Abstract:
The present invention relates to microcatheters (8) with a detachable tip for administering liquid embolic agents. The detachable tip microcatheter for use with liquid embolic agents in treating an aneurysm comprises a body adapted to be introduced in a vascular cavity; a detachable tip portion mounted on a distal end of the body; and a detaching mechanism ( 16 ) mounted between the tip and the body for detaching the tip from the body, the tip portion being adapted to be positioned in use in the aneurysm to introduce the embolic agent into the aneurysm.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to microcatheters with a detachable tip for administering liquid embolic agents.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Cyanoacrylates and other liquid embolic agents that polymerize or precipitate inside vessels have long been used in the treatment of vascular diseases. Cyanoacrylates are effective occlusive agents in neurovascular interventions. Cyanoacrylates and other liquid embolic agents may have the potential to improve long-term results of endovascular treatment of aneurysms.  
           [0003]    Endovascular treatment of acutely ruptured aneurysms with Guglielmi Detachable Coils (GDCs) is both safe and effective (references 1-3). The main drawback of this approach is the incidence of recurrences, which are more. frequent after embolization than after surgical clipping (references 4-7). Methods to improve the long-term results of embolization include surface modification of coils (references 4, 10, 11), addition of fibers (reference 12), local growth factor delivery (references 13, 14) or embolization with polymers (references 15-18). Since the pioneering work of Zanetti (reference 19), Kerber (reference 20) and Debrun (reference 21), acrylics have never gained wide acceptance in aneurysms, mainly because of the risks of cerebral infarction from uncontrolled escape of the polymers during deposition. An added difficulty is the risk of gluing or cementing the catheter with the embolic material. An aneurysm model prone to recurrences following embolization has been developed (references 8, 9). Endovascular acrylic deposition with microcatheters led to stray emboli in all cases. Acrylic delivery was improved by a single coil positioned at the neck of the aneurysm, but parent vessel embolization still occurred in 25% of animals. Acrylic embolization of bifurcation aneurysms improved angiographic results at 3 months as compared to coil embolization (see Table 1).  
                                               TABLE 1                           Angiographic scores and neointima thickness in bifurcation       aneurysms treated with coils or acrylic                Coils   Acrylic &amp; coils           (n = 6)   (n = 6)                            Initial angiographic score   0.40 ± 0.89   1.00 ± 1.16               Score 3 weeks   0.75 ± 0.96   0.00 ± 0.00               Evolution at 3 weeks   0.75 ± 0.96   −1.00 ± 1.16                Score at 3 months   3.00 ± 0.71   0.50 ± 1.00 a             Evolution at 3 months   2.60 ± 0.55   −0.50 ± 1.92 b             Neointima at 3 months   29.80 ± 24.36   300.00 ± 50.09 c                                                            
 
           [0004]    With the advent of a number of polymeric glues and glue substitutes for neurologic use for the treatment of diseases like AVM&#39;s, aneurysms and other vascular diseases there is a lack of safe and effective methods for the delivery of these substances within the neurovasculature, especially when longer times are required for the effective delivery of certain of these compounds. The problem remains that the polymer tip can become entrapped and glued in place with severe complications for patient. The device of the present invention is designed to overcome these limitations.  
           [0005]    It would be highly desirable to be provided with a safe, controllable and effective device for the use of acrylic and other liquid embolic agents in endovascular treatment of vascular pathologies.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    One aim of the present invention is to provide a safe, controllable and effective device for the use of acrylic and other liquid embolic agents in endovascular treatment of vascular pathologies.  
           [0007]    In accordance with the present invention there is provided a detachable tip microcatheter for use with liquid embolic agents in treating an aneurysm, said microcatheter comprising:  
           [0008]    a) a body adapted to be introduce in a vascular cavity;  
           [0009]    b) a detachable tip portion mounted on a distal end of said body; and  
           [0010]    c) a detaching mechanism mounted between said tip and said body for detaching said tip from said body, said tip portion being adapted to be positioned in use in the aneurysm to introduce said embolic agent into said aneurysm.  
           [0011]    In a preferred embodiment, the embolic agent is a biocompatible glue or a polymeric agent. The tip portion may be curved to facilitate introduction of said tip in the aneurysm.  
           [0012]    In one embodiment of the invention, the detaching mechanism comprises a metal defining a ring between said distal end of the body and said tip portion. The detaching mechanism may further comprise a heating source for heating the metal for releasing the tip portion. Alternatively, the detaching mechanism may comprise a polymer ring between said distal end of the body and said tip portion, said polymer ring being heat-sensitive and breaks upon heating, thereby releasing the tip portion. In another embodiment, the detaching mechanism comprises a polymer ring between said distal end of the body and said tip portion, said polymer ring being electrically cleavable for releasing the tip portion.  
