outer surface of the internal tube mandrel 232 and
within an inner lumen of each of the end forming mandrels 214.
[0154] In order to hold the braided tubular member 208 into a
desired shape, including the recessed ends thereof, the end forming
mandrels 214 are configured to be pushed against and into recessed
ends 238 of the internal tube mandrel 232 such that the inside
surface of the braided tubular member 208 is held against the outer
contour of the internal tube mandrel 232 and fixed in place at the
ends of the tube mandrel 232. Between the ends of the tube mandrel
232, the braided tubular member 208 radially expands outwardly
until it touches and is radially constrained by an inside surface
of an external tube mandrel 234. The combination of axial restraint
and securement of the braided tubular member 208 at the ends of the
internal tube mandrel 232 in conjunction with the inward radial
restraint on an outside surface of the braided tubular member 208
disposed between the proximal and distal ends thereof, may be
configured to produce a desired globular configuration suitable for
the permeable shell 40 of the device 10.
[0155] Once again, this entire fixture 230 with the inside surface
of the ends of the braided tubular structure 208 held against the
outside surface of the ends of the internal tube mandrel 232 and an
outside surface of the braided tubular member 208 radially
constrained by an inside surface 233 of the external tube member
234, may then be subjected to an appropriate heat treatment. The
heat treatment may be configured such that the resilient filaments
14 of the braided tubular member 208 assume or are otherwise
shape-set to the globular contour of the filaments 14 generated by
the fixture 230. In some embodiments, the filamentary elements 14
of the permeable shell 40 may be held by a fixture configured to
hold the braided tubular member 208 in a desired shape and heated
to about 475-525 degrees C. for about 5-10 minutes to shape-set the
structure. The internal tube mandrel 232 and inside surface 233 of
the external tube member 234 may be so configured to have any
desired shape so as to produce a shape set tubular braided member
208 that forms a permeable shell 40 having a desired shape and size
such as the globular configuration of the device of FIGS. 3-6
above, or any other suitable configuration. For some embodiments,
material may be attached to filaments 14 of the permeable shell 40
of a device 10 such that it substantially reduces the size of the
fenestrations, cells or pores 64 between filaments 14 and thus
reduces the porosity in that area. For example, coating embodiments
may be disposed on portions of the filaments 14 to create small
fenestrations or cells and thus higher density of the permeable
shell 40. Active materials such as a responsive hydrogel may be
attached or otherwise incorporated into permeable shell 40 of some
embodiments such that it swells upon contact with liquids over time
to reduce the porosity of the permeable shell 40.
[0156] Device embodiments 10 discussed herein may be coated with
various polymers to enhance it performance, fixation and/or
biocompatibility. In addition, device embodiments 10 may be made of
various biomaterials known in the art of implant devices including
but not limited to polymers, metals, biological materials and
composites thereof. Device embodiments discussed herein may include
cells and/or other biologic material to promote healing. Device
embodiments discussed herein may also be constructed to provide the
elution or delivery of one or more beneficial drugs, other
bioactive substances or both into the blood or the surrounding
tissue.
[0157] Permeable shell embodiments 40 of devices for treatment of a
patient's vasculature 10 may include multiple layers. A first or
outer layer may be constructed from a material with low bioactivity
and hemocompatibility so as to minimize platelet aggregation or
attachment and thus the propensity to form clot and thrombus.
Optionally, an outer layer may be coated or incorporate an
antithrombogenic agent such as heparin or other antithrombogenic
agents described herein or known in the art. One or more inner
layers disposed towards the vascular defect in a deployed state
relative to the first layer may be constructed of materials that
have greater bioactivity and/or promote clotting and thus enhance
the formation of an occlusive mass of clot and device within the
vascular defect. Some materials that have been shown to have
bioactivity and/or promote clotting include silk, polylactic acid
(PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), collagen, alginate, fibrin,
fibrinogen, fibronectin, Methylcellulose, gelatin, Small Intestinal
Submucosa (SIS), poly-N-acetylglucosamine and copolymers or
composites thereof.
[0158] Bioactive agents suitable for use in the embodiments
discussed herein may include those having a specific action within
the body as well as those having nonspecific actions. Specific
action agents are typically proteinaceous, including thrombogenic
types and/or forms of collagen, thrombin and fibrinogen (each of
which may provide an optimal combination of activity and cost), as
well as elastin and von Willebrand factor (which may tend to be
less active and/or expensive agents), and active portions and
domains of each of these agents. Thrombogenic proteins typically
act by means of a specific interaction with either platelets or
enzymes that participate in a cascade of events leading eventually
to clot formation. Agents having nonspecific thrombogenic action
are generally positively charged molecules, e.g., polymeric
molecules such as chitosan, polylysine, poly(ethylenimine) or
acrylics polymerized from acrylamide or methacrylamide which
incorporate positively-charged groups in the form of primary,
secondary, or tertiary amines or quaternary salts, or non-polymeric
agents such as (tridodecylmethylammonium chloride). Positively
charged hemostatic agents promote clot formation by a non-specific
mechanism, which includes the physical adsorption of platelets via
ionic interactions between the negative charges on the surfaces of
the platelets and the positive charges of the agents themselves.
Device embodiments 10 herein may include a surface treatment or
coating on a portion, side or all surfaces that promotes or
inhibits thrombosis, clotting, healing or other embolization
performance measure. The surface treatment or coating may be a
synthetic, biologic or combination thereof. For some embodiments,
at least a portion of an inner surface of the permeable shell 40
may have a surface treatment or coating made of a biodegradable or
bioresorbable material such as a polylactide, polyglycolide or a
copolymer thereof. Another surface treatment or coating material
which may enhance the embolization performance of a device includes
a polysaccharide such as an alginate based material. Some coating
embodiments may include extracellular matrix proteins such as ECM
proteins. One example of such a coating may be Finale Prohealing
coating which is commercially available from Surmodics Inc. Eden
Prairie, Minn. Another exemplary coating may be Polyzene-F which is
commercially available from CeloNovo BioSciences. Inc., Newnan, Ga.
In some embodiments, the coatings may be applied with a thickness
that is less than about 25% of a transverse dimension of the
filaments 14.
[0159] Antiplatelet agents may include aspirin, glycoprotein I
Ib/IIIa receptor inhibitors (including, abciximab, eptifibatide,
tirofiban, lamifiban, fradafiban, cromafiban, toxifiban, XV454,
lefradafiban, klerval, lotrafiban, orbofiban, and xemilofiban),
dipyridamole, apo-dipyridamole, persantine, prostacyclin,
ticlopidine, clopidogrel, cromafiban, cilostazol, and nitric oxide.
To deliver nitric oxide, device embodiments may include a polymer
that releases nitric oxide. Device embodiments 10 may also deliver
or include an anticoagulant such as heparin, low molecular weight
heparin, hirudin, warfarin, bivalirudin, hirudin, argatroban,
forskolin, ximelagatran, vapiprost, prostacyclin and prostacyclin
analogues, dextran, synthetic antithrombin, Vasoflux, argatroban,
efegatran, tick anticoagulant peptide, Ppack. HMG-CoA reductase
inhibitors, and thromboxane A2 receptor inhibitors.
[0160] In some embodiments, the permeable shell 40 of a device 10
may be coated with a composition that may include nanoscale
structured materials or precursors thereof (e.g., self-assembling
peptides). The peptides may have with alternating hydrophilic and
hydrophobic monomers that allow them to self assemble under
physiological conditions. The composition may comprise a sequence
of amino acid residues, in some embodiments, the permeable shell
may include a thin metallic film material. The thin film metal may
be fabricated by sputter deposition and may be formed in multiple
layers. The thin film may be a nickel-titanium alloy also known as
nitinol.
[0161] With regard to the above detailed description, like
reference numerals used therein refer to like elements that may
have the same or similar dimensions, materials and configurations.
While particular forms of embodiments have been illustrated and
described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments
of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the
invention be limited by the forgoing detailed description.
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