Abstract: A vasoocclusive helical metal coil having a thermoplastic polymer plug in at least one of its ends that has been melted so that it molds to the coil windings and insulates and blunts the end(s).

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus for endovascular occlusion through the formation of thrombi in arteries, veins, aneurysms, vascular malformations, and arteriovenous fistulas. In particular, it deals with an improved sacrificial link between an endovascular device which is introduced to and is intended to remain at the desired thrombus formation site and the device used to introduce the device. The invention further includes a method for introduction of the device and its electrolytic separation.

Abstract: An extendable guidewire assembly comprising: a guidewire having a tapered proximal end; an extension wire having a tapered distal end; and a polymeric tubular sleeve reinforced with a helical coil that is fixedly attached about the tapered distal end of the extension wire such that the tapered distal end of the extension wire extends partly through the sleeve lumen, said lumen having a diameter that is smaller than the untapered diameter of the guidewire and wherein said lumen expands radially when the sleeve is under axial compression and contracts radially when the sleeve is under axial tension.

Abstract: A device for retrieving foreign bodies, such as a vasoocclusive coil or elements, from within vessels such as those of the cardiovascular system includes a tubular member and a flexible wire that extends axially through the tubular member with its distal end extending out the distal end of the tubular member and looped back and affixed to the distal end of the tubular member to form a loop whose size may be adjusted by axial movement of the wire relative to the tubular member and which may be used to ensnare the foreign bodies and remove them from the vessel.

Abstract: A catheter for accessing a target site along a tortuous, small-vessel pathway. The catheter includes a flexible distal segment which is composed of a flexible polymer tube and a low-friction internal tubular surface. The surface allows the catheter to be advanced over sharp bends and small-diameter loops in a guidewire, in advancing the catheter along a small-vessel pathway. Various embodiments of the catheter are disclosed wherein the internal tubular surface of a distal portion of the catheter include a variety of different constructions and are comprised of a variety of different materials so as to best avoid the jamming, sticking or locking of the distal end or any part of the guidewire against the surface. Braided sleeve-like constructions, surfaces embedded with a plurality of small particles and surfaces comprised of various anti-friction materials are used in order to obtain the object of the invention.

Abstract: A device for occluding a blood vessel comprising a helical metal coil having at least one fibrous element attached to its proximal end wherein the fibrous element(s) extends in a sinusoidal wave configuration, the loops of which extend about individual windings at spaced intervals along the axis of the coil.

Abstract: This invention is a single-lumen balloon catheter having a valve seat on the distal end of the catheter, distal of the balloon, which may be operated by a control wire having a valve plug disposed on the wire. The valve seat may be engaged by the valve plug from either direction, depending on the installation of the control wire. In either event, if the valve plug is installed distally of the valve seat in the catheter lumen, the valve is closed by pulling on the control wire (or moving the control wire in a proximal direction) and introducing fluid through the catheter lumen through the balloon. Alternatively, the guidewire, with its integral valve plug, may be introduced from the proximal end of the catheter and may traverse the body of the balloon to engage the valve seat in the distal end of the catheter. Pushing on the control wire will seat the valve, allowing the introduction of fluid through the catheter lumen to inflate the balloon.

Abstract: A pusher-vasoocclusive coil assembly that is advanced through a catheter to a site within a vessel and is manipulated to detach the coil from the assembly. The coil has an enlarged member at its proximal end and the pusher has a keyway at its distal end that receives the enlarged member in interlocking engagement. The pusher and coil are coupled by placing the enlarged member in the keyway and enclosing the coupled assembly with a coaxial sleeve. The coil-pusher-sleeve assembly is positioned at the site and the sleeve is retracted to allow the member to move out of the keyway to uncouple the pusher and coil.

Abstract: A device for occluding a blood vessel comprising a helical metal coil having at least one fibrous element attached to its proximal end wherein the fibrous element(s) extends in a sinusoidal wave configuration, the loops of which extend about individual windings at spaced intervals along the axis of the coil.

Abstract: A single lumen valved balloon catheter assembly is disclosed that consists of a single lumen catheter tube that has a distally located integral balloon and a built-in guidewire that has a distal valve member that may be moved axially to engage and block the distal end of the catheter. The diameter of the guidewire is reduced at its distal end and the diameter of the lumen of the catheter tube distally of the balloon is reduced to below that of the proximal diameter of the balloon so that the axial movement of the guidewire distally is limited.

Abstract: A catheter device for accessing an internal body site along a small-diameter vessel path containing branch points in which the path may follow either the larger of smaller-diameter branch vessels. The device includes a catheter having a distal-end inflatable balloon and an distal-end aperture. A guide wire in the device is designed to partially block the aperture at one or more axial wire positions, allowing the balloon to be inflated by fluid infusion into the catheter. In a catheter placement operation, the catheter is advanced along the vessel path toward the selected target site. When the leading end of the catheter encounters a branch point at which the path follows the larger-diameter vessel, the guide wire is moved to a position which partially blocks the catheter aperture, and fluid is infused into the catheter to inflate the balloon. The catheter is then carried by hydrodynamic flow into the larger-diameter vessel.

