U.S. patent application number 17/470049 was filed with the patent office on 2021-12-30 for intrasaccular device positioning and deployment system.
This patent application is currently assigned to DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lacey GOROCHOW, Kirk JOHNSON, Juan LORENZO.
Application Number | 20210401439 17/470049 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005828007 |
Filed Date | 2021-12-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210401439 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LORENZO; Juan ; et
al. |
December 30, 2021 |
INTRASACCULAR DEVICE POSITIONING AND DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM
Abstract
Implant deployment systems can generally include a braided
implant that can be detachably attached to a delivery tube by an
expansion ring that can be positioned within a notch on an outer
surface of the delivery tube near a distal end of the delivery
tube. The implant can be positioned within a lumen of the delivery
tube and remain attached to the delivery tube as the assembly is
fed through a microcatheter to a treatment site. Once the braided
implant is implanted, the expansion ring can move from a collapsed
configuration that is engaged with the notch of the delivery tube
to a deployed configuration that releases the delivery tube,
thereby releasing the braided implant from the delivery tube.
Inventors: |
LORENZO; Juan; (Davie,
FL) ; JOHNSON; Kirk; (Raynham, MA) ; GOROCHOW;
Lacey; (Raynham, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DePuy Synthes Products, Inc. |
Raynham |
MA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DePuy Synthes Products,
Inc.
Raynham
MA
|
Family ID: |
1000005828007 |
Appl. No.: |
17/470049 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16140836 |
Sep 25, 2018 |
11123077 |
|
|
17470049 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 17/12113 20130101;
A61B 17/12172 20130101; A61B 2017/12054 20130101; A61B 2017/00867
20130101; A61B 17/12031 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/12 20060101
A61B017/12 |
Claims
1. A method for treating an aneurysm, the method comprising:
providing a braided implantation delivery system, wherein the
braided implantation delivery system comprises a braided implant, a
delivery tube comprising a notch, and an expansion component;
attaching the braided implant to the expansion component; engaging
the expansion component with the notch; implanting the braided
implant in the aneurysm; expanding the expansion component to
disengage the expansion component from the notch; and releasing the
expansion component from the delivery tube which releases the
braided implant from the delivery tube.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of expanding
the expansion component to occlude at least a portion of the neck
of the aneurysm.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of implanting the
braided implant in the aneurysm comprises the step of forming an
occlusive sack, and wherein the step of expanding the expansion
component comprises the step of extending the occlusive sack across
the neck of the aneurysm.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the expansion component is in a
collapsed configuration when engaged with the notch and in a
deployed configuration when released from the notch.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the braided implantation delivery
system further comprises an inner elongated member, the method
further comprising the step of attaching the braided implant to the
inner elongated member.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of implanting the
braided implant in the aneurysm further comprises the steps of:
pushing the inner elongated member distally, thereby pushing a
portion of the braided implant into the aneurysm; and detaching the
braided implant from the inner elongated member.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising retracting and
repositioning the braided implant within the aneurysm by one or
both of pushing and pulling the inner elongated member.
8. The method of claim 6 further comprising pushing the inner
elongated member distally such that the braided implant inverts to
form an occlusive sack.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein a portion of the braided implant
does not invert to form the occlusive sack and is pushed into the
occlusive sack to form an embolic filler braid.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the embolic filler braid is
detachably attached to the inner elongated member.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising partially or fully
retracting the braided implant from the aneurysm by pulling the
inner elongated member proximally, thereby allowing repositioning
of the braided implant.
12. The method of claim 10 further comprising pushing the inner
elongated member distally to re-implant the braided implant.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the braided implant comprises: a
fold positioned distal the distal end of the delivery tube; an
outer fold segment extending proximally from the fold and
comprising the second end of the braided implant; and an inner fold
segment encompassed by the outer fold segment, extending proximally
from the fold, and comprising the first end of the braided
implant.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the expansion component is
mechanically connected to a portion of the outer fold segment, the
outer fold segment covering at least a portion of the notch and at
least a portion of the expansion ring.
15. The method of claim 4, wherein the deployed configuration of
the expansion component comprises: an attaching segment attached to
the braided implant and opening a first region of the occlusive
sack to a first circumference; and an extending portion attached to
the attaching segment and opening a second region of the occlusive
sack to a second circumference greater than the first
circumference.
