Embolic coil proximal connecting element and stretch resistant fiber

Abstract

An embolic coil implant having a stretch resistant fiber therethrough and dual-functional engagement feature at its proximal end is provided. The stretch resistant fiber can be effective to limiting separation of windings of the embolic coil. The engagement feature can provide an attachment for securing the embolic coil to an engagement system of a delivery tube and for securing the stretch resistant fiber at the proximal end of the embolic coil.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to implantable medical devices, and more particularly, to engagement features for mechanically releasably securing implantable medical devices to a delivery system.

BACKGROUND

Aneurysms can be intravascularly treated by delivering a treatment device to the aneurysm to fill the sac of the aneurysm with embolic material and/or block the neck of the aneurysm to inhibit blood flow into the aneurysm. When filling the aneurysm sac, the embolic material can promote blood clotting to create a thrombotic mass within the aneurysm. When treating the aneurysm neck without substantially filling the aneurysm sac, blood flow into the neck of the aneurysm can be inhibited to induce venous stasis in the aneurysm and facilitate natural formation of a thrombotic mass within the aneurysm.

In some current treatments, multiple embolic coils are used to either fill the aneurysm sac or treat the entrance of the aneurysm neck. A common challenge among embolic coil treatments is that implanted coils and implanted portions of partially implanted coils can become entangled and difficult to reposition. In some instances, a physician may not be able to retract a partially implanted coil and may be forced to position the coil in a non-ideal location. Improperly positioning embolic coils at the aneurysm neck can potentially have the adverse effect of impeding the flow of blood in the adjoining blood vessel, particularly if the entrance and/or sac is overpacked. If a portion of the non-ideally implanted coil becomes dislodged, it can enter the neighboring blood vessel and promote clot formation, which can ultimately lead to an obstruction that is tethered to the aneurysm and therefor extremely difficult to treat. Conversely, if the entrance and/or sac is insufficiently packed, blood flow can persist into the aneurysm.

In some current treatments, an embolic coil is attached to a tubular delivery member and delivered via a delivery catheter to an aneurysm. During delivery, the embolic coil can be engaged to the delivery member's implant engagement/deployment system (referred to herein equivalently as an “engagement system” or “deployment system”). When the embolic coil is in position, the deployment system can release the coil, the coil can be left implanted, and the delivery member can be retracted. Some treatments utilize a mechanical engagement/deployment system that can be actuated by a physician to release the implant by pulling one or more wires or other elongated members referred to generically herein as a “pull wire”.

Some of the challenges that have been associated with delivering and deploying embolic coils with delivery members having mechanical engagement systems include premature release of a coil and movement of the delivery member due to push back from densely packed treatment sites.

There is therefore a need for improved methods, devices, and systems to facilitate implantation of embolic coils and other implants facing similar challenges.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide systems, devices, and methods to meet the above-stated needs. In some examples presented herein, separation of coil windings within an embolic coil is reduced or prevented with a stretch resistant fiber that is positioned within the lumen of the coil. Reducing or preventing the separation of coil windings can in some cases prevent an implanted portion of a partially implanted coil from being tangled with implanted coils and thereby make it possible to more easily reposition and/or extract some or all of the coil. In some examples presented herein, during delivery of the embolic coil the distal end of the pull wire is supported by an engagement/detachment feature (referred to herein equivalently as “engagement feature”, “detachment feature”, or “key”) affixed to the proximal end of the embolic coil. The support provided by the key can in some cases reduce the likelihood that the embolic coil is prematurely released. In some examples presented herein, the embolic implant can have a highly flexible proximal portion. The flexibility of the embolic implant can in some cases reduce the force on the delivery member due to push back from densely packed treatment sites and thereby reduce movement of the delivery member due to the push back.

To meet some or all of the needs, an implant having an embolic coil, a stretch resistant fiber extended through the coil, and a detachment feature/key at the coil's proximal end is provided. The stretch resistant fiber can be effective to limit separation of windings of the embolic coil. The key can provide an attachment for securing the embolic coil to an engagement system of a delivery tube and for securing the stretch resistant fiber at the proximal end of the embolic coil.

An example method for treating an aneurysm can include one or more of the following steps presented in no particular order, and the method can include additional steps not included here. Some or all of an implant having an embolic coil and a stretch resistant fiber can be positioned within the aneurysm. A portion of the embolic coil can be retracted from the aneurysm. The portion can be inhibited from lengthening by the stretch resistant fiber when the portion is retraced from the aneurysm. The embolic coil can be bent, and the stretch resistant fiber can limit separation of the windings of the embolic coil at the bend.

The stretch resistant fiber can be positioned to extend within a lumen of the embolic coil. The stretch resistant fiber can under tension along a majority of the length of the stretch resistant fiber.

The implant can be secured to a delivery system with a key engaged to the stretch resistant fiber. To secure the implant to the delivery system, a loop wire of the delivery system can be positioned through the key, and a pull wire can be positioned through an opening in the loop wire. When the implant is secured to the delivery system, the pull wire can be supported by the key both in the proximal direction from the loop wire and the distal direction from the loop wire.

During delivery and/or positioning of the implant, the key can be visualized radiographically.

The key can be released from the delivery system, thereby releasing the implant from the delivery system. When the implant is released, the key can remain attached to the implant.

An example embolic implant can include an embolic coil, a detachment feature, and a stretch resistant fiber. The detachment feature can be affixed to the embolic coil at the proximal end of the embolic coil. The stretch resistant fiber can be engaged to the detachment feature, extend through the lumen of the embolic coil, and can be affixed to the embolic coil at the distal end of the embolic coil. Configured thusly, the stretch resistant fiber can be effective to limit separation of windings of the embolic coil as the embolic coil is reshaped.

The stretch resistant fiber can be a suture. The stretch resistant fiber can be inelastic.

The detachment feature can be radiopaque.

The detachment feature can have an opening through which the stretch resistant fiber passes. The opening can extend proximally from a proximal end of the embolic coil.

The detachment feature can have a singular opening that is sized to receive a loop wire of a mechanical delivery system and through which the stretch resistant fiber passes.

Alternatively, the detachment feature can have two separate openings: a first opening through which the stretch resistant fiber passes and a second opening sized to receive a loop wire of a mechanical delivery system. The first opening can be at least partially positioned within the lumen of the embolic coil. The second opening can be at least partially positioned in the proximal direction from the proximal end of the embolic coil.

An example system can include the example embolic implant having the detachment feature with two separate openings and a mechanical delivery system including a loop wire and a pull wire. The stretch resistant fiber can pass through one of the two openings, and the loop wire can pass through the other of the two openings. The pull wire can be positioned through an opening in the loop wire, thereby securing the implant to the mechanical delivery system with the loop wire. The detachment feature can further include a bridge positioned between the two openings of the detachment feature, and the bridge can support a portion of the pull wire that is in the distal direction from the loop opening in the loop wire.

The detachment feature can have a proximal portion disposed proximally from the lumen of the embolic coil and a distal portion disposed within the lumen. The proximal portion can have a width that measures greater than the inner diameter of the embolic coil lumen, and the distal portion can have a width that measures about equal to the inner diameter of the embolic coil lumen.

An example method for constructing or designing an embolic implant such as an example implant as described herein can include one or more of the following steps presented in no particular order, and the method can include additional steps not included here. A detachment feature can be cut from a flat sheet material. One or more openings can be cut from the detachment feature. A stretch resistant fiber can be threaded through an opening in the detachment feature. The stretch resistant fiber can be extended through a lumen of an embolic coil. The detachment feature can be affixed at one end of the embolic coil. The stretch resistant fiber can be affixed at the other end of the embolic coil. Tension can be provided along the stretch resistant fiber between the detachment feature and the second end of the embolic coil.

A portion of a mechanical deployment system can be extended through an opening in the detachment feature to engage the detachment feature to a delivery tube. The mechanical deployment system can be extended through the same opening through which the stretch resistant fiber is threaded or an opening in the detachment feature that is separate from the opening through which the stretch resistant fiber is threaded.

The detachment feature can be cut from a radiopaque flat sheet material.

A distal portion of the detachment feature can be inserted within the lumen of the embolic coil and a proximal portion of the detachment feature can be extended proximally from the proximal end of the embolic coil. The embolic coil and the detachment feature can be selected such that the proximal portion of the detachment feature is wider than the inner diameter of the embolic coil's lumen and the distal portion of the detachment feature is about equal to the inner diameter of the embolic coil's lumen.

To affix the detachment feature to the embolic coil, the detachment feature can be welded to the embolic coil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are illustrations of embolic implants according to aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are illustrations of detachment features each having a stretch resistant fiber therethrough according to aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a stretch resistant fiber being inserted into a lumen of an embolic coil according to aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a stretch resistant fiber exiting a lumen of an embolic coil according to aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrations of detachment features being inserted into a lumen of an embolic coil according to aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are illustrations of detachment features affixed to an embolic coil according to aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the stretch resistant fiber affixed to an end of the embolic coil according to aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A through 8C illustrate a time sequence wherein an embolic coil stretches as a result of a non-optimal stretch resistant fiber placement;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of embolic coils being positioned within an aneurysm according to aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 10A is an illustration of embolic coils becoming tangled, and

FIG. 10B is an illustration of a tangled coil becoming elongated as illustrations of a problem with the prior art;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a stretch resistant fiber inhibiting tangling and elongating of an embolic coil according to aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram outlining method steps that can be conducted as part of an aneurysm treatment according to aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an embolic implant secured to a delivery tube according to aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 14A through 14D illustrate a sequence of steps for releasing an embolic implant from a delivery tube according to aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is an illustration of an end of an embolic implant including a detachment feature expanding an inner diameter of an embolic coil according to aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An object of the present invention is to attain more precise and repeatable implant detachment. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate implantation of embolic coils and other implants facing challenges such as partially implanted implants becoming difficult to reposition, delivery systems shifting position due to push back during implantation, and/or implants releasing prematurely. To meet some or all of these needs, example implants can include a stretch resistant fiber to limit stretching and other deformation of the embolic portion (e.g. embolic coil) of the implant and a detachment feature to which the stretch resistant fiber can be secured and to which a delivery system can detachably attach.

To facilitate repositioning of the implant, the stretch resistant fiber can extend through the embolic coil and limit separation of windings of the coil when the coil is bent and pulled. By limiting the separation of the windings, the embolic coil is less likely to become tangled when partially implanted and less likely to be stretched or otherwise deformed when retracted when partially implanted. The embolic coil can thereby be more easily repositioned. In some examples, the detachment feature can include two separate openings, one for securing the stretch resistant fiber, and another for being engaged to an engagement system. The dual opening detachment feature can reduce potential manufacturing challenges to provide for reliable stretch resistant fiber positioning and therefore more reliably provide implants that can be more easily repositioned.

To reduce effects of push back during implantation, the detachment feature can be sized and affixed to the embolic coil to provide an embolic coil implant with a highly flexible proximal section. An embolic coil implant having a highly flexible proximal section can reduce push back force on the delivery tube and thereby mitigate the effects of the delivery tube shifting. Additionally, or alternatively, the detachment feature can be sized to mate with a delivery tube having a highly flexible distal section, and the highly flexible distal section of the delivery tube can mitigate the effects of the delivery tube shifting. When an embolic coil implant having a highly flexible proximal section is mated to a delivery tube having a highly flexible distal portion, the combination of the flexible distal section of the delivery tube and the flexible proximal section of the implant can further mitigate the effects of delivery tube shifting.

To reduce instances of premature deployment, the detachment feature can include a bridge to support a pull wire. The detachment feature can be detachably attached to a mechanical engagement/deployment system on a delivery tube. The detachment feature can include an opening through which a loop wire of a mechanical engagement system can pass. In some examples, the detachment feature can further include a bridge positioned distally from the opening on which a distal portion of the pull wire can rest. The bridge can inhibit the pull wire from deforming due to the engagement with the loop wire and can therefore reduce the likelihood that the implant is prematurely released due to bending of the pull wire.

