Cerebral vasculature device

Abstract

Novel cerebral vasculature devices are disclosed, including thrombectomy removal devices that include a continuous braided structure, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a first expandable portion located between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The braided structure includes a plurality of wires. The proximal portion and the distal portion include polymer imbedded at least partially into the braided structure. The device is useful for removing thrombus from a patient's vasculature.

1 . Cerebral vascular device comprising:
 continuous braided structure comprising a plurality of wires, the braided structure having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a first expandable portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and a lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion;   the proximal portion and the distal portion each having an outer diameter and an inner diameter and further including polymer imbedded at least partially into the braided structure;   core wire having a proximal end and a distal end, the core wire located within the lumen and extending from the braided structure proximal portion to a point at or distal to the braided structure distal portion; and   atraumatic component attached to the core wire distal end and having an outer diameter at least equal to the inner diameter of the braided structure distal portion.   
   
   
       2 . The cerebral vascular device of  claim 1 , wherein the atraumatic component is selected from the group consisting of polymer tubular structures and metal coils. 
   
   
       3 . The cerebral vascular device of  claim 2 , wherein the metal coil comprises radioopaque material. 
   
   
       4 . The cerebral vascular device of  claim 3 , wherein the radioopaque material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of platinum, gold, iridium, and platinum/iridium alloy. 
   
   
       5 . The cerebral vascular device of  claim 1 , wherein the braided structure proximal portion and distal portion have an outer diameter of about 0.020 inch or less. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the braided structure proximal portion and distal portion have an outer diameter of about 0.017 inch or less. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wires comprise metal wires. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of wires comprise nitinol. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyimide, peba, polyurethane, nylon, silicone, and polyethylene. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer prevents radial expansion of the braided structure proximal portion and distal portion during expansion of the expandable portion. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer substantially completely imbeds the proximal portion and the distal portion of the braided structure. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the braided structure is comprised of a plurality of wires selected from the group consisting of round profiles and flat profiles and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the wires have a round profile. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein a majority of the wires have an outer diameter of about 0.002 inch or less. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein a majority of the wires have an outer diameter of about 0.0015 inch or less. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein a majority of the wires have an outer diameter of about 0.001 inch or less. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the wires comprises radioopaque material. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the radioopaque material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of platinum, gold, iridium and platinum/iridium alloy. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one radioopaque marker band. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the device comprises at least 2 radioopaque marker bands. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein at least one marker band is located distal to the expandable portion and at least one marker band is located proximal to the expandable portion. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises radioopaque material. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the radioopaque material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of barium sulfate and bismuth trioxide. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one radioopaque marker band is essentially flush with the outer diameter of the proximal and distal portions of the device. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is attached to the distal end of a tubular structure. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the tubular structure is a continuation of the proximal portion of the braided structure. 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the tubular structure has an outer diameter of about 0.020 inch or less. 
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable portion has a length in its unexpanded state of about 1 cm or less. 
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the expandable portion has a length of about 5 mm or less. 
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the expandable portion has a length of about 4 mm. 
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of wires numbers 48 wires or more. 
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of wires numbers 32 wires or more. 
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of wires numbers 16 wires or more. 
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the braided structure comprises wires oriented at an angle of about less than or equal to 10 degrees as measured from the longitudinal axis of the braided structure. 
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the braided structure comprises wires oriented at an angle of about less than or equal to 8 degrees as measured from the longitudinal axis of the braided structure. 
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable portion has a diameter in its maximum expanded state of about 6 mm or less. 
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the expandable portion has a diameter in its maximum expanded state of about 4 mm or less. 
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the expandable portion has a diameter in its maximum expanded state of about 3.3 mm. 
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the core wire extends for at least the length of the tubular structure. 
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the combination of the core wire and the tubular structure has a change in flexibility from a proximal point to a distal point thereon. 
   
   
       41 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein the distal point of the tubular structure is more flexible than the proximal point of the tubular structure. 
   
   
       42 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein a handle is coupled to the core wire and the tubular structure, the handle providing for actuation of the expandable portion. 
   
   
       43 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable portion is atraumatic to a patient's vessel when in its maximum expanded state. 
   
   
       44 . The device of  claim 43 , wherein the expandable portion is suitable for removing a clot from the patient's vessel. 
   
   
       45 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable portion has a maximum expanded diameter being equal to or larger than the diameter of the patient's target vessel. 
   
   
       46 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the braided structure further comprises a second expandable portion. 
   
   
       47 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein the braided structure further comprises an intermediate portion located between the first expandable portion and the second expandable portion. 
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the intermediate portion comprises polymer imbedded at least partially into the braided structure. 
   
   
       49 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the intermediate portion is radially constrained by a polymer covering. 
   
   
       50 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the intermediate portion is radially constrained by a metal band. 
   
   
       51 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the intermediate portion is of a higher braid angle than the expandable portions. 
   
   
       52 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the device and tubular member are sized to be suitable for delivery through a microcatheter. 
   
   
       53 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the device and tubular member do not impose bending force to a straight microcatheter. 
   
   
       54 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first expandable portion comprises a plurality of wires oriented at a first angle and at least a portion of the braided structure comprises wires oriented at a second angle different from the first angle. 
   
   
       55 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is removably attached to a distal end of a catheter shaft. 
   
   
       56 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable portion is provided with an outer polymer cover. 
   
   
       57 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the outer polymer cover comprises ePTFE. 
   
   
       58 . Method for making a cerebral vascular device comprising the steps of:
 providing a continuous braided structure having a length, a lumen extending therethrough, and having polymer at least partially imbedded therein for substantially the entire length of the braided structure;   removing at least a portion of the polymer from the braided structure to form an expandable portion, a proximal portion having polymer at least partially imbedded therein and a distal portion having polymer at least partially imbedded therein, the expandable portion being located between the proximal portion and the distal portion;   attaching an atraumatic component to a core wire, the core wire having a proximal end and a distal end;   locating the core wire within the lumen, the core wire extending from the braided structure proximal portion to a point distal to the braided structure distal portion; and   wherein the atraumatic component has an outer diameter at least equal to the inner diameter of the braided structure distal portion.   
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the polymer is provided by a dip-coating process. 
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the polymer is removed by laser ablation. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the polymer is removed by an abrasion process. 
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the abrasion process comprises using sodium bicarbonate.