16. The method of claim 4, wherein the expansion component
comprises a plurality of leaf shaped elements that extend radially
as the expansion component moves from the collapsed configuration
to the deployed configuration.
17. The method of claim 4, wherein the expansion component in the
collapsed configuration comprises a plurality of segments joined to
form a substantially tubular zig-zag structure.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the delivery tube further
comprises a lumen therethrough and the inner fold segment of the
braided implant is positioned within the lumen.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the notch comprises a
circumferential indentation on the exterior of the tubular delivery
member.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the expansion component is
positioned in the circumferential indentation when in a collapsed
configuration.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a divisional application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 16/140,836 filed Sep. 25, 2018, the
entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to medical
instruments, and more particularly, delivery systems for a device
for aneurysm therapy.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Cranial aneurysms can be complicated and difficult to treat
due to their proximity to critical brain tissues. Prior solutions
have included endovascular treatment whereby an internal volume of
the aneurysm sac is removed or excluded from arterial blood
pressure and flow. Current alternatives to endovascular or other
surgical approaches can include occlusion devices that either fill
the sac of the aneurysm with embolic material or treating the
entrance or neck of the aneurysm. Both approaches attempt to
prevent blood flow into the aneurysm. When filling an aneurysm sac,
the embolic material clots the blood, creating a thrombotic mass
within the aneurysm. When treating the aneurysm neck, blood flow
into the entrance of the aneurysm is inhibited, inducing venous
stasis in the aneurysm and facilitating a natural formation of a
thrombotic mass within the aneurysm.
[0004] Current occlusion devices typically utilize multiple embolic
coils to either fill the sac or treat the entrance. In either
treatment, obtaining an embolic coil packing density sufficient to
either occlude the aneurysm neck or fill the aneurysm sac is
difficult and time consuming. Further, aneurysm morphology (e.g.
wide neck, bifurcation, etc.) can required ancillary devices such a
stents or balloons to support the coil mass and obtain the desired
packing density.
[0005] Naturally formed thrombotic masses formed by treating the
entrance of the aneurysm with embolic coils can improve healing
compared to aneurysm masses packed with embolic coils by reducing
possible distention from arterial walls and permitting
reintegration into the original parent vessel shape along the neck
plane. However, embolic coils delivered to the neck of the aneurysm
can potentially have the adverse effect of impeding the flow of
blood in the adjoining blood vessel; at the same time, if the
entrance is insufficiently packed, blood flow can persist into the
aneurysm. Properly implanting embolic coils is therefore
challenging, and once implanted, the coils cannot easily be
retracted or repositioned.
[0006] Furthermore, embolic coils do not always effectively treat
aneurysms as aneurysms treated with multiple coils often reanalyze
or compact because of poor coiling, lack of coverage across the
aneurysm neck, because of flow, or even aneurysm size.
[0007] An example alternative occlusion device is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 8,998,947. However, this approach relies upon the use of
embolic coils or mimics the coil approach and therefore suffers
many of the limitations of embolic coil approaches such as
difficulty achieving a safe packing density and inability to
reposition once implanted.
[0008] It is therefore desirable to have a device which easily,
accurately, and safely occludes a neck of an aneurysm or other
arterio-venous malformation in a parent vessel without blocking
flow into perforator vessels communicating with the parent
vessel.
SUMMARY
[0009] Disclosed herein are various exemplary devices and systems
of the present invention that can address the above needs. The
devices generally can include a braided implant that can be
detachably attached to a delivery tube by an expansion ring that
can be positioned within a notch on an outer surface of the
delivery tube near a distal end of the delivery tube. The implant
can be positioned within a lumen of the delivery tube and remain
attached to the delivery tube as the delivery tube and implant
device assembly is fed through a microcatheter to a treatment site.
Once at the treatment site, the braided implant can be implanted by
pushing an inner elongated member, or pusher distally, thereby
pushing the braided implant out of the distal end of the delivery
tube. The inner elongated member can be detachably attached to an
end of the braided implant such that the braided implant can be
retracted and repositioned until properly positioned, then
released. Once the braided implant is implanted, the expansion ring
can move from a collapsed configuration that is engaged with the
notch of the delivery tube to a deployed configuration that
releases the delivery tube. Once released, the delivery tube can be
extracted from the patient, leaving behind the implanted braided
implant.
[0010] An example system for releasing an implant can include a
braided implant, a delivery tube, an inner elongated member, and an
expansion ring. The braided implant can have a first end detachably
attached to a distal end of the inner elongated member and a second
end mechanically connected to the expansion ring. The delivery tube
can have a distal end with a notch positioned on an outer surface
near the distal end of the delivery tube. The expansion ring can be
movable from a collapsed configuration that is engaged with the
notch to a deployed configuration that is disengaged from the notch
and released from the delivery tube.
[0011] The braided implant can include a fold positioned distal the
distal end of the delivery tube, an outer fold segment extending
proximally from the fold, and an inner fold segment extending
proximally from the fold such that the outer fold segment
encompasses the inner fold segment. The outer fold segment can
include the second end of the braided implant attached to the
expansion ring, and the inner fold segment can include the first
end attached to the inner elongated member.
[0012] The delivery tube can have a lumen therethrough and the
inner fold segment of the braided implant can be positioned within
the lumen.
[0013] The expansion ring can be mechanically connected to a
portion of the outer fold segment such that the outer fold segment
covers at least a portion of the notch and at least a portion of
the expansion ring.
[0014] In the deployed configuration, the expansion ring can
include an attached segment and an extending portion. The attached
segment can be attached to the braided implant and can open a first
region of the occlusive sack to a first circumference, and the
extending portion can be attached to the attaching segment and can
open a second region of the occlusive sack to a second
circumference greater than the first circumference.
[0015] The expansion ring can have leaf shaped elements that extend
radially as the expansion ring moves from the collapsed
configuration to the deployed configuration.
[0016] The expansion ring can have segments joined to form a
substantially tubular zig-zag structure when in the collapsed
configuration.
[0017] The inner elongated member can be pushed distally to implant
at least a portion of the braided implant.
[0018] An example device for treating an aneurysm can include a
tubular delivery member, an inner elongated member, a braided
tubular implant, and an expansion component. The braided tubular
implant can be movable from a delivery configuration to an
implanted configuration. In the delivery configuration, the braided
tubular implant can have a first end extending proximally within an
interior of the tubular delivery member that is detachably attached
to a distal end of the inner elongated member and a second end
extending distally from the distal end of the tubular delivery
member and folding proximally over at least a portion of a notch
positioned on an exterior of the tubular delivery member near a
distal end of the tubular delivery member. The expansion component
can be positioned within the notch on the tubular delivery member
and attached to the braided tubular implant near the second end of
the braided tubular implant. The expansion component can be movable
from a collapsed configuration engaging the notch to a deployed
configuration disengaging the notch.
[0019] The notch on the exterior of the tubular delivery member can
be a circumferential indentation. The expansion component can be
positioned in the circumferential indentation when in the collapsed
configuration.
[0020] When in the implanted configuration, the braided tubular
implant can have an occlusive sack and the expansion component can
be positioned within the occlusive sack. The expansion component
can have extending members that appose the occlusive sack when the
expansion component is in the deployed configuration. When in the
collapsed configuration, the expansion component can have an
opening through which the braided tubular implant passes through
upon movement from the delivery configuration to the implanted
configuration.
[0021] An example method for treating an aneurysm can include the
steps of providing a braided implantation delivery system having a
braided implant, a delivery tube, and an expansion component,
attaching the braided implant to the expansion component, engaging
the expansion component with a notch on the delivery tube,
implanting the braided implant in the aneurysm, expanding the
expansion component to disengage the expansion component from the
notch, and releasing the expansion component from the delivery tube
which releases the braided implant from the delivery tube.
[0022] The method can further include the step of expanding the
expansion component to occlude at least a portion of the neck of
the aneurysm.
[0023] The step of implanting the braided implant in the aneurysm
can include the step of forming an occlusive sack, and the step of
expanding the expansion component can include the step of extending
the occlusive sack across the neck of the aneurysm.
