US6149664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shape memory pusher introducer for vasoocclusive devices
Assignee: Micrus Endovascular LLC
•
Filing: 1998-08-27
•
Granted: 2000-11-21
•
Expires: 2018-08-27
Abstract
Abstract An introducer for retaining an implant placed within an implant delivery device having a pusher for displacing the implant includes a tube and a clamp. The interior of the tube defines a passage for guiding the movement of the pusher. The clamp is made of a shape memory material disposed in the passage about the pusher. The clamp is normally operative to grip the pusher to hold it in position relative to the tube and further operative in response to an elevated temperature to release the pusher for movement relative to the tube. The clamp may be formed integrally with the tube and may comprise at least one crimp or an annular ring surrounding the tube. The tube is tapered to be narrower at its distal end and may be formed of a shaped memory polymer material.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel R. Kurz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; A61B17/12099; A61B17/12109; A61B17/12113; A61B17/12131; A61B17/1214; A61B17/12145; A61B2017/1205; A61B2017/12054; A61B2017/12068; A61B2017/12072; A61B2017/12077
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
An introducer for retaining an implant placed with in an implant delivery device having a pusher for displacing said implant, said introducer comprising: a tube, the interior of said tube defining a passage for guiding the movement of said pusher; and a clamp of shape memory material disposed in said passage about said pusher and normally operative to grip said pusher to hold it in position relative to said tube and further operative in response to an elevated temperature to release said pusher for movement relative to said tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
An introducer for retaining an implant placed with in an implant delivery device having a pusher for displacing said implant, said introducer comprising: a tube, the interior of said tube defining a passage for guiding the movement of said pusher; and a clamp of shape memory material disposed in said passage about said pusher and normally operative to grip said pusher to hold it in position relative to said tube and further operative in response to an elevated temperature to release said pusher for movement relative to said tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The introducer of claim 1, wherein said clamp and tube are formed integrally.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The introducer of claim 2, wherein said clamp comprises at least one crimp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The introducer of claim 2, wherein said clamp comprises an annular ring surrounding said tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The introducer of claim 1, wherein said tube is tapered to be narrower at its distal end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The introducer of claim 1, wherein the shaped memory material is a polymer material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
A vasoocclusive implant delivery device, comprising: an introducer for insertion into a vascular system to dispose a distal end at an embolism site, said introducer formed with a wall defining a pusher passage an implant disposed in said distal end; a pusher housed in said introducer, adjacent said implant; and a clamp of shape memory material disposed in said passage about said pusher and normally operative to grip said pusher to hold it in position relative to said introducer and further operative in response to an elevated temperature to release said pusher for movement relative to said introducer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
A vasoocclusive implant delivery device, comprising: an introducer for insertion into a vascular system to dispose a distal end at an embolism site, said introducer formed with a wall defining a pusher passage an implant disposed in said distal end; a pusher housed in said introducer, adjacent said implant; and a clamp of shape memory material disposed in said passage about said pusher and normally operative to grip said pusher to hold it in position relative to said introducer and further operative in response to an elevated temperature to release said pusher for movement relative to said introducer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The implant delivery device of claim 7, wherein said clamp is formed integrally with said wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The implant delivery device of claim 7, wherein said introducer is tapered to be narrower at its distal end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The implant delivery device of claim 7, further comprising a fiber optic cable having proximal and distal ends, connected at said proximal end to a source of light energy and connected at said distal end to said introducer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The implant delivery device of claim 10, wherein said clamp is heated by light energy transmitted by said fiber optic cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The implant delivery device of claim 7, wherein said clamp is heated with electrical energy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The implant delivery device of claim 7, wherein said pusher is biased in said distal direction to force said implant out of said distal extremity upon said release of said clamp.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The implant delivery device of claim 13, further comprising a spring, biasing said pusher in said distal direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
