Patent Application: US-47948904-A

Abstract:
the present invention relates to microcatheters 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 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:
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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 . the embodiment illustrated in fig1 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 fig1 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 . chemical dissolution of a soluble polymeric section could also be used to detach the tip 12 as illustrated in fig3 a 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 . in fig4 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 . one alternative embodiment of the above design is a mechanically expanded cone tip 12 ( see fig5 ). 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 . in this embodiment of the present invention , the microcatheter comprises a dual lumen balloon catheter 60 ( see fig6 a 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 ) ( fig6 a ) or a shaped balloon 68 ( pe , polyester , etc .) ( fig6 b ) with the infusion lumen 62 attached to the flattened side of the shaped balloon . [ 0036 ] fig7 a to 7 c illustrate various balloons that can be used with the present invention . in fig7 a , the balloon is illustrated as unexpanded , whereas in fig7 b , the balloon is a soft elastomeric balloon with spiral cut that has been inflated . fig7 c illustrates an alternative of the balloon illustrated in fig7 b , whereas the balloon has a wide spiral design with laser drilled holes . as illustrated in fig8 a 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 . 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 . 1 . guglielmi detachable coil embolization of acute intracranial aneurysm : perioperative anatomical and clinical outcome in 403 patients . viñuela f , duckwiler g , mawad m , j . neurosurg 1997 mar 86 : 475 - 82 ; 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