FIG. 1A is an illustration of an implant 10a including an embolic coil 12 with a lumen 13 therethrough, a detachment feature 18a, and a stretch resistant fiber 16. Portions of the coil 12 and welds 42 as illustrated in a cut-away view for the purposes of illustration. The detachment feature 18a can partially be positioned within the lumen 13 of the coil 12 and can extend out of the coil 12. The detachment feature 18a can include a distal opening 24a through which the stretch resistant wire 16 is looped, and a proximal opening 22a sized to receive a loop wire or other engagement mechanism of a mechanical implant engagement system. The detachment feature 18a can include a bridge 28a positioned between the distal opening 24a and the proximal opening 22a. The detachment feature 18a can include a proximal tab 38 sized to fit within a lumen of a delivery tube. The stretch resistant fiber 16 can be secured at an end of the embolic coil 12 opposite the end to which the detachment feature 18a is attached with a weld 44 or other appropriate attachment.

The detachment feature 18a can be tapered as it extends further within the lumen 13 of the embolic coil 12 to allow the embolic coil 12 to have additional flexibility where the embolic coil 12 surrounds the tapered region. The detachment feature 18a can also have a substantially flat profile, providing even greater flexibility in directions into and out of the plane of the image.

The detachment feature 18a can be sufficiently secured with attachments 42 to the coil 12 without fusing any windings of the coil 12 (as illustrated) or by fusing a small number of windings (e.g. 5 or fewer windings). Compared to known solutions wherein typically ten or more windings are soldered together (with limited control over the number of fused windings), the attachments 42 to the coil 12 can be realized with significantly fewer fused coil windings. By reducing the number of windings that are fused, the proximal section of the implant 10a can have increased flexibility compared to known designs which rely on fusing windings from the proximal end of the embolic coil.

FIG. 1B is an illustration of an alternatively constructed implant 10b having elements as described in relation to FIG. 1A with like reference numbers indicating like elements. Portions of the coil 12 and welds 42 as illustrated in a cut-away view for the purposes of illustration. Compared to the implant 10a illustrated in FIG. 1A, the implant 10b can have an alternative detachment feature 18b having a single opening 26b that provides an opening to which a mechanical engagement system can engage and through which the stretch resistant fiber 16 can be looped. The detachment feature 18b illustrated in FIG. 1B also lacks the extended tapered region of the detachment feature 18a illustrated in FIG. 1A. Although the tapered region of the detachment feature 18a illustrated in FIG. 1A can provide for a more flexible proximal section of the implant 10a compared to the implant 10b in FIG. 1B, the detachment feature 18b illustrated in FIG. 1B can nevertheless provide greater flexibility over known embolic coil implants by providing flexibility in directions into and out of the plane of the image by virtue of being flat and provide increased flexibility over designs which rely on fusing windings from the proximal end of the embolic coil by virtue of the low profile attachments 42.

FIGS. 2A and 2B through FIG. 7 illustrate a sequence of steps for constructing the implants 10a and 10b illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the stretch resistant fiber 16 being passed through the detachment features 18a, 18b. The detachment features 18a, 18b can be laser cut from a flat sheet material. The flat sheet material is preferably a radiopaque material that can be welded or otherwise affixed to the embolic coil 12.

FIG. 2A illustrates the dual opening detachment feature 18a having a proximal portion 32 that is sized to engage a mechanical engagement system and/or delivery tube. The proximal portion 32 is illustrated as having a width W1. The dual opening detachment feature 18a can have a distal portion 34 that is sized to fit within the lumen 13 of the embolic coil. The distal portion 34 can have a wider section having a width W2 that is about as wide as the inner diameter of the embolic coil 12 and a tapered section having a width W3 that is significantly narrower than the inner diameter of the embolic coil 12. The detachment feature 18a can have a proximal tab 38 that is narrower than the proximal portion 32 and is sized to fit within a lumen of a delivery tube.

FIG. 2B illustrates a single opening detachment feature 18b having a proximal portion 32 that is sized to engage a mechanical engagement system and/or delivery tube. The proximal portion 32 is illustrated having a width W1. The single opening detachment feature 18b can have a distal portion 34b narrower than the proximal portion 32 and sized to fit within the lumen 13 of the coil 12. The single opening detachment feature 18b can have a proximal tab 38 that is narrower than the proximal portion 32 and sized to fit within a lumen of a delivery tube.