           [0013]    The tip portion may as well be a tube for delivering the embolic agent or a balloon, shaped or not. When a balloon is used, the microcatheter is a dual lumen microcatheter if the balloon cannot infuse the embolic agent. Otherwise the balloon is provided with holes, cuts or stripes for infusing the embolic agent.  
           [0014]    In one embodiment , the tip portion may be made of polymer. The polymer tip portion may then be detached from the microcatheter using a thermal or chemical source, which when desired or activated, melt the polymer, detaching the tip portion. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration, a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the microcatheter of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the microcatheter of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a further embodiment of the microcatheter of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the microcatheter of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the microcatheter of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate another embodiment of the microcatheter of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 7A to  7 C illustrate another embodiment of the microcatheter of the present invention; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 8A to  8 D illustrate another embodiment of the microcatheter of the present invention.  
         [0024]    It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a new microcatheter with a detachable tip for delivering liquid embolic agents. In one embodiment of the invention, the microcatheter is provided with a tip that can be left in situ, buried within the polymerizing or precipitating mass of the embolic agent. A further preferred characteristic of the microcatheter of the present invention is the possibility of controlling the deposition of the liquid agent as it is polymerizing or precipitating, and at the same time controlling blood flow at the site. The microcatheter of the present invention may in one embodiment be provided with a sealing mechanism for sealing the extremities of the microcatheter and of the detachable tip once the detachable tip has been detached, preventing leaking of a drop of the embolic agent, as the detachable tip is being detached.  
         [0026]    The device ensures optimal security for the use of embolic agents in any situation where these agents are potentially useful. In intracranial aneurysms, it permits better filling of the aneurysmal sac, better occlusion of the neck, lesser risks of stray emboli. In arteriovenous malformations or fistulae, it permits better flow control and ease of termination of the embolization, without the risks of “gluing” the entire microcatheter in place, without the need for sudden violent traction at the end of the intervention as is currently the case when acrylics are used.  
         [0027]    In one embodiment of the invention, the device of the present invention consists of a microcatheter body built of a coiled or braided microcatheter shaft that has all of the attributes of a microcatheter for flexibility, torque and tracking. The tip consists of a very soft biocompatible polymer (urethane, pebax, PE, nylon, or any number of biodegradable compounds). The detachment zone has a small-embedded nitinol (stainless steel) ring which when activated by either mechanical force or by applied electrical current detaches the tip. The ring is embedded within a soft polymer detachment zone that has only a very thin covering over the ring such that the activated ring can pull through. The activated ring cuts through the polymer tip. Typical activation would occur from the outer surface towards the inner lumen. Alternatively the embedded ring may also be a clamp like structure made of nitinol which when a small electric current is applied opens the ring structure to release an embedded tip. This clamp may be continuous or in several (3-4) discreet points at the tip junction. The detachment could also consist of melting through the tip using a resistive coil or the use of partially conductive polymer with embedded electric wire within the catheter shaft to carry current to the resistive material. The resistive material heats as current passes through melting the polymer tip and detaching the tip. Additionally the detachment of the tip could also seal the device closed via heating of the glue to crosslink it.  
         [0028]    Other methods like lasers to melt the tip could also be used or chemical dissolution of a soluble polymeric section could also be used to detach the tip. The delivery of glue with such a device could be done in simple stages where a small amount of glue is injected allowed to harden detach the tip and then bring another device in and repeat the procedure until aneurysmal filling could be completed. This sequential injection could significantly enhance the safety of the delivery of a liquid embolic without requiring a flow arrest device to be used.  
         [0029]    The present invention will be more readily understood by referring to the following examples, which are given to illustrate the invention rather than to limit its scope.  
       EXAMPLE I  
     Aneurysm Glue Retention Device Infusable Core—Aneurysm Coil/Polymeric Filler  
       [0030]    With the advent of a number of polymeric glues and glue substitutes for neurologic use for the treatment of aneurysms and other vascular diseases there is a lack of safe and effective methods for the delivery of these substances within an aneurysm especially when longer times are required for the effective delivery of certain of these compounds. This device is designed to overcome these limitations.  
         [0031]    The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 would be delivered through a standard microcatheter  8  and via standard neuro-microcatheter access techniques. The device  10  comprises a metallic (Gold, NiTi, Pt, etc.) or polymeric (PE, nylon, urethane, Polyester, etc.) coil tip  12  being long enough to have several loops form within the aneurysm, which would allow for blood flow control into the aneurysm (see FIGS. 1 and 2). This coil tip  12  could also have several polymeric fibers (PGA, PLA, nylon, polypropylene, etc.) embedded within it to help entrap any escaping infusate. The section just behind the coil tip  12  consists of an infusion region  14 . This region would be placed near the dome of the aneurysm and glue or the equivalent would then be infused out of this infusion region  14  and allowed to slowly polymerize within the coil loops or basket. The entire device  10  could then be detached through a variety of means (laser, heat, electrical, chemical or mechanical as described herein). The device body through which the infusion would take place could be a polyimide tube, metallic hypo-tube, or the equivalent that would have a higher melt temperature than the polymeric infusion zone and the distal portion of the device leading up to the connection point or detachment zone  16  so that detachment by heating would be easy. Additionally if a small heater element is passed through the device for the detachment of the device and heated for detachment this would also seal the device closed via heating of the glue to crosslink it.  
