Claims
- 1. An implantable retainer, deliverable via an elongate tubular delivery device for retaining vaso-occlusive device in an aneurysm, comprising:(a) a core wire having a proximal end and a distal end, (b) a joint extending between the distal end of the core wire and at least one interior array element, said joint being electrolytically severable upon application of a suitable current to said joint, said joint being comparatively more susceptible to electrolytic severability than said core wire and said at least one interior array element, and (c) a retainer assembly comprising said at least one interior array element, said retainer assembly having a first delivery shape when retained within said elongate tubular delivery device and having a distal delivery end and a proximal delivery end, and a second deployed shape, different than first delivery shape, when said retainer assembly is not retained within said tubular delivery device and having a distal deployed end and a proximal deployed end, said at least one interior array element extending outwardly from said joint in said second deployed shape configured to be disposed within said aneurysm, and wherein after electrolytic severance from said core wire, said retainer assembly includes a residual joint.
- 2. The implantable retainer of claim 1, wherein said core wire is covered with an electrical insulation layer from near its proximal end to near its distal end.
- 3. The implantable retainer of claim 1, wherein said at least one interior array element comprise platinum.
- 4. The implantable retainer of claim 1 wherein said at least one interior array elements comprise tantalum.
- 5. The implantable retainer of claim 1 wherein said at least one interior array element comprise stainless steel.
- 6. The implantable retainer of claim 1 wherein said at least one interior array element comprise a super-elastic alloy.
- 7. The implantable retainer of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said at least one interior array element is covered by radio-opaque material.
- 8. The implantable retainer of claim 7 wherein said radio-opaque material is platinum.
- 9. The implantable retainer of claim 1 wherein when said retainer assembly is in said second deployed shape, each of said at least one interior array element terminates remotely from said joint.
- 10. The implantable retainer of claim 1 wherein said retainer assembly further comprises a plurality of exterior array elements which open proximally of said at least one interior array element.
- 11. The implantable retainer of claim 10 wherein said exterior array elements open distally of the proximal end of said at least one interior array element.
- 12. The implantable retainer of claim 10 wherein said exterior array elements are located generally perpendicular to said joint.
- 13. The implantable retainer of claim 10 wherein said proximal deployed end is distal of said proximal delivery end when the retainer assembly is in the second deployed shape.
- 14. The implantable retainer of claim 10 wherein said retainer assembly encloses a volume and wherein said implantable retainer contains a helically wound vaso-occlusive device.
- 15. The implantable retainer of claim 10 wherein at least one of said exterior array elements comprises a loop.
- 16. The implantable retainer of claim 10 wherein said plurality of exterior array elements are disposed exteriorly of said aneurysm.
- 17. The implantable retainer of claim 1 wherein said proximal deployed end is distal of said proximal delivery end when the retainer assembly is in the second deployed shape.
- 18. The implantable retainer of claim 1 wherein said second deployed shape approximates the shape of a vascular aneurysm.
- 19. The implantable retainer of claim 1 wherein said at least one interior array element comprises a loop.
- 20. The implantable retainer of claim 1 wherein said distal end of said core wire is held in a junction with a proximal end of said at least one interior array element.
- 21. The implantable retainer of claim 18 wherein said junction comprises a plastic joint.
- 22. The implantable retainer of claim 20 wherein said junction comprises a ferrule.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a conversion to regular U.S. patent application of provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 60/054,771 filed Aug. 5, 1997 and a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/124,610 filed Jul. 29, 1998 now abandoned.
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Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
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Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/054771 |
Aug 1997 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/124610 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/276132 |
|
US |