Patent ID: 6068644
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A vaso-occlusive coil deployment system for use in placing a coil at a preselected site within a vessel comprising:an elongated flexible catheter comprising a catheter body having a lumen extending therethrough and having a proximal section and a distal section, said distal section of the catheter being formed of a material having a durometer which exhibits the characteristic that when a fluid pressure is applied to the interior of the catheter the walls of the distal section of the catheter expand outwardly;a coil being disposed in fluid-tight engagement within the lumen of the distal section of the catheter body;a connector hub having a lumen therethrough and disposed on the end of the proximal section of the catheter body;a stiffening tube having a proximal end and a distal end and disposed coaxially within the lumen of the catheter body and extending from the proximal section of the catheter body to a location proximal of the distal section of the catheter body; and,a helically wound coil disposed between the stiffening tube and the catheter body at the distal end of the stiffening tube and extending beyond the stiffening tube and into the distal section of the catheter body to thereby provide a catheter having a relatively stiff proximal section and a flexible distal section and a transition zone between these sections.