Occlusion device and method and apparatus for inserting the same

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said body element is provided with a longitudinally extending passageway which extends therethrough and is not in communication with the hollow interior of said body, forming a bypass between the ends of the latter.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1 which includes a one-way valve in a position to cooperate with the body of self-sealing material to prevent deflation of the inflated body element.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1 wherein said valve comprises at least one flap in a position to rest against the distal end of a perforation through the self-sealing material.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 1 wherein said body comprises an elongated base structure of relatively fixed length and said wall is an expandable tubular member disposed in concentric relation with respect to said base structure, and having its end edges connected in fluid-tight relation to said base structure, the latter having a chamber therein communicating with the interior of said expandable tubular member, the latter in its unexpanded state having an outer diameter approximately equal to the maximum diameter of said base structure.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 5 wherein said tubular member is secured at its respective ends to said base structure adjacent opposite ends of the latter.

Claim 8

In a device for insertion in and effecting the occlusion of a blood vessel, particularly where occlusion is to be for an indefinitely long period, if not permanently, in which an expansible member is adapted to be transported through a blood vessel to a desired point of occlusion by an insertion device constructed to extend from an access opening in the body of the patient to the desired point of occlusion and to detachably support such member at the distal end of such insertion device, whereby the body element forms the lead member of the structure with expansion of the member being effected by actuation of means carried by the insertion device, the improvement in the expansible member including an elongated hollow, fluid-tIght relatively smooth-walled body element having a tubular, expandable intermediate wall portion of resilient material and of a non-expanded cross section permitting ready passage through a blood vessel to a desired point of occlusion and expandable to form and operatively maintain an axially extending circumferential band having a cross section larger than that of such a vessel, the distal and proximal end portions of said body element being substantially less deformable than said resilient wall portion, the proximal end portion having means constructed for detachable engagement with and releasable support by the distal end of such an inserting device, said body element upon expansion and disengagement from the distal end of such insertion device, being adapted to be retained in operative self-sustaining fixed engagement with the vessel sidewall throughout such axially extending circumferential band whereby outwardly directed pressure forces are distributed over a substantial area of the vessel sidewall, thereby protecting the latter from concentrated puncturing or rupturing forces.

Claim 9

In a device for insertion in and effecting the occlusion of a blood vessel, particularly where occlusion is to be for an indefinitely long period, if not permanently, in which an expansible member is adapted to be transported through a blood vessel to a desired point of occlusion by an insertion device constructed to extend from an access opening in the body of the patient to the desired point of occlusion and to detachably support such member at the distal end of such insertion device, whereby the body element forms the lead member of the structure with expansion of the member being effected by actuation of means carried by the insertion device, the improvement in the expansible member including an elongated hollow, fluid-tIght relatively smooth-walled body element having a tubular, expandable intermediate wall portion of resilient material and of a non-expanded cross section permitting ready passage through a blood vessel to a desired point of occlusion and expandable to form and operatively maintain an axially extending circumferential band having a cross section larger than that of such a vessel, the distal and proximal end portions of said body element being substantially less deformable than said resilient wall portion, the proximal end portion having means constructed for detachable engagement with and releasable support by the distal end of such an inserting device, said body element upon expansion and disengagement from the distal end of such insertion device, being adapted to be retained in operative self-sustaining fixed engagement with the vessel sidewall throughout such axially extending circumferential band whereby outwardly directed pressure forces are distributed over a substantial area of the vessel sidewall, thereby protecting the latter from concentrated puncturing or rupturing forces.

Claim 10

A member according to claim 7 wherein said body is provided with expansion means permanently disposed therein.

Claim 11

A member according to claim 7 wherein said body is adapted to receive means therein for effecting such expansion.

Claim 12

A member according to claim 7 wherein said body is provided with a longitudinally extending passageway which extends therethrough and is not in communication with the hollow interior of said body, forming a bypass between the ends of the latter.

Claim 13

A member according to claim 8, wherein said expansion means comprises a resilient member disposed in and secured to said hollow body and arranged to exert forces thereon urging said body into its expanded position.

Claim 14

A member according to claim 9 wherein said expansion means comprises a coiled spring having its ends secured to said end portions of greater thickness and is operative to urge such end portions toward one another.

Claim 15

A member according to claim 11 wherein said body is constructed to receive means for exerting expansion forces thereon in opposition to said resilient means, to effect contraction of the body.

Claim 16

A member according to claim 12, wherein said body is constructed to detachably receive elongated relatively rigid means carried by such insertion means for effecting such contraction of the body.

Claim 17

A member according to claim 7 wherein said body is constructed for detachable engagement with a fluid conduit whereby the latter may communicate with the interior of the body element for discharging fluid therein to effect said expansion.

Claim 18

A member according to claim 15 wherein said body is provided with a port therein constructed to receive the adjacent end of such a fluid conduit, and a valve member disposed in said body, operative to permit entry of fluid into said body interior, but normally prevent fluid flow from said body.

Claim 19

A member according to claim 16 wherein said valve member comprises a flap extending across the inner end of said port.

Claim 20

A member according to claim 16 wherein said valve member comprises a ball disposed in said body and adapted to close said port, and means carried by said body to retain said ball in cooperable relation adjacent the inner end of said port.

Claim 21

A member according to claim 16 wherein said port of the body is provided with internal threads for engagement with cooperable threads on such a fluid conduit.