[0024] The provided braided implantation delivery system can
further include an inner elongated member, and the method can
further include the step of attaching the braided implant to the
inner elongated member. The step of implanting the braided implant
can further include the steps of pushing the inner elongated member
distally, thereby pushing a portion of the braided implant into the
aneurysm and detaching the braided implant from the inner elongated
member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The above and further aspects of this invention are further
discussed with reference to the following description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals
indicate like structural elements and features in various figures.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon illustrating principles of the invention. The figures
depict one or more implementations of the inventive devices, by way
of example only, not by way of limitation.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional drawing of an implantation
device or system according to the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 2A is a drawing depicting braided implant in a delivery
configuration according to the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 2B is a drawing depicting an expansion ring in a
collapsed configuration according to the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 2C is a drawing depicting a distal end of a delivery
tube according to the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a drawing depicting a distal end of an
implantation system according to the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional drawing of an implantation
system within a microcatheter according to the present
invention;
[0032] FIGS. 5A to 5G are drawings illustrating a method of use of
an implantation system according to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a drawing depicting a braided implant in an
implanted configuration with an expansion ring in a deployed
configuration according to the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 7A is a cut-away drawing of an aneurysm with a
partially implanted braided implant.
[0035] FIG. 7B is a cut-away drawing of an aneurysm with a
completely implanted braided implant.
[0036] FIGS. 8A to 8C is drawing depicting a braided implant in an
implanted configuration and an expansion ring in a deployed
configuration according to the present invention;
[0037] FIGS. 9A to 9B is a drawing depicting a braided implant in
an implanted configuration and an expansion ring in a deployed
configuration according to the present invention;
[0038] FIGS. 10A, and 10B are drawings depicting expansion rings in
a collapsed configuration according to the present invention;
and
[0039] FIGS. 11 and 12 are flow diagrams outlining method steps
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] Previous approaches utilizing embolic coils can be improved
upon by treating the aneurysm entrance and/or packing the aneurysm
with an embolic braided implant. For example, see U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/903,860, which has been Published as US
2018/0242979 A1 on Aug. 30, 2018 and patented as U.S. Pat. No.
10,751,066 B2 on Aug. 25, 2020, incorporated herein, in its
entirety, by reference. Treating the aneurysm with the braided
implant can have potential advantages over treatments utilizing
embolic coils such as an ability to achieve higher packing density,
ability to retract and reposition the implant during the
implantation procedure, ability to perform implantation without
ancillary devices such as stents or balloons, reduced risk of
reanalyzing or compacting, and improved coverage across the
aneurysm neck, for example.
[0041] In braided implant delivery systems, it can be advantageous
to maintain an attachment between an implant and a delivery device
until the implant is in place at the treatment site, then detach
the implant so that portions of the delivery device and system can
be extracted. When implanted in an aneurysm, for example, the
delivery system can also serve to at least partially occlude the
neck of the aneurysm. The present disclosure describes various
example systems, devices, and methods that can be utilized for at
least such purposes.
[0042] The system for positioning and deployment of an
intrasaccular device (e.g. braided implant) into an aneurysm can
include an outer hollow braid pusher, an inner braid pusher, a
braided implant, and a microcatheter. The outer pusher (delivery
tube) be coaxially mounted over the inner pusher (inner elongated
member). A first (proximal) end of the braided implant (braided
intrasaccular component) can be mounted to a distal end of the
outer pusher, while a second (distal) end of the braided implant
can be attached to a distal end of the inner pusher. The first end
of the braided implant can have a self-expanding ring mounted to
the braid. The self-expanding ring can be made of Nitinol or other
similar self-expanding material. The self-expanding ring can be
crimped in place within a notch located at a distal end of the
outer pusher to attach the braided implant to the outer pusher, and
the first, proximal end of the braided implant can fit within a
notch at the distal end of the inner pusher. The inner pusher can
include a release mechanism of known design. For example, see U.S.
Pat. Nos. 7,377,932 and 8,062,325, each incorporated herein, in
their entirety, by reference.
[0043] FIG. 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of an implantation
device 100 having a braided implant 300, a delivery tube 500, and
an inner elongated member 400. The braided implant 300 can have an
outer fold segment 302 near a distal end 314 of the braided implant
300. The outer fold segment 302 can be attached to an expansion
ring 200, and the expansion ring 200 can be positioned within a
notch 510 on an outer surface 508 of the delivery tube 500 near a
distal end 514 of the delivery tube 500. The braided implant can
have a fold 303 positioned distal the distal end 514 of the
delivery tube 500 such that the outer fold segment 302 extends
proximally from the fold 303 over the delivery tube 500 and an
inner fold segment 304 extends proximally from the fold 303 within
the delivery tube 500. The inner fold segment 304 can extend to a
proximal end 312 of the braided implant 300, and a distal end 414
of the inner elongated member 400 can be detachably attached to the
proximal end 312 of the braided implant 300. The delivery tube 500
and the inner elongated member 400 can each have proximal ends
512,412 that can be accessible by a user for manipulation of the
device 100 during treatment.
