Target Therapeutics, Inc.

Gregory E Mirigian

Nga Thi Van

Gene L Samson

Erik T Engelson

Thomas J Palermo

Son M Gia

U Hiram Chee

Laurent B Schaller

Harold F Carrison

Michael J Mariant

Christopher G Ken

Edward J Snyder

Roberto L Orellana

This is a composite guidewire for use with a catheter for accessing a targeted site in a lumen system of a patient's body. The guidewire core or guidewire section may be of a stainless steel or a high elasticity metal alloy, preferably a Ni&#x2014;Ti alloy, also preferably having specified physical parameters. The composite guidewire assembly is especially useful for accessing peripheral or soft tissue targets. The invention includes multi-section guidewire assemblies having super-elastic alloy or stainless steel ribbon braided reinforcements along a least a portion of the core. A variation of the inventive guidewire includes a braid and a tie layer (and one or more lubricious polymers on the tie layer exterior) to enhance the guidewire's suitability for use within catheters and within the interior of vascular lumen.

Composite braided guidewire

A vasoocclusive device in the form of a coil for placement in the vasculature of an animal to form thrombus in a selected site such as an aneurysm or AVM. The device involves a primary coil form having thrombogenic fibers placed on the coil in a specified fashion. The coil will pass through the lumen of a vascular catheter in the primary coil form and evolve into a convoluted or complex secondary form when ejected from the catheter's distal end. The fibers are attached to the coil and cooperate with the coil so that upon ejection from the catheter, the convoluted coil forms a shape in which the central region or secondary coil form center that contains the majority of these fibers.

Complex coils having fibered centers

This is a composite guidewire for use in a catheter and is used for accessing a targeted site in a lumen system of a patient's body. The guidewire core or guidewire section may be of a stainless steel or a high elasticity metal alloy, preferably a Ni--Ti alloy, also preferably having specified physical parameters. The composite guidewire assembly is especially useful for accessing peripheral or soft tissue targets. Variations include multi-section guidewire assemblies having (at least) super-elastic distal portions and super-elastic braided reinforcements along the mid or distal sections. A variation of the inventive guidewire includes the coating of the wire with a tie layer and then with a one or more lubricious polymers to enhance its suitability for use within catheters and with the interior of vascular lumen.

Super-elastic composite guidewire

This invention is a surgical device. It is a guidewire for use in a catheter and is used for accessing a targeted site in a lumen system of a patient's body. The guidewire or guidewire section may be of a stainless steel or a high elasticity metal alloy, preferably a Ni--Ti alloy, having specified physical parameters. The guidewire is especially useful for accessing peripheral or soft tissue targets. A special variation of the inventive guidewire includes the coating of the wire with a tie layer and then with a one or more lubricious polymers to enhance its suitability for use within catheters and with the interior of vascular lumen.

Enhanced lubricity guidewire

A vasoocclusive coil for placement in the vasculature of an animal to form thrombus in a selected site such as an aneurysm or AVM. The device involves a primary coil form having thrombogenic fibers placed on the coil in a specified fashion. The coil will pass through the lumen of a vascular catheter in the primary coil form and evolve into a convoluted or complex secondary form when ejected from the catheter's distal end. The fibers are attached to the coil and cooperate with the coil so that upon ejection from the catheter, the convoluted coil forms a shape in which the central region or secondary coil form center that contains the majority of these fibers.

This is a surgical device that, in particular, is for forming a vasoocclusion or embolism. Typically, it is a helically wound coil in which the helix is wound in such a way as to have multiple axially offset, longitudinal or focal axes. Another important facet of the invention is the presence of small diameter secondary coil windings adjacent large diameter coil windings. The device is sufficiently flexible and small that it may be delivered to a site within the vasculature of the human body using a pusher and a catheter. The device is generally linear when within the catheter but relaxes to form the multi-focal form after delivery from the distal end of the catheter lumen. Various mechanical connections may also be used to discharge the inventive coil from its pusher. Similarly, the coil may be attached to a pusher using a sacrificial joint, which sacrificial joint is dissolved by imposition of a small voltage within the human body. The device may be used alone or in conjunction with other coils or with a fibrous thrombotic attachments or the substrate to localize subsequent infusion of tissue adhesives, other particulate embolization devices, or chemotherapeutic agents in abnormal blood vessels and tissues.

Embolic coils with offset helical and twisted helical shapes

A thermally activated occlusive implant delivery assembly is provided. The assembly includes an occlusive implant device and a pusher. The pusher has a distal section and a proximal section. The distal section includes a coupling portion which is shape memory material and exhibits different configurations depending on the coupling portion's temperature. The coupling portion interlockingly engages the implant when it is in one of the configurations and releases the implant from interlocking engagement therewith when in another one of the configurations. In operation, the assembly is introduced into the body of a mammal via a guide catheter suited for the particular lumen being navigated. When the implant is positioned at the desired site, the coupling portion of the pusher is thermally activated to effect the return of its original, pre-set configuration, which is originally formed to release the implant from interlocking engagement therewith. The pusher can then be readily removed from the mammal without imparting any significant force on the implant during retraction.

Implant delivery method and assembly

This invention is a vasoocclusive device. It is placed in the vasculature of an animal to form thrombus in a selected site such as an aneurysm or AVM. The device uses a central coil having thrombogenic fibers placed on the coil in a specified fashion. The coil will pass through the lumen of a vascular catheter and form a convolution when ejected from the catheter's distal end. The fibers are attached to the coil and cooperate with the coil so that upon ejection from the catheter, the convoluted coil forms a shape in which the central region contains the majority of these fibers.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Gregory E Mirigian