After the detachment feature 18a, 18b is formed, the stretch resistant fiber 16 can be threaded through the distal opening 24a of the dual opening detachment feature 18a or the single opening 26b of the single opening detachment feature 18b.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the free ends of the stretch resistant fiber 16 being inserted into the proximal end 15 of the embolic coil 12. At the step illustrated in FIG. 3, the stretch resistant fiber 16 can be looped through a detachment feature 10a, 10b such as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the free ends of the stretch resistant fiber 16 exiting the lumen 13 of an embolic coil 12 at the distal end 14 of the embolic coil 12.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrations of detachment features 18a, 18b being inserted into the lumen 13 of an embolic coil 12. After exiting the distal end 14 of the embolic coil 12, the free ends of the stretch resistant fiber 16 can be further pulled as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4 to move the detachment feature 18a, 18b into the lumen 13 of the embolic coil 12 at the proximal end 15 of the embolic coil 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B and as indicated by the arrows. Before entry of the detachment feature 18a, 18b into the lumen 13 of the embolic coil 12, the embolic coil can have an inner diameter D as indicated in FIG. 5A. The proximal portion 34 of the detachment feature 18a, 18b can be sized to have a width over at least a portion of the distal portion 34 that is about equal to the inner diameter D for a snug fit. Alternatively, or additionally, at least a portion of the distal portion 34 can have a width that is larger than the diameter D to create an interference fit. Alternatively, or additionally, at least a portion of the distal portion 34 can have a width that is smaller than the diameter D to allow for greater flexibility of the coil 12 near the proximal end 15 of the coil 12.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are illustrations of the detachment features 10a, 10b with the distal portion 34 fully inserted into the lumen 13 of the embolic coil 12 and the detachment feature 18a, 18b affixed to the embolic coil 12 with welds 42 or other attachment. In both FIGS. 6A and 6B, the detachment feature 18a, 18b is illustrated having a distal portion 34 that has a width over at least a portion of the length of the distal portion 34 that is about equal to the inner diameter D of the lumen 13 of the embolic coil 12.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the stretch resistant fiber 16 affixed to the distal end of the embolic coil 12. After affixing the detachment feature 18a, 18b, or at least positioning the detachment feature 18a to 18b as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the stretch resistant fiber 16 can be pulled tight to reduce slack in the fiber 16 and/or create tension in the fiber 16, and the fiber 16 can be affixed with a weld 44 or other attachment. After the fiber 16 is attached, the fiber can be substantially stretch resistant as to resist significant elongation due to forces applied to the embolic coil 12 during preparation for treatment, during delivery of the implant 10a, 10b, during positioning of the implant in a treatment site, during retraction of the implant, and during deployment of the implant. In other words, the stretch resistant fiber 16 can be effective to limit lengthening of the embolic coil 12 when the embolic coil 12 is retracted from an aneurysm, and the stretch resistant fiber 16 can be effective to limit separation of the windings within the embolic coil 12 when the embolic coil 12 is bent.

FIGS. 8A through 8C illustrate a time sequence wherein the embolic coil 12 is allowed to stretch as a result of a non-optimal stretch resistant fiber 16 placement. FIG. 8A illustrates a non-optimal fiber 16 placement within the single opening detachment feature 18b. The fiber 16 can become looped over a section of the detachment feature 18b that is not optimal such that movement of the fiber 16 as illustrated in FIG. 8B can cause the fiber 16 to disengage from the non-optimal position, and as illustrated in FIG. 8C, can allow the embolic coil 12 to stretch at least until the fiber 16 again becomes engaged to the detachment feature 18a. A manufacturing challenge is therefore to prevent the fiber 16 from being positioned at a non-optimal location such as illustrated in FIG. 8A when the attachment step illustrated in FIG. 7 is performed. If, after manufacturing is complete, the fiber 16 becomes dislodged from the non-optimal location as illustrated in FIG. 8B, when the implant 10b is manipulated, such as while being repositioned during a treatment, the embolic coil 12 can elongate as illustrated in FIG. 8C or otherwise deform.