[0044] FIGS. 2A to 2C depict a braided implant 300, an expansion
ring 200, and a delivery tube 500 that can be assembled to form at
least part of an implantation device, such as the device 100
depicted in FIG. 1. FIG. 2A depicts the braided implant 300 in a
delivery configuration having an outer fold segment 302 separated
from an inner fold segment 304 by a fold 303. The inner fold 304
can be sized to fit within a lumen 504 of the delivery tube 504
such as the delivery tube 500 depicted in FIG. 2C. The inner fold
304 can extend to a first end 312 that can attach to an inner
elongated member (not shown). The outer fold segment 302 can be
positioned at a second end 314 of the braided implant and can be
sized to fit over an expansion ring 200, such as the expansion ring
200 depicted in FIG. 2B. The outer fold segment 302 can also be
sized to fit over a distal end 514 of a delivery tube 500 such as
the delivery tube depicted in FIG. 2C.
[0045] FIG. 2B depicts the expansion ring 200 in a collapsed
configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the expansion ring
200 can be sized to fit within a notch 510 on an outer surface 508
of a delivery tube 500 such as the delivery tube 500 depicted in
FIG. 2C. The expansion ring 200 can include extending portions 210
that are attached by attaching segments 220 to form a ring having
an opening 240 sized to fit within the delivery tube notch 510.
Each extending portion 210 can have a petal or oval shape such as
shown in FIG. 2B, and the shape can be characterized by a first
width 216 at a base of the extending portion 210 and a second width
218 near a middle of the extending portion that is wider than the
first width 216.
[0046] FIG. 2C depicts a portion of a delivery tube 500 near a
distal end 514 of the delivery tube 500. As discussed in reference
to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the delivery tube 500 can have notch 510 near
its distal end 514 on its outer surface 508, and the delivery tube
500 can have a lumen 504 therethrough.
[0047] FIG. 3 depicts a braided implant 300, expansion ring 200,
and delivery tube 500 such as those depicted in FIGS. 2A to 2C
assembled together to form an implantation device. As shown, an
outer fold segment 302 of the braided implant 300 can be folded
over and attached to an expansion ring 200, and the expansion ring
200 can be sized to fit within a notch 510 on an outer surface 508
of the delivery tube 500. An inner fold segment 304 of the braided
implant 300 can extend into a lumen 504 of the delivery tube.
Configured thusly, the depicted device can be inserted into a
microcatheter for delivery to a treatment site.
[0048] FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of an implantation
system including a device 100 positioned within a microcatheter 600
for delivery to a treatment site. The microcatheter can be any
catheter suitable for insertion into a patient and navigation to a
treatment site. Once in place, the implantation device 100 can be
fed through the catheter 600 to the treatment site. The catheter
600 can have a distal end 614 that can be positioned at a treatment
site and a proximal end 612 that can be accessible to a user during
a treatment procedure.
[0049] FIGS. 5A to 5G are cross-sectional drawings illustrating a
method of use of an implantation system for treatment of an
aneurysm. FIG. 5A depicts an implantation system configured to
begin implantation of the braided implant. As shown, the device can
be approximately aligned with a distal end 614 of the microcatheter
600. The braided implant 300 can be attached to an expansion ring
200 within a delivery tube notch 510 and can extend within the
delivery tube 500 to attach to an inner elongated member 400 at a
braid release 400.
[0050] FIG. 5B depicts a partially implanted braided implant 300.
As shown, the inner elongated member 400 can be pushed distally,
pushing the braided implant 300 out of the delivery tube 500 and
microcatheter 600. As the braided implant 300 exits the delivery
tube 500, the implant 300 can invert and begin to form an occlusive
sack 308.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 5C, the inner elongated member 400 can be
continued to be pushed distally, pushing more of the braided
implant 300 out of the delivery tube 500. As the braided implant
300 further exits the delivery tube 500, the implant 300 can
continue to invert and the occlusive sack 308 can expand.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 5D, the inner elongated member 400 can be
pushed until the braided implant 300 fully exits the delivery tube.
As shown, the occlusive sack 308 can be fully expanded, and the
portion of the braided implant 300 that does not invert to form the
occlusive sack 308 can be pushed into the occlusive sack 308
forming an embolic filler braid 310. As shown, the embolic filler
braid 310 can remain attached to the inner elongated member 400 by
a braid release mechanism 404. While the embolic filler braid 310
is attached to the inner elongated member 400, the braided implant
300 can be partially or fully retracted by pulling the inner
elongated member 400 proximally. Once retracted, the implantation
system can be repositioned and the inner elongated member 400 can
be pushed distally to re-implant the braided implant 300.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 5E, the braided implant 300 can be released
from the inner elongated member 400 by detaching the braid release
mechanism 404.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 5F, the delivery tube 500 can be pushed
distally from the microcatheter 600, or the microcatheter 600 can
be pulled proximally, and the expansion ring 200 can begin to
expand from a delivery configuration as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E to
an expanded configuration. As the expansion ring 200 expands, it
can begin to disengage the notch 510 in the delivery tube 500. The
expansion ring 200 can be made of a memory shape material that has
a deformed shape in the delivery configuration that is crimped to
fit within the notch 510 in the delivery tube and a predetermined
shape that the expansion ring 200 expands to in the expanded or
deployed configuration. When the delivery tube 500 exits the
microcatheter 600, the expansion ring 200 can make contact with
bodily fluids, and the temperature of the bodily fluids can cause
the expansion ring 200 to expand to the predetermined shape.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 5G, the expansion ring 200 can continue to
expand and disengage from the notch 510 in the delivery tube 500.
Once the expansion ring 200 is fully expanded in the deployed
configuration, the delivery tube can be extracted.
[0056] FIG. 6 depicts a braided implant in an implanted
configuration with an expansion ring in a deployed configuration.
The delivery tube 500 and microcatheter 600 can be extracted from
the patent.
[0057] FIG. 7A depicts a cut-away of an aneurysm 10 with a
partially implanted braided implant 300. A delivery catheter 600
can be delivered through a blood vessel 20 to a neck 16 of the
aneurysm, and the braided implant 300 can be pushed through the
neck 16 into the aneurysm 10 to form an occlusive sack 308 that
extends to walls of the aneurysm 10. The partially implanted
braided implant 300 can be retracted and repositioned.
[0058] FIG. 7B depicts a cut-away of an aneurysm 10 with a
completely implanted braided implant 300. An occlusive sack 308
extends the walls 14 of the aneurysm 10, and an embolic braid 310
can fill the occlusive sack 308. Together, the occlusive sack 308
and embolic braid 310 can fill the aneurysm sac 12. The expansion
ring 200 can reside near the aneurysm neck 16 and can have
extending portions 210 that extend to appose the occlusive sack
308. The expansion ring 200 can have attaching segments 220 that
connect the extending portions 210, and the attaching segments 220
can form a ring or other shape that defines an opening 240 of the
expansion ring 200 and occlusive sack 308.
[0059] FIGS. 8A to 8C depict a braided implant 300 in an implanted
configuration and an expansion ring 200 in a deployed
configuration. As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the expansion ring 200
can have leaf or petal shaped extending portions 210 connected by
attaching segments 220. The expansion ring 200 can have a collapsed
configuration as shown in FIG. 2B and expand to a deployed
configuration as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C. FIG. 8A depicts a side
view of an occlusive sack 308 having an embolic filler braid 310
and the expansion ring 200. FIGS. 8B and 8C illustrate a
cross-sectional view of the occlusive sack 308 as indicated in FIG.
8A. Referring to FIG. 8B, the expansion ring can be constructed
with multiple independent sections that are connected together with
segment connectors 232. As shown, each extending portion 210 can
have a connector 232 positioned to connect two halves of each
extending portion 210. The occlusive sack 308 can be connected to
the expansion ring at the attaching segments 220, and the extending
portions can be free to slide against the occlusive sack 308 as the
expansion ring 200 opens to the deployed configuration. As
illustrated in FIG. 8C, the attaching segments 220 can define a
first circumference 324 of the occlusive sack 308 near an opening
in the occlusive sack 308, and the extending portions 210 can open
the occlusive sack to a larger, second circumference 326.
[0060] FIGS. 9A and 9B depict a braided implant 300 in an implanted
configuration and an expansion ring 300 in a deployed
configuration. FIG. 9A is a side view, and FIG. 9B is a
cross-sectional view as indicated in FIG. 9A. As shown in FIGS. 9A
and 9B, the expansion ring 200 can have four segments 230 connected
by connectors 232 to form four corners.
[0061] FIGS. 10A and 10B depict an expansion ring 200 in a
collapsed configuration. The expansion ring 200 can be shaped as
shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B in the collapsed configuration and
expand to a deployed configuration. FIG. 10A depicts the expansion
ring 200 within a notch 510 of a delivery tube, and FIG. 10B
depicts the expansion ring of FIG. 10A absent the delivery tube. As
shown, the segments 230 can be substantially straight, and bends
234 or connectors (not shown) can join the segments 230 to form a
zig zag structure. The expansion ring can include attachment tabs
236 for attaching to a braided implant 300.
[0062] As will be appreciated and understood, an expansion ring can
have any number of segments, bends, and connectors to form a
zig-zag shape. In a collapsed configuration, the zig-zag shape can
have a tubular shape, having a substantially uniform circumference
along its length. In an expanded or deployed configuration, the
expansion ring can have a tubular shape having a substantially
uniform circumference larger than the collapsed circumference or a
tapered shape having a first circumference near the occlusive sack
opening and a second circumference at a region within an occlusive
sack that is larger than the first circumference.
[0063] Expansion rings disclosed herein are preferably formed of a
shape memory material such as nickel-titanium alloy, or a shape
memory polymer, for example, having a shape memory position in an
expanded configuration. The expansion rings can be appropriately
heat treated so that the expansion ring forms in the desired shape
of the expanded shape memory position. Each expansion ring can be
formed by cutting a tube or a sheet formed of a shape memory
material such as nickel-titanium alloy, or shape memory polymer, by
a laser
[0064] FIGS. 11 and 12 are flow diagrams outlining example method
steps for use of a device or system for treating an aneurysm. The
method steps can be implemented by any of the example means
described herein or by any means that would be known to one of
ordinary skill in the art.
[0065] Referring to method 700 outlined in FIG. 11, in step 710, a
braided implantation delivery system having a braided implant, a
delivery tube, and an expansion component can be provided. In step
720, the braided implant can be attached to the expansion
component. In step 730, the expansion component can be engaged with
a notch on the delivery tube. In step 740, the braided implant can
be implanted into the aneurysm. In step 750, the expansion
component can be expanded to disengage the expansion component from
the notch. In step 760, the expansion component can be released
from the delivery tube, thereby releasing the braided implant from
the delivery tube.
[0066] Referring to method 800 outlined in FIG. 12, in step 810, a
braided implantation delivery system having a braided implant, a
delivery tube, an inner elongated member, and an expansion
component can be provided. In step 820, the braided implant can be
attached to the expansion component. In step 825, the braided
implant can be attached to the inner elongated member. In step 830,
the expansion component can engage a notch on the delivery tube. In
step 840, the braided implant can be implanted into the aneurysm by
pushing the inner elongated member distally, thereby pushing a
portion of the braided implant into the aneurysm and forming an
occlusive sack within the aneurysm, then detaching the braided
implant from the inner elongated member. In step 850, the expansion
component can be expanded to disengage the expansion component from
the notch. In step 860, the expansion component can release the
delivery tube, thereby releasing the braided implant from the
delivery tube. In step 870, the expansion component can expand to
occlude at least a portion of the neck of the aneurysm and extend
the occlusive sack across the neck of the aneurysm.
[0067] The descriptions contained herein are examples of
embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the
scope of the invention. As described herein, the invention
contemplates many variations and modifications of a system, device,
or method that can be used to treat an aneurysm with a braided
implant. Variations can include but are not limited to alternative
geometries of elements and components described herein, utilizing
any of numerous materials for each component or element (e.g.
radiopaque materials, memory shape metals, etc.), utilizing
additional components including components to position the braided
implant at a treatment site, extract the braided implant, or eject
a portion of the braided implant from the interior of the delivery
tube, utilizing additional components to perform functions
described herein, or utilizing additional components to perform
functions not described herein, for example. These modifications
would be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to
which this invention relates and are intended to be within the
scope of the claims which follow.
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