Abstract: An extendable guidewire assembly comprising: a guidewire whose proximal end carries a first axial interlocking member; and extension wire whose distal end carries (i) a second axial interlocking member that is adapted to overlap and axially interlock with the first member and (ii) a retractable sleeve that is retracted to permit the interlocking members to be interlocked and extended to enclose the interlocked members to maintain their interlocked relationship.

Abstract: A catheter guidewire composed of a wire core whose distal end section is encased in a polymer sleeve, to increase the column strength of the core. Axially spaced grooves formed in the sleeve increase the flexibility of the core end section. The guidewire is advantageous for use with a small-diameter catheter in accessing body sites along a tortuous vessel pathway.

Abstract: A flexible, preferably coiled wire for use in small-vessel vaso-occlusion. The wire has a stretched, linear condition in which it can be advanced through a catheter lumen to a selected vessel, and a relaxed, convoluted condition produced by a combination of a helical winding of the wire, and irregularities of the helical winding. When the wire is released from a catheter into a vessel, it assumes a randomly coiled, substantially space-filling mass which is lodged at the site of release. In a preferred embodiment, the helical winding in the wire's relaxed condition has about the same diameter as that of the vessel, and the wire, in its stretched condition, has a length of about 15-20 times the vessel diameter.

Abstract: A catheter guide wire designed for use in guiding a catheter to a target site along a tortuous vessel path. The guide wire has a relatively long, torqueable proximal wire section, a more flexible intermediate section, and a most flexible distal end section designed to be advanced across sharp-bend vessel junctions. The intermediate section has greater lubricity than the adjacent proximal and distal sections. The greater frictional coefficient in the distal end segment acts to anchor the end of the wire in a branch vessel, when the guide wire has been advanced across the sharp-bend vessel junction, and the catheter is threaded axially over the wire, while the more lubricious surface of the intermediate section gives reduced sliding friction within the catheter during such advance. The invention also includes a catheter device containing the guide wire and catheter.

Abstract: A guide wire formed with a distal tapered segment and having a distal-end coil carried over a portion of the tapered segment. The strand forming the helical wrappings of the coil is reduced in thickness in the region of proximal attachment to the wire, to reduce the difference in diameter between the wire and the coil. Also disclosed is a method of producing the coil.

Abstract: A catheter device for accessing an internal body site along a small-diameter vessel path containing branch points in which the path may follow either the larger of smaller-diameter branch vessels. The device includes a catheter having a distal-end inflatable ballon and a distal-end aperture. A guide wire in the device is designed to block the aperture at one or more axial wire positions, allowing the balloon to be inflated by fluid infusion into the catheter. In a catheter placement operation, the catheter is advanced along the vessel path toward the selected target site. When the leading end of the catheter encounters a branch point at which the path follows the larger-diameter vessel, the guide wire is moved to a position which blocks the catheter aperture, and fluid is infused into the catheter to inflate the balloon. The catheter is then carried by hydrodynamic flow into the larger-diameter vessel.

Abstract: A catheter for use with a guide wire which can be guided from an external body access site to an internal tissue, and into the tissue along a tortuous path of at least about 5 cm through vessels of less than about 3 mm lumen inner diameter. The catheter includes a relatively stiff proximal segment dimensioned to track the wire from the access site to a region adjacent the internal tissue, and a relatively flexible distal segment dimensioned to track the wire along the tortuous path within the soft tissue.

Abstract: A method of treating a solid tumor, including the steps of localizing the tumor and the arterial vessel that supplies it, and injecting into the vessel, a vaso-occlusive collagen material adapted to produce occlusion of vessels having lumen diameters between about 10 and 150 microns. The injected material is effective to produce occlusion of the secondary and tertiary vessels supplying the tumor, distal to the collateral blood vessels which may also supply the tumor. The region of the occluded tumor is heated under conditions that produce tissue necrosis selectively in the occluded tumor tissue.

Abstract: A catheter device for transferring fluid material to or from one or more selected-length segment of a vessel. The device includes first and second catheters, each having a tube with distal and proximal ends, an inflatable balloon carried on the tube, adjacent the distal tube end, and a fluid conduit for supplying the balloon, with such operatively positioned in the vessel. A central region of the second-catheter tube is axially shiftable within the first-catheter tube, allowing the balloons to be placed at desired relative positions in the vessel. Fluid is injected into the region between the two balloons through a fluid passageway formed in a channel in the first-catheter tube.