An advantage of the dual opening detachment feature 18a is that the stretch resistant fiber 16 is less likely to become looped over a non-optimal section of the detachment feature 18a during manufacturing of the implant 10a illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of embolic implant(s) 10 being delivered through a delivery catheter 200 and positioned within an aneurysm A on a blood vessel BV. The implant(s) can loop and bend within the aneurysm sac to form a thrombotic mass. The implant(s) can loop back on themselves and/or loop next to other implants. As the aneurysm A becomes increasingly packed, overlapping portions of the implant 10 can press into each other.

FIG. 10A is an illustration of embolic coils 12 that lack a stretch resistant fiber 16 becoming tangled as overlapping portions of the coils press into each other. This entanglement can make it difficult or impossible for either of the coils 12 to be repositioned, which is a known problem with some current embolic coil implants. FIG. 10B illustrates a portion of the embolic coil 12 becoming elongated to a length L2 that is longer than the length L1 of that section illustrated in FIG. 10A due to a force F. FIG. 10B illustrates a scenario wherein a physician may try to attempt to retract a tangled partially implanted embolic coil and may be not only unable to retract the coil but also exacerbate the already challenging treatment by now having to position the deformed elongated coil. Entanglement can become more likely when the windings of the embolic coil are separated, for example due to bending, or when the coils are more tightly pressed together due to dense packing.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of example embolic coils 12 each having a stretch resistant fiber 16 being prevented from tangling and from elongating according to an aspect of the present invention. Each coil 12 is illustrated as having a bent portion 20. The stretch resistant fiber 16 can shift within the lumen 13 of each coil to allow the coil 12 to flex and bend as needed when implanted. The fiber 16 can have sufficient tension to limit the amount of separation between windings in the bent portions 20. The separation of the winds can be so limited as to inhibit the windings of two adjacent coils 12 from becoming entangled as illustrated in FIG. 10A. FIG. 11 also illustrates the force F applied to a portion 40 of the coil 12 and the portion 40 being inhibited from elongating due to tension in the stretch resistant fiber 16. FIG. 11 illustrates a scenario wherein a physician may successfully retract a partially implanted embolic coil 12 having a stretch resistant fiber 16 therethrough.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 500 including steps that can be conducted as part of an aneurysm treatment using an example implant 10, 10a, 10b such as described herein. In step 510, an implant having an embolic coil and stretch resistant fiber can be positioned at least partially within an aneurysm sac. In step 520, a portion of the embolic coil can be bent. In step 530, as the coil is bent, the stretch resistant fiber can inhibit separation of windings within the bent portion of the embolic coil. In step 540, some or all of the implanted portion of the implant can be retracted from the aneurysm. In step 550, as the implant is retracted, the stretch resistant fiber can inhibit lengthening of the embolic coil.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an example embolic implant 10 such as either implant 10a, 10b illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B or otherwise described herein secured to a delivery tube 300. Example delivery tubes and engagement/deployment systems are described in U.S. Patent Publication Number 2019/0192162 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/964,857, now U.S. Publication No. 2019/0328398 A1 each incorporated herein by reference. The delivery tube 300 can include a notch 310 sized to receive the proximal portion 32 of the detachment feature 18 of the implant 10, and likewise the proximal portion 32 of the detachment feature 18 can be sized to fit within the notch 310 of the delivery tube 300. FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the implant 10 highlighting the flat profile of the detachment feature 18. As described in relation to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the implant 10 can have a highly flexible proximal section by virtue of the detachment feature 18 being flat and/or by virtue of the detachment feature 18 being secured to the coil 12 without fusing several coil windings. The detachment feature 18 can also be tapered for increased flexibility in directions into and out of the plane of the image. The detachment feature 18 can further include a proximal tab 38 positioned within the lumen of the delivery tube 300.

