US6254592B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable stiffness coils
Assignee: Target Therapeutics Inc
•
Filing: 1998-05-05
•
Granted: 2001-07-03
•
Expires: 2018-05-05
Abstract
Abstract An implantable vaso-occlusive device, constructed of a helically wound coil having a central section along its longitudinal axis which is somewhat stiffer than at least one of its end regions.
Inventors
- 👤 Gene Samson
- 👤 Ivan Sepetka
- 👤 U. Hiram Chee
- 👤 Christopher G.M. Ken
- 👤 Nga T. Van
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M29/00; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; A61B17/12131; A61B17/1214; A61B17/1215; A61B17/12099; A61B17/12109; A61B17/12145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A vaso-occlusive device comprising: an elongated wire formed into a tubular member having a first end, a second end, an axis extending between said first end and second end, and a central region between those ends, wherein the tubular member has a first configuration conforming to and, when constrained within a constraining tubular member, and wherein the tubular member has a second self-forming secondary configuration, different from the first configuration, when not constrained by the constraining tubular member, and wherein the tubular member measured generally perpendicular to the axis at least one of the first end and second end in said second configuration is more flexible than is the tubular member in the central region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A vaso-occlusive device comprising: an elongated wire formed into a tubular member having a first end, a second end, an axis extending between said first end and second end, and a central region between those ends, wherein the tubular member has a first configuration conforming to and, when constrained within a constraining tubular member, and wherein the tubular member has a second self-forming secondary configuration, different from the first configuration, when not constrained by the constraining tubular member, and wherein the tubular member measured generally perpendicular to the axis at least one of the first end and second end in said second configuration is more flexible than is the tubular member in the central region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 wherein the elongated wire in the more flexible at least one of the first end and second end is more flexible than is the wire in the central region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 wherein the elongated wire has a smaller diameter in said more flexible at least one first end and second end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 wherein the elongated wire material in said more flexible at least one first and second end is inherently more flexible than is the wire in the central region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 4 wherein the elongated wire in said more flexible at least one first end and second end has been annealed to soften the wire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 wherein the tubular member is helically wound and has a helical pitch spacing and said helical pitch spacing in the more flexible at least one first end and second end is longer than the pitch spacing in the central region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 6 wherein the tubular member has a first diameter in the central region and a relatively smaller second diameter in the more flexible at least one first end and second end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 6 wherein the tubular member has a first diameter in the central region and a relatively smaller, decreasing second diameter in the more flexible at least one first end and second end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 additionally comprising a cap on at least one of the first end and second end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 additionally comprising filamentary material attached to said tubular member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 additionally comprising a deployment tip attached to at least one of the first end and second end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 11 wherein the deployment tip comprises a mechanically detachable end adapted to attach to and detach from a pusher.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 11 wherein the deployment tip comprises an electrolytically detachable end adapted to detach from a pusher by imposition of a current on said pusher.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 wherein both the first and the second end are more flexible than is the central region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the tubular member is between about 0.008 and 0.025 inches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 , wherein the axial length of the tubular member is between about 0.5 and 100 centimeters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 6 , wherein the tubular member has between about 10 and 75 turns per centimeter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 6 having an increased pitch spacing of 25% or more.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible end region comprises between about 2.5% and 20% of total axis length of the tubular member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The vaso-occlusive device of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of force required per unit deflection in the at least one flexible end region to force per unit deflection in the central region is less than 1.0 lb f /°-cm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US485652A
Cited
US4553545A
Cited
US4760849A
Cited
US5171383A
Cited
US4830023A
Cited
US4994069A
Cited
US5122136A
Cited
US5540680A
Cited
US5069217A
Cited
WO1992014408A1
Cited
US5304194A
Cited
US5382259A
Cited
US5690666A
Cited
US5766160A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-02 | 2005-01-01 | 2005-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-02 | 2009-01-01 | 2009-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-02 | 2013-01-01 | 2013-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |