Medical devices and methods of making and using such devices

Abstract

Devices, such as medical devices for inhibiting conception, and methods of using and/or making these devices. In one aspect of the disclosure, a medical device has a delivery system and a first insert, which is removably coupled to the delivery system and which is designed to be deployed within a portion of a first fallopian tube, and a second insert, which is removably coupled to the delivery system and which is designed to be deployed within a portion of a second fallopian tube. Other aspects of the disclosure include, among other things, inserts made from one or more polymers; inserts which are designed to pierce and remain in place; and inserts which are implanted through a fluid delivery system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A delivery system comprising:
 a delivery catheter having a lumen;   a first insert and a second insert serially disposed within the lumen, the first insert including a first radially expandable member and a first distal portion distal to the first radially expandable member, and the second insert including a second radially expandable member and a second distal portion distal to the second radially expandable member;   wherein the first radially expandable member of the first insert overlaps the second distal portion of the second insert, and the first insert is deployable from the delivery catheter without deploying the second insert.   
     
     
         2 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second inserts are designed to functionally occlude a first and second fallopian tubes. 
     
     
         3 . The delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second inserts comprise a polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The delivery system of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second inserts are substantially comprised of the polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The delivery system of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer is non-biodegradable. 
     
     
         6 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising a push rod that is slidable within the lumen. 
     
     
         7 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second inserts comprise a shape memory material. 
     
     
         8 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the first insert comprises a first inner member and the first radially expandable member is radially expandable about the first inner member, and the second insert comprises a second inner member and the second radially expandable member is radially expandable about the second inner member. 
     
     
         9 . The delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a distal end of the first radially expandable member is coupled to the first inner member, and a proximal end of the first radially expandable member is not coupled to the first member; and   a distal end of the second radially expandable member is coupled to the second inner member, and a proximal end of the second radially expandable member is not coupled to the second member.   
     
     
         10 . The delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein the second distal portion of the second insert comprises the second inner member, and the first radially expandable member of the first insert overlaps the second inner member. 
     
     
         11 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , further comprising a second atraumatic tip on a distal end of the second inner member, wherein the first radially expandable member overlaps the second atraumatic tip. 
     
     
         12 . The delivery system of  claim 11 , further comprising a first atraumatic tip on a distal end of the first inner member. 
     
     
         13 . The delivery system of  claim 11 , further comprising an end piece on a proximal end of the first inner member, wherein the second atraumatic tip abuts the end piece. 
     
     
         14 . The delivery system of  claim 11 , wherein the second atraumatic tip of the second insert abuts the first inner member of the first insert. 
     
     
         15 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the first distal portion of the first insert comprises the first inner member, and the first inner member extends distally beyond the delivery catheter. 
     
     
         16 . The delivery system of  claim 15 , wherein the second distal portion of the second insert is contained entirely within the lumen of the delivery catheter. 
     
     
         17 . The delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second inner members both comprise a coil. 
     
     
         18 . The delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second radially expandable members both comprise a coil.