During an aneurysm occlusion treatment, lack of flexibility of the proximal section of known embolic implants and/or lack of flexibility of a distal portion of a delivery tube can cause the delivery tube to pull back from the treatment site or otherwise move out of position while the implant is being placed in the aneurysm. A delivery tube having a more flexible distal portion and an implant having a more flexible proximal section, alone or in combination, can therefore provide a more stable system for delivering the implant. Flexible structures, however can tend deform or expand when manipulated. The stretch resistant fiber 16 and/or detachment feature 18 alone or in combination can support the coil 12 and inhibit deformation and expansion of the coil 12 according to the principles described herein. An object of the present invention is to provide an implant 10 having a highly flexible proximal section and/or configured to mate with a delivery tube 300 having a highly flexible distal portion.

FIG. 14A is an illustration of the implant 10 and delivery tube 300 configured for delivery and positioning of the implant 10. FIGS. 14B through 14D are illustrations of a sequence of steps for releasing the example embolic implant 10 from the delivery tube 300. A portion of the delivery tube 300 is cut away for illustration purposes.

FIG. 14A illustrates the engagement system including a pull wire 140 and a loop wire 400 locked into the detachment feature 18 of the implant 12. The delivery tube 300 can include a compressible portion 306 that can be compressed. The loop wire 400 can have an opening 405 at a distal end 404 of the loop wire 400, and the opening 405 can be placed through an opening 22a in the detachment feature 18. When the pull wire 140 is put through the opening 405 the implant 12 is now secure.

The detachment feature 18 can include a bridge 28 positioned distally from the loop wire opening 405 and positioned to support a distal portion of the pull wire 140 that is distal of where the loop wire opening 405 is supported by the pull wire 140. Configured thusly, the bridge 28 can support the distal portion of the pull wire 140 such that when the loop wire 400 tugs on the pull wire 140 at the loop opening 405, the bridge 28 can inhibit the distal portion of the pull wire 140 from deforming. The proximal tab 38 can positioned to support a portion of the pull wire 140 that is proximal of where the loop wire opening 405 is supported by the pull wire 140. The combination of the bridge 28 and the proximal tab 38 can inhibit the pull wire 140 from deforming due to forces applied by the loop wire 400. The delivery tube 300 can be detachably attached to the implant 10 as illustrated in FIG. 14A during delivery of the implant 10 through the vasculature and while the implant 10 is being positioned at a treatment site. The bridge 28 can reduce the likelihood that the implant 10 is prematurely released due to bending of the pull wire 140 due to forces from the loop wire 400.

The bridge 28 can separate a proximal opening 22a and a distal opening 24a in a dual opening implant as illustrated. It is also contemplated that a single opening implant can be adapted to include a structure that can function to support the distal portion of the pull wire 140 similar to as described in relation to the illustrated bridge 28. Alternative bridge structures are therefore intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 14B illustrates the pull wire 140 being drawn proximally to begin the release sequence for the implant 10. FIG. 14C illustrates the instant the pull wire 140 exits the opening 405 and is pulled free of the loop wire 400. The distal end 404 of the loop wire 400 falls away and exits the locking portion 18. As can be seen, there is now nothing holding the implant 10 to the delivery tube 300. FIG. 14D illustrates the end of the release sequence. Here, the compressible portion 306 has expanded/returned to its original shape and “sprung” forward. An elastic force E is imparted by the distal end 304 of the delivery tube 300 to the medical device 10 to “push” it away to ensure a clean separation and delivery of the medical device 10.

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional illustration of a proximal section of an alternatively constructed implant 10c having elements as described in relation to FIG. 1A with like reference numbers indicating like elements. Compared to the implant 10a illustrated in FIG. 1A, the implant 10c illustrated in FIG. 15 can have an alternative detachment feature 18c. The detachment feature 18c illustrated in FIG. 18c can have a portion with a width D2 sized to fit within a lumen 13 of an embolic coil 12 having an inner diameter D1. The width D2 of the detachment feature 18c can be larger than the inner diameter D1 of the coil lumen 13 so that when the detachment feature 18c is positioned within the lumen 13, a proximal portion of the lumen 13 expands to a diameter D2 to accommodate the width D2 of the detachment feature 18c. Configured thusly, the expanded portion of the coil 12 can provide a compressive force against the section of the detachment feature having width D2 to help secure the detachment feature 18c to the coil 12.

Compared to the implant 10a illustrated in FIG. 1A, the bridge 28c can extend proximally from a proximal end of the embolic coil 12. Configured thusly, in some configurations, the pull wire 140 need not be inserted into the lumen 13 of the embolic coil 12 to be supported by the bridge 28c. Limiting the length of pull wire 140 that is inserted into the embolic coil 12 can increase the flexibility of the proximal section of the embolic coil.

The implant 10c illustrated in FIG. 15 can be constructed according to the principles illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B through FIG. 7. The implant 10c illustrated in FIG. 15 can be used according to the principles illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11 through 14D.

As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” for any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part or collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein. More specifically, “about” or “approximately” may refer to the range of values±20% of the recited value, e.g. “about 90%” may refer to the range of values from 71% to 99%.

The descriptions contained herein are examples of embodiments of the invention and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention. As described herein, the invention contemplates many variations and modifications of the implant and methods for making and using the same, including alternative materials, alternative geometries of component parts, alternative positioning of component parts in relation to each other, etc. 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.

Claims

1. A method comprising: positioning some or all of an implant comprising an embolic coil and a stretch resistant fiber within an aneurysm;securing the implant to a delivery system by a key engaged to the stretch resistant fiber;retracting a first portion of the embolic coil from the aneurysm;limiting lengthening of the first portion of the embolic coil with the stretch resistant fiber as the first portion of the embolic coil is retracted from the aneurysm; andreleasing the key from the delivery system, thereby releasing the implant from the delivery system,wherein: the embolic coil comprises a lumen therethrough, the lumen comprising a first inner diameter in a non-expanded portion of the lumen and a second inner diameter in an expanded portion of the lumen;the key comprises a proximal portion disposed proximally from the lumen and a distal portion disposed within the lumen;the proximal portion comprises a first width measuring greater than the first inner diameter of the lumen; andthe distal portion comprises a second width measuring greater than the first inner diameter of the lumen and about equal to the second inner diameter of the lumen.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: positioning the stretch resistant fiber to extend within the lumen of the embolic coil.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: bending a second portion of the embolic coil; andlimiting, with the stretch resistant fiber, separation of windings within the second portion of the embolic coil while bending the second portion of the embolic coil.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of securing the implant to the delivery system further comprises: positioning a loop wire of the delivery system through the key, andpositioning a pull wire of the delivery system through an opening in the loop wire; andwherein the method further comprises:supporting, by the key, a first portion of the pull wire positioned in a distal direction in relation to the opening in the loop wire, andsupporting, by the key, a second portion of the pull wire positioned in a proximal direction in relation to the opening in the loop wire.

5. A method comprising: threading a stretch resistant fiber through a first opening in a detachment feature;extending the stretch resistant fiber through a lumen of an embolic coil;affixing the detachment feature to a first end of the embolic coil;affixing the stretch resistant fiber to a second end of the embolic coil opposite the first end;providing tension along the stretch resistant fiber between the detachment feature and the second end of the embolic coil;securing the stretch resistant fiber and the embolic coil to a delivery tube; andreleasing the detachment feature from the delivery tube, thereby releasing the stretch resistant fiber and the embolic coil from the delivery tube,wherein: the lumen of the embolic coil comprises a first inner diameter in a non-expanded portion of the lumen and a second inner diameter in an expanded portion of the lumen;the detachment feature comprises a proximal portion disposed proximally from the lumen and a distal portion disposed within the lumen;the proximal portion comprises a first width measuring greater than the first inner diameter of the lumen; andthe distal portion comprises a second width measuring greater than the first inner diameter of the lumen and about equal to the second inner diameter of the lumen.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: cutting the detachment feature from a flat sheet material;cutting the first opening in the detachment feature; andextending a portion of a mechanical deployment system through the first opening to engage the detachment feature to the delivery tube.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising: cutting the detachment feature from a flat sheet material;cutting the first opening in the detachment feature;cutting a second opening in the detachment feature separate from the first opening; andextending a portion of a mechanical deployment system through the second opening to engage the detachment feature to the delivery tube.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising: cutting the detachment feature from a radiopaque flat sheet material.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein affixing the detachment feature to a first end of the embolic coil comprises welding the detachment feature to the first end of the embolic coil.