The implant delivery device of claim 7, further comprising: a sheath having a distal end and attached at said distal end to said introducer; and a fiber optical cable within said sheath, having proximal and distal ends, attached at said distal end to said pusher and operable at said proximal end to manipulate said pusher within said introducer when said clamp is in said released configuration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The implant delivery device of claim 15, wherein said cable is slidable within said sheath.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The implant delivery device of claim 15, wherein said cable comprises: an optical fiber; and a jacket, encasing said fiber and slidable within said sheath.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of manufacturing a vasoocclusive implant delivery device, comprising the steps of: selecting an introducer, having a wall defining a pusher passage, said introducer constructed of a shape memory material having the property that when heated to a predetermined temperature, deformed and cooled it returns to its original undeformed shape upon subsequently being heated to said predetermined temperature; inserting a pusher into said passage; heating said introducer to said predetermined temperature; deforming said wall to create a clamp to grip said pusher to hold it in position; and cooling said introducer.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of manufacturing a vasoocclusive implant delivery device, comprising the steps of: selecting an introducer, having a wall defining a pusher passage, said introducer constructed of a shape memory material having the property that when heated to a predetermined temperature, deformed and cooled it returns to its original undeformed shape upon subsequently being heated to said predetermined temperature; inserting a pusher into said passage; heating said introducer to said predetermined temperature; deforming said wall to create a clamp to grip said pusher to hold it in position; and cooling said introducer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: attaching a distal end of a fiber optic cable to said pusher; fitting a sheath over said fiber optic cable; and attaching said sheath to said introducer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of prior to inserting said pusher into said passage, inserting a spring into said introducer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1667730A
Cited
US32348A
Cited
US1341052A
Cited
FR592182A
Cited
US2078182A
Cited
US2549335A
Cited
US3334629A
Cited
US3649224A
Cited
US3868956A
Cited
USRE32348E
Cited
US4402319A
Cited
US4341218A
Cited
US4327734A
Cited
GB2066839B
Cited
US4954126A
Cited
US4655771A
Cited
US4655771B1
Cited
US4954126B1
Cited
US4545367A
Cited
US4441495A
Cited
US4638803A
Cited
US4494531A
Cited
US4512338A
Cited
US5055101A
Cited
US4718907A
Cited
US4748986A
Cited
US4768507A
Cited
US4904048A
Cited
US4800882A
Cited
US5037427A
Cited
US4813925A
Cited
US4795458A
Cited
US4850960A
Cited
US4969890A
Cited
US5089005A
Cited
US5133732A
Cited
US4820298A
Cited
US4957501A
Cited
US4950258A
Cited
US4884579A
Cited
US4830003A
Cited
US5151152A
Cited
US5176661A
Cited
US4957479A
Cited
US4994069A
Cited
US4856516A
Cited
US5203772A
Cited
US4990155A
Cited
US5026377A
Cited
US5104404A
Cited
US5234456A
Cited
US5186992A
Cited
US5569245A
Cited
US5122136A
Cited
US5354295A
Cited
US5071407A
Cited
US5108407A
Cited
US5064435A
Cited
US5041084A
Cited
US5170801A
Cited
US5176625A
Cited
US5160341A
Cited
US5133731A
Cited
US5109867A
Cited
US5228453A
Cited
US5217484A
Cited
US5147370A
Cited
US5141502A
Cited
US5183085A
Cited
US5304194A
Cited
US5226911A
Cited
US5151105A
Cited
US5312152A
Cited
US5411475A
Cited
US5222969A
Cited
US5342387A
Cited
US5607445A
Cited
US5443478A
Cited
US5312415A
Cited
US5250071A
Cited
US5382259A
Cited
US5350397A
Cited
US5690666A
Cited
US5695111A
Cited
US5336205A
Cited
US5749837A
Cited
US5636642A
Cited
US5562641A
Cited
US5304119A
Cited
US5423829A
Cited
US5693086A
Cited
US5441516A
Cited
US5643254A
Cited
US5667522A
Cited
US5549624A
Cited
US5725546A
Cited
US5522836A
Cited
US5637113A
Cited
US5690671A
Cited
US5814062A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-21 | 2004-05-22 | 2004-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-21 | 2008-05-22 | 2008-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-21 | 2012-05-22 | 2012-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |