Expandable curvilinear strut arrangement for deployment with a catheter to repair an aneurysm

Abstract

The vasoocclusive apparatus can be used in a method of interventional therapy and vascular surgery by inserting the apparatus into a portion of a vasculature, for treatment of a body vessel such as an aneurysm in conjunction with a secondary vasoocclusive device to be placed within the vessel. The vasoocclusiveVasooclusive apparatus includes a plurality of strut members connected together at a central hub that extend from a collapsed position to an expanded configuration to cross the neck of the aneurysm, dividing the neck into smaller openings, allowing the deployment of the secondary vasoocclusive device within the aneurysm but preventing migration of the secondary vasoocclusive device from the aneurysm. The strut members can be made from a twisted cable of strands of a superelastic material, such as a shape memory nickel titanium alloy, with at least one radiopaque strand. A shape memory collar is provided for detachably mounting the vasoocclusive apparatus to a pusher member and for detaching the vasoocclusive apparatus for deployment when a desired placement within an aneurysm to be treated and out of a parent vessel is achieved.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates generally to implantable devices for interventional therapeutic treatment of defects in the vasculature, and more particularly concerns a detachable device having multiple strut members with collapsed and expanded configurations to be used in combination with a catheter for the occlusion and reinforcement of aneurysms.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]Recently developed interventional procedures have been used to treat defects in the vasculature which are not easily reached by surgical procedures. More particularly, such interventional procedures have been developed to treat defects that are located in small and remote vessels such as those within the brain. During such interventional procedures, vasoocclusive devices are typically placed within the vasculature of the human body by use of a catheter, either to block the flow of blood through a vessel making up that portion of the vasculatur...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The present invention provides for an improved method and apparatus which solves these and other problems by providing, in its broadest aspect, a partially occlusive vasoocclusive apparatus with a plurality of strut members that can be deployed in an expanded configuration across the neck of a body vessel such as an aneurysm, either alone, or to additionally allow deployment of a secondary vasoocclusive device or substance within the vessel, and to block migration of the secondary vasoocclusive device into the vessel. Specifically, with respect to the treatment of aneurysms, the vasoocclusive apparatus can be deployed across the neck of an aneurysm having a less than favorable dome to neck ratio to prevent migration of a secondarily placed embolus generating vasoocclusive device from the aneurysm.

[0012]By use of the above configurations, and combinations of them, it can be seen that the openings in the device, represented by the areas between the struts, can be tailored to provide an area suitable for insertion of a placement catheter shaft to deploy embolic coils and the like within the aneurysm which will be held in place by the invention, thus preventing the embolic devices from entering the vessel and the resultant risk to the patient.

[0013]Similarly, the invention can allow for the deployment of other embolic agents within the aneurysm through the invention and lower or eliminate the migration of the embolic agent out of the aneurysm prior to being activated. In such a regard, it is specifically contemplated that the deployment of embolic agents such as polymers, glues, gels, micro-balloons and foams through openings in the device of the invention and into the aneurysm in which it is deployed, is contemplated as a preferred method in the use of this invention.

[0017]Advantageously, the method of the invention also provides for closing and occluding an opening of an aneurysm from a parent blood vessel, the steps of deploying a first occlusive apparatus within the aneurysm and at least partially occluding the opening between the aneurysm and the parent blood vessel; and deploying a secondary occlusive apparatus through said first occlusive apparatus within the aneurysm, whereby said first occlusive apparatus prevents migration of said secondary vasoocclusive device from the aneurysm into the parent blood vessel. The secondary occlusive apparatus can accordingly be deployed by the steps of attaching a secondary occlusive apparatus to the distal end of a linear pusher device; enclosing the pusher device and secondary occlusive apparatus in a lumen of a catheter, with the pusher device proximal of the secondary occlusive apparatus; positioning the catheter so that the distal opening of the catheter is in the opening between the aneurysm and the parent blood vessel; pushing the secondary occlusive apparatus into the aneurysm through the first occlusive apparatus by extending the pusher device towards the distal end of the catheter; and disconnecting the secondary occlusive apparatus from the pusher device, thereby deploying the secondary occlusive apparatus within the aneurysm, whereby the first occlusive apparatus prevents migration of the secondary vasoocclusive device from the aneurysm into the parent blood vessel.

Problems solved by technology

One problem present in the treatment of saccular aneurysms by use of interventional therapy is presented when the aneurysm is formed such that the neck of the aneurysm is relatively large in at least one dimension compared to the maximum width of the dome of the aneurysm.

In such a case, it is difficult to employ an embolus generating occluding device such as an embolic coil without raising the risk that the device will partially, or fully, deploy outside of the aneurysm and into the vessel, thereby presenting a risk to the patient.

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