Micrograft for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms and method for use

Abstract

A device for occluding a vasculature of a patient including a micrograft having an absorbent polymeric structure with a lumen of transporting blood. The micrograft has a series of peaks and valleys formed by crimping. The occluding device is sufficiently small and flexible to be tracked on a guidewire and/or pushed through a microcatheter to a site within the vasculature of the patient. Delivery systems for delivering the micrografts are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vascular graft configured for occluding a vasculature of a patient, the vascular graft comprising:
 an absorbent biocompatible structure; and   a core element having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen within the core element, the core element positioned inside the biocompatible structure and attached to the biocompatible structure;   wherein a capillary effect is created within the vascular graft when the biocompatible structure is exposed to blood such that blood is transported in a proximal direction through the vascular graft wherein blood clots.   
     
     
         2 . The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular graft is non-self-expanding. 
     
     
         3 . The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the core element has a coiled structure and the vascular graft further comprises a tube positioned within coils of the coiled structure. 
     
     
         4 . The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible structure has an outer diameter less than 0.027 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible structure includes a plurality of yarns spaced to wick blood when placed in contact with blood. 
     
     
         6 . The vascular graft of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of yarns are each formed by a plurality of fibers, the fibers spaced to wick blood when placed in contact with blood. 
     
     
         7 . The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible structure is crimped to form a series of peaks and valleys along a surface of a wall to increase flexibility. 
     
     
         8 . The vascular graft of  claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque element within the vascular graft. 
     
     
         9 . The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular graft is movable to a substantially linear configuration for delivery and returns to a non-linear configuration for placement within the vasculature. 
     
     
         10 . The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the core element is made of a radiopaque material and wound into an open pitch helical coil. 
     
     
         11 . The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen in the core element is dimensioned to transport blood in the proximal dimension. 
     
     
         12 . An occluding device for treating an intracranial aneurysm of a patient, the occluding device comprising an elongate tubular structure having a plurality of yarns, a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate tubular structure having a longitudinal axis extending in a distal to proximal direction, the tubular structure crimped to alter the shape of the yarns and provide a first series of peaks defined by the yarns and a first series of valleys formed between the yarns and a second series of peaks and a second series of valleys formed in the tubular structure in a longitudinal direction to increase the flexibility of the tubular structure. 
     
     
         13 . The occluding device of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of yarns is formed by a plurality of polymer filaments, the plurality of filaments having a first set of pores therebetween for absorption of blood to create a first capillary effect, the plurality of yarns having as second set of pores therebetween for absorption of blood to create a second capillary effect. 
     
     
         14 . The occluding device of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of yarns and plurality of filaments wick blood and the occluding device further has a lumen therein through which blood can flow into to create a third capillary effect. 
     
     
         15 . The occluding device of  claim 12 , wherein the occluding device is shape set to a non-linear configuration. 
     
     
         16 . A system for occluding a vasculature of a patient, the system comprising:
 a vascular micrograft having an absorbent textile structure, a lumen for passage of blood therein, an outer wall, and a retaining structure attached to the vascular micrograft; and   a delivery element having engagement structure cooperating with the retaining structure to retain the vascular micrograft and retain the micrograft during insertion by the delivery element through the vasculature.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the retaining structure includes a radiopaque marker band positioned within an internal portion of the vascular micrograft and the engagement structure includes a taper on the delivery element for frictionally engaging a proximal portion of the vascular micrograft. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the engagement structure includes a plurality of members movable from a first expanded position to a second grasping position to grasp the retaining structure. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the retaining structure includes a tab movable between a first engaged position and a second non-engaged position. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a pusher catheter, the delivery element extending through the pusher catheter, the micrograft having a diameter less than 0.027″ for delivery through a microcatheter to an intracranial aneurysm.