Device to aid the delivery of a coil of filament

Abstract

A medical filler delivery assembly includes a micro catheter for delivering filler material such as filamentary material into an aneurysm in a vessel. The assembly also includes a positioning mechanism which includes a support element made of knitted wires, as well as an expansion mechanism for expanding the support element within the vessel. The support element is able to trap the micro catheter in position and in practice such that its distal end is disposed within the aneurysm sac. The knitted wire configuration of the support element provides sufficient holding force to the distal end of the micro catheter and also has an open structure which permits continuation of fluid flow through the vessel. The entire assembly can be removed from the vessel after the delivery of filamentary material, thereby not retaining within the vessel any foreign object such as a stent.

1 . A medical filler delivery assembly for delivering filler material into a vessel of a patient including:
 an elongate delivery catheter including a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therein, the lumen including an exit aperture located at or proximate the distal end of the catheter and an inlet aperture located at or proximate the proximal end of the catheter, the lumen being for delivery of filler material; and   a positioning mechanism including an elongate carrier including a proximal end and a distal end, the carrier including a support element of knitted wire at the distal end thereof and an expansion mechanism coupled to the support element for expanding the knitted support element, the support element being positioned or positionable adjacent the distal end of the catheter, wherein expansion of the support element provides a support barrier adjacent the exit aperture of the catheter.   
     
     
         2 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element is formed of a plurality of wire elements intertwined one with another. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the intertwined wires are coupled to one another by at least one turn around one another. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the intertwined wires are coupled to one another by at least two turns around one another. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the intertwined wires are coupled to one another by at least three turns around one another. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the knitted wire forms a plurality of open cells delimited by wire sections. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the cells have a polygonal shape. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the cells have a diamond or rhomboidal shape. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism includes an elongate carrier having a proximal end and a distal end, a tubular element slidably disposed on the elongate carrier and including a proximal end and a distal end, and a fixing member located at the distal end of the elongate carrier, the support element being attached at one end to the fixing member and at the other end to the distal end of the tubular element, wherein sliding of the tubular element towards the fixing member causes radial expansion of the support element. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the wires of the support element are twisted around one another adjacent their attachments to the tubular element and the fixing member. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element includes a substantially cylindrical body portion. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element includes generally conical end portions. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element is radially collapsible. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element is radially collapsible by longitudinal elongation thereof. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element is made from stainless steel or shape memory material. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element is made from shape memory alloy. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the wires of the support element are monofilament wires. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the wires of the support element are multifilament wires. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , including a filler storage unit coupled to the inlet aperture of the catheter. 
     
     
         20 . An assembly according to  claim 19 , including filler stored in the storage unit. 
     
     
         21 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler is a filamentary material. 
     
     
         22 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , including a carrier sheath within which the delivery catheter and the positioning mechanism are slidably disposed. 
     
     
         23 . A method of delivering filler material into a vessel of a patient including:
 positioning a distal end of an elongate delivery catheter at a body location to be filled, the catheter including a lumen therein for delivery of filler material and an exit aperture at or proximate the distal end of the catheter;   locating a distal end of a positioning mechanism alongside the distal end of the delivery catheter, the positioning mechanism including an elongate carrier, the carrier including a support element of knitted wire at the distal end thereof and an expansion mechanism coupled to the support element for expanding the knitted support element, and   expanding the support element so as to provide a support barrier adjacent the exit aperture of the catheter.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the distal end of the delivery catheter is positioned into an aneurysm sac and the support element is disposed across the aneurysm sac. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23 , including the step of expanding the support element so as to apply pressure against the distal end of the delivery catheter.