       EXAMPLE II  
     Aneurysm Glue Retention Device Expanding Cone Tip Catheter—Chemical  
       [0032]    Chemical dissolution of a soluble polymeric section could also be used to detach the tip  12  as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Injection of glue with base solvent, solvent alone, or solvent injected into separate lumen running only to the detachment zone could be used to introduce a solvent which could easily dissolve the soft polymer tip at a discreet location through the use of a special zone of dissolvable polymer. The use of valving on the tip could ensure dissolution at a specific site or seal the solvent within this zone to allow better dissolving of the polymer section.  
       EXAMPLE III  
     Aneurysm Glue Retention Device Expanding Cone Tip Catheter—Electric  
       [0033]    In FIG. 4, the device  10  comprises a microcatheter  8  body and is built of a coiled or braided microcatheter shaft that has all of the attributes of a microcatheter for flexibility, torque and tracking. The tip  12  however is specially designed to flare out when placed at the neck of the aneurysm and exclude it from flow while coils and/or glue can be placed within the aneurysm itself. One preferred design consists of nitinol coil  40  with discreet nitinol wire shafts  42  covered by a thin elastic membrane  44  (urethane, silicones, elastomerics, etc.). The nitinol has a small current applied to it from wires  46  embedded within the catheter body which causes the coils to elongate along the infusion shaft which pushes the constrained coil and the attached shaft wire outward. This creates a cone-like tip with a central fixed infusion lumen open for coil delivery or glue delivery or a combination of both. Alternatively the coil could contract when current passes through it causing the constrained shaft wire to bow outward to create the cone.  
       EXAMPLE IV  
     Aneurysm Glue Retention Device Expanding Cone Tip Catheter—Mechanical  
       [0034]    One alternative embodiment of the above design is a mechanically expanded cone tip  12  (see FIG. 5). The invention comprises a dual lumen based catheter  48  with one lumen given to a core wire and/or mandrel  50  (nitinol). The core mandrel  50  has wires  52  welded to the tip and connected to a flexible shaft wire  53  embedded in the thin elastic membrane material  56  (urethane, silicones, elastomerics, etc.). Mechanical movement of the mandrel  54  will push (or alternatively pull) the shaft wires  53  causing them to bow outwardly, thus creating a cone tip. The second lumen is a fixed infusion lumen  58  open for coil delivery or glue delivery or a combination of both.  
       EXAMPLE V  
     Aneurysm Glue Retention Device Side-hole Infusion Balloon  
       [0035]    In this embodiment of the present invention, the microcatheter comprises a dual lumen balloon catheter  60  (see FIGS. 6A and 6B). An infusion lumen  62  is tipped with a soft elastic tip  64 , which is bonded to the side of the balloon with appropriate radiographic markings. The balloon can either be an ultra-soft elastomeric balloon  66  (urethane, silicones, etc) (FIG. 6A) or a shaped balloon  68  (PE, polyester, etc.) (FIG. 6B) with the infusion lumen  62  attached to the flattened side of the shaped balloon.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 7A to  7 C illustrate various balloons that can be used with the present invention. In FIG. 7A, the balloon is illustrated as unexpanded, whereas in FIG. 7B, the balloon is a soft elastomeric balloon with spiral cut that has been inflated. FIG. 7C illustrates an alternative of the balloon illustrated in FIG. 7B, whereas the balloon has a wide spiral design with laser drilled holes.  
       EXAMPLE VI  
     Electrical Detachment of a Tip of a Catheter  
       [0037]    As illustrated in FIGS. 8A to  8 D, the detachment could also consist of melting through the tip  12  using a resistive coil  20  or the use of partially conductive polymer or any combination of either with embedded electric wire  24  within the catheter shaft to carry current to the resistive material. The resistive material heats as current passes through melting the polymer tip and detaching the tip  12 . Additionally the detachment of the tip  12  could also seal the device closed via heating of the glue to crosslink it. This could also be paired with a mechanical detachment system  26  wherein the heater partially melts or softens the polymer to enable ease of mechanical detachment. The mechanical system could consist of an embedded ring  26  which when actuated, decreases in diameter. The ring  26  can be attached with embedded wires  30 . When a current is applied to the ring  26 , the ring contracts reducing its diameter. Other methods like lasers to melt the tip could also be used.  
         [0038]    While the invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that numerous modifications thereto will appear to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description and accompanying drawings should be taken as illustrative of the invention and not in a limiting sense.  
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