Claim 22

A member according to claim 16 wherein said body has means thereon for aligning the adjacent end of such a conduit with said body for operative engagement therewith.

Claim 23

A member according to claim 15 wherein at least a portion of the proximal end of said body is constructed of a self-sealing material which will permit penetration by such a conduit means, and effect a resealing thereat upon disengagement of said conduit means therewith.

Claim 24

A member according to claim 7 wherein said body comprises an elongAted base structure of relatively fixed length and said wall is an expandable tubular member disposed in concentric relation with respect to said base structure, and having its end edges connected in fluid-tight relation to said base structure, the latter having a chamber therein communicating with the interior of said expandable tubular member, the latter in its unexpanded state having an outer diameter approximately equal to the maximum diameter of said base structure.

Claim 25

A member according to claim 22 wherein said tubular member is secured at its respective ends to said base structure adjacent opposte ends of the latter.

Claim 26

In a device for depositing an occlusion member in a blood vessel, particularly where occlusion is to be for an indefinitely long period, if not permanently, in which an occlusion member is adapted to be detachably connected to the distal end of an inserting device to form a detachable lead structure for guiding the insertion device as it is advanced through a blood vessel to the desired point of occlusion and with the occlusion member being adapted to the expanded at the point of occlusion whereby such occlusion member, upon disengagement from the inserting device may be operatively deposited in self-sustaining fixed engagement throughout a circumferential band of the vessel sidewall, the improvement in the inserting device comprising an elongated tubular structure having a length sufficient to extend from an access opening in the body of the patient to the desired point of occlusion and terminating distally in a mounting element adapted to be connected to and detached from the adjacent proximal end portion of said occlusion member to be employed therewith, and means disposed within the tubular structure adapted to effect the expansion of such a body element when mounted thereon, and manually actuatable means at the proximal end of the insertion device for effecting actuation of said expansion-effecting means.

Claim 27

In a device for depositing an occlusion member in a blood vessel, particularly where occlusion is to be for an indefinitely long period, if not permanently, in which an occlusion member is adapted to be detachably connected to the distal end of an inserting device to form a detachable lead structure for guiding the insertion device as it is advanced through a blood vessel to the desired point of occlusion and with the occlusion member being adapted to the expanded at the point of occlusion whereby such occlusion member, upon disengagement from the inserting device may be operatively deposited in self-sustaining fixed engagement throughout a circumferential band of the vessel sidewall, the improvement in the inserting device comprising an elongated tubular structure having a length sufficient to extend from an access opening in the body of the patient to the desired point of occlusion and terminating distally in a mounting element adapted to be connected to and detached from the adjacent proximal end portion of said occlusion member to be employed therewith, and means disposed within the tubular structure adapted to effect the expansion of such a body element when mounted thereon, and manually actuatable means at the proximal end of the insertion device for effecting actuation of said expansion-effecting means.

Claim 28

A member according to claim 24 wherein said expansion effecting means comprises a wire-like element extending through said tubular structure engageable at its distal end with such an occlusion member operative to effect a transition thereof to a relatively contracted state for insertion in such a blood vessel.

Claim 29

A member according to claim 25 wherein said actuating means comprises a manually engageable member connected to the proximal end of said elongated tubular structure, and a second manually engageable member, movable relative to said first member and operatively connected to the proximal end of said wire-like element.

Claim 30

A member according to claim 25 wherein said elongated tubular structure is disposed within a second concentrically disposed conduit, defining a fluid passageway therebetween, said second conduit having an opening therein adjacent the distal end thereof, and means adjacent the proximal end of said second conduit for introducing a contrast medium into said passageway for facilitating ascertainment of the location of the occlusion member in such a blood vessel by, for example, X-ray means.

Claim 31

A member according to claim 25 wherein said expansion effecting means comprises a fluid conductible through said elongated tubular structure, engageable with such an occlusion member for introducing such fluid into the latter to effect a transition thereof from a relatively contracted state to relatively expanded state.

Claim 32

A member according to claim 28 wherein said actuating means comprises a fluid-receiving cylinder and a manually actuatable piston disposed in said cylinder, movement of said piston relative to said cylinder being operative to effect fluid movement in said conduit.

Claim 33

A member according to claim 29 wherein the end of said elongated tubular structure constructed for connection to such an occlusion member, is provided with a connection fitting having external threads thereon adapted to mate with complementary internal threads on such an occlusion member.

Claim 34

A member according to claim 29 Wherein the end of said elongated tubular structure constructed for connection to such an occlusion member, is provided with a needle-like fitting adapted to be inserted through the proximal end of such an occlusion member.

Claim 37

A structure according to claim 32, wherein said hollow body contains a coiled tension spring having its ends so connected to the respective end portions that said spring is operative to urge said body into its expanded state, said insertion means including a wire-like element having one end extending through the proximal end portion of said body adjacent the connection of one end of said spring and bearing on the distal end portion of said body adjacent the connection of the other end of said spring to maintain said body in its contracted state, in opposition to the action of said spring, the opposite end of said wire-like element being operatively connected to actuating means therefor.

Claim 38

A structure according to claim 32, wherein said insertion means comprises a fluid conduit, the distal end of which is connected to said body and communicates with the interior of the latter, and said inserting means includes a syringe structure having a movable plunger, with the proximal end of said conduit connected to said syringe structure and communicating with the interior thereof, said expansion effecting means comprising a liquid disposed in said syringe, said conduit and said body, whereby movement of said plunger will force such liquid into said body to expand the same.