Patent US243480A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6086599A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6086599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Micro devices using shape memory polymer patches for mated connections
Assignee: University of California
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Filing: 1999-02-08
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Granted: 2000-07-11
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Expires: 2019-02-08
Abstract
Abstract A method and micro device for repositioning or retrieving miniature devices located in inaccessible areas, such as medical devices (e.g., stents, embolic coils, etc.) located in a blood vessel. The micro repositioning or retrieving device and method uses shape memory polymer (SMP) patches formed into mating geometries (e.g., a hoop and a hook) for re-attachment of the deposited medical device to a catheter or guidewire. For example, SMP or other material hoops are formed on the medical device to be deposited in a blood vessel, and SMP hooks are formed on the micro device attached to a guidewire, whereby the hooks on the micro device attach to the hoops on the medical device, or vice versa, enabling deposition, movement, re-deposit, or retrieval of the medical device. By changing the temperature of the SMP hooks, the hooks can be attached to or released from the hoops located on the medical device. An exemplary method for forming the hooks and hoops involves depositing a sacrificial thin film on a substrate, patterning and processing the thin film to form openings therethrough, depositing or bonding SMP materials in the openings so as to be attached to the substrate, and removing the sacrificial thin film.
Inventors
- 👤 Abraham P. Lee
- 👤 Joseph P. Fitch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/95; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; A61B17/30; A61B2017/0046; A61B2017/00473; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B2017/1205; A61B2017/12054; A61B2017/12068; A61B2017/12077; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2002/9528; A61F2002/9534; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for attaching devices to enable repositing the devices or retrieving the devices from inaccessible locations, comprising: forming two mating geometries on at least one surface of each of a device to be delivered and a tool, forming the mating geometry on at least the tool from shape memory polymer (SMP) material, heating of the SMP material above its temperature Tg enables mating of the two geometries and attachment of the device to the tool, followed by cooling of the SMP material below the temperature Tg to fixedly secure the device to the tool, whereby the device can be repositioned or retrieved.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for attaching devices to enable repositing the devices or retrieving the devices from inaccessible locations, comprising: forming two mating geometries on at least one surface of each of a device to be delivered and a tool, forming the mating geometry on at least the tool from shape memory polymer (SMP) material, heating of the SMP material above its temperature Tg enables mating of the two geometries and attachment of the device to the tool, followed by cooling of the SMP material below the temperature Tg to fixedly secure the device to the tool, whereby the device can be repositioned or retrieved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1, additionally including, positioning the device in an inaccessible location, releasing the device from the tool, re-attaching the device to the tool via the two mating geometries, repositioning the device, and releasing the device at the repositioned location, whereby the releasing, re-attaching, and releasing operations are carried out by appropriate heating, cooling, and reheating of the SMP material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein forming of the mating geometries is carried out by forming hooks on the tool and hoops on the device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the forming of the hooks and hoops is carried out by: providing a pair of substrates, forming a sacrificial film on at least a surface of each substrate, forming openings in each of the sacrificial films, depositing SMP material in the openings and on the surface of the sacrificial films, patterning the deposited SMP material on each of the sacrificial films, and etching away the sacrificial material thereby producing hooks on one of the pair of substrates and hoops on another of the pair of substrates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the hooks and hoops are formed to have a density of up to 2500 mating geometries per inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the hooks are formed to have a cross-section of about 5 μm and greater.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the hooks are formed about 10 μm apart.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein forming of the mating geometries is carried out by forming mushroom-shaped members on the tool and the device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A combination of an object and a device for delivering an object to the inaccessible location, releasing the object, re-attaching the object, and repositioning and releasing the object, or retrieving the object wherein: said device and said object each being provided with material having multiple mating geometries, the material of the multiple mating geometries on at least said device being composed of a shape memory polymer, whereby the releasing re-attaching, and releasing of said object are carried out by appropriate heating, cooling, and reheating of the shape memory polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A combination of an object and a device for delivering an object to the inaccessible location, releasing the object, re-attaching the object, and repositioning and releasing the object, or retrieving the object wherein: said device and said object each being provided with material having multiple mating geometries, the material of the multiple mating geometries on at least said device being composed of a shape memory polymer, whereby the releasing re-attaching, and releasing of said object are carried out by appropriate heating, cooling, and reheating of the shape memory polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 9, wherein said mating geometries form mating filaments of a density of up to 2500/inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 10, wherein said mating filaments are about 10 μm apart.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 11, wherein said mating filaments have a cross-section of about 5 μm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 9, wherein said mating geometries comprises hooks and hoops, with the hoops being located on the device and the hooks being located on the object, or vice versa.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 13, wherein said hooks have a cross-section of at least about 5 μm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 13, wherein said hooks are spaced apart by a distance of about 10 μm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 13, wherein said hooks and hoops have a density of up to 2500/inch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 9, wherein said mating geometrics comprises arrays of mushroom-shaped members located on each of the device and object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
170 words
A combination of a deposited device and a tool the for re-attaching and repositioning or retrieval of the deposited device, comprising: a deposited device having connector means extending from at least one surface, a tool having connector means extending from at least one surface, at least said connector means on either the device or the tool, being formed of a shape memory polymer SMP material, whereby upon contact of said tool with said deposited device, said connector means are heated above a temperature Tg whereby by said connector means are mated together, whereafter at least said connector means on said tool are cooled to below the temperature Tg and the connector means are mated whereby the tool and deposited device are attached, after which the tool can be moved to reposition or retrieve the deposited device, and if repositioned the connector means are heated to above the temperature Tg and the mating of the connector means is withdrawn and the deposited device released from the tool at the repositioned location.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
170 words
A combination of a deposited device and a tool the for re-attaching and repositioning or retrieval of the deposited device, comprising: a deposited device having connector means extending from at least one surface, a tool having connector means extending from at least one surface, at least said connector means on either the device or the tool, being formed of a shape memory polymer SMP material, whereby upon contact of said tool with said deposited device, said connector means are heated above a temperature Tg whereby by said connector means are mated together, whereafter at least said connector means on said tool are cooled to below the temperature Tg and the connector means are mated whereby the tool and deposited device are attached, after which the tool can be moved to reposition or retrieve the deposited device, and if repositioned the connector means are heated to above the temperature Tg and the mating of the connector means is withdrawn and the deposited device released from the tool at the repositioned location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 18, wherein said connector means on said tool comprised a plurality of hooks and wherein said connector means on said device comprises a plurality of hoops, or vice versa.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 19, wherein said hooks have a cross-section of about 5 μm or greater.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 19, wherein said hooks are spaced apart a distance of about 10 μm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 19, wherein said hooks and said hoops have a density of up to about 2500/inch.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 19, wherein both the hooks and hoops are composed of SMP materials.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 19, wherein the connector means on each the device and the tool are of a mushroom-shaped configuration.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 24, wherein all of the mushroom-shaped members are composed of SMP materials.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-11 | 2004-01-10 | 2004-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-11 | 2008-01-10 | 2008-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-11 | 2012-01-10 | 2012-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |