Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material through a catheter into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack in a patient's vessel. In one embodiment, the dispensing assembly includes a chamber having a spherical carrier onto which filamentary material is wound. Upon injecting driving fluid into the dispensing assembly filamentary material unwinds from the spherical carrier and is pulled through the catheter to be dispensed from the distal end of the catheter. The apparatus includes a pressure sensitive valve disposed at the inlet or the outlet of the receptacle, the pressure sensitive valve being closed when the pressure of driving fluid is below a threshold and open when the pressure of driving fluid is above the threshold. The pressure sensitive valve, when open, allows fluid flow through the chamber and dispensation of filamentary material from the outlet.

Abstract: Medical filament delivery apparatus includes a feed chamber to which can be fed filamentary material from a store of filamentary material. The apparatus is designed to feed filamentary material through a catheter into a patient, for example into an aneurysm. The apparatus includes a feed tube assembly having a feed tube with a slot at its distal end. A distal end of the filamentary material can be held within the slot to ensure accurate positioning of the distal end of the filamentary material into the drive assembly. The apparatus provides for severing of the distal end of the filamentary material once the feed tube assembly has been inserted into the drive assembly, thereby ensuring reliable positioning of the filamentary material into the drive assembly. More delicate filamentary material can be handled compared to prior art arrangements.

Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material through a catheter into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack in a patient's vessel. In one embodiment the assembly includes a conical material carrier which is substantially aligned with the dispensing direction, thereby avoiding the need to have a rotating carrier. Another embodiment has a carrier which is at least partially cylindrical. The carrier provides for efficient dispensation of filamentary material at substantial dispensing speeds.

Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material (24) through a catheter (12) into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack (20) in a patient's vessel (22). In one embodiment the assembly (100) includes a conical material carrier (150) which is substantially aligned with the dispensing direction, thereby avoiding the need to have a rotating carrier. Another embodiment has a carrier (340) which is at least partially cylindrical. The carrier (150, 340) provides for efficient dispensation of filamentary material at substantial dispensing speeds.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering material into a patient includes a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end. Material, preferably of filamentary or thread form, is fed from a material supply into a Y-fitting having a main branch and a side branch. The side branch is connected to a source of driving fluid able to feed drive fluid under pressure into the material carrier so as to pull material forwardly and out of the distal end of the catheter. The assembly includes an inner cannula within which material is passed from the material source. This increases the speed of delivery of material though the device and reduces the amount of drive fluid which is required.

Abstract: An implantable flow adjuster (20) includes proximal and distal support rings (22, 24) which support a flow adjuster panel (26). The flow adjuster panel (26) divides the lumen through the device (20) into two sections, one of reducing cross sectional area and the other of increasing of increasing cross sectional area. The two sections (40, 42) cause, respectively, an increase in blood pressure and blood flow and a decrease in blood pressure and blood flow. These result is a pressure differential beyond the distal end of the device (20). This pressure differential can be used to divert blood flow away from the neck (14) into an aneurysm (12), thus to reduce pressure and wall sheer stress within the aneurysm in order to assist in the repair of the vessel.

Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material (24) through a catheter (12) into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack (20) in a patient's vessel (22). In one embodiment, the dispensing assembly (30) includes a chamber having a spherical carrier (50) onto which filamentary material (24) is wound. Upon injecting driving fluid into the dispensing assembly (30) filamentary material (24) unwinds from the spherical carrier (50) and is pulled through the catheter (12) to be dispensed from the distal end (18) of the catheter.

Abstract: An implantable flow adjuster (20) includes proximal and distal support rings (22, 24) which support a flow adjuster panel (26). The flow adjuster panel (26) divides the lumen through the device (20) into two sections, one of reducing cross sectional area and the other of increasing of increasing cross sectional area. The two sections (40, 42) cause, respectively, an increase in blood pressure and blood flow and a decrease in blood pressure and blood flow. These result is a pressure differential beyond the distal end of the device (20). This pressure differential can be used to divert blood flow away from the neck (14) into an aneurysm (12), thus to reduce pressure and wall sheer stress within the aneurysm in order to assist in the repair of the vessel.

Abstract: An aneurysm closure device or flow diverter includes a frame member formed of crossing frame elements and a diverter portion formed of a plurality of blade elements extending in radially opposing directions from a diverter element. The flow diverter is ideally suited for diverting the flow of fluid from an aneurysm at a vessel bifurcation, whereupon the blade elements and diverter element can be positioned at the neck of the aneurysm so as to substantially close off the flow path into the aneurysm sac. The crossing frame elements hold the device in position at the bifurcation. The structure provides reliable deployment of the device and closure of an aneurysm.

Abstract: Medical filament delivery apparatus includes a feed chamber to which can be fed filamentary material from a store of filamentary material. The apparatus is designed to feed filamentary material through a catheter into a patient, for example into an aneurysm. The apparatus includes a feed tube assembly having a feed tube with a slot at its distal end. A distal end of the filamentary material can be held within the slot to ensure accurate positioning of the distal end of the filamentary material into the drive assembly. The apparatus provides for severing of the distal end of the filamentary material once the feed tube assembly has been inserted into the drive assembly, thereby ensuring reliable positioning of the filamentary material into the drive assembly. More delicate filamentary material can be handled compared to prior art arrangements.

Abstract: A flow diverter for implantation into a patient's vessel includes a distal annular support element and a proximal annular support element, the proximal and distal support elements supporting a longitudinally twisted diverter element. The flow diverter is designed to be disposed within a vessel and to impart a rotational or twisting motion to the flow of blood passing therethrough, thereby to reduce the pressure of blood at the center of the vessel. Such flow diversion can reduce the pressure of blood impinging upon an aneurysm at a bifurcation downstream of the vessel. The device can be particularly useful for the treatment of aneurysms occurring at the bifurcation between the basilar artery and the posterior cerebral arteries.

Abstract: A flow diverter for implantation into a patient's vessel includes a distal annular support element and a proximal annular support element, the proximal and distal support elements supporting a longitudinally twisted diverter element. The flow diverter is designed to be disposed within a vessel and to impart a rotational or twisting motion to the flow of blood passing therethrough, thereby to reduce the pressure of blood at the center of the vessel. Such flow diversion can reduce the pressure of blood impinging upon an aneurysm at a bifurcation downstream of the vessel. The device can be particularly useful for the treatment of aneurysms occurring at the bifurcation between the basilar artery and the posterior cerebral arteries.

Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material through a catheter into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack in a patient's vessel. In one embodiment, the dispensing assembly includes a chamber having a spherical carrier onto which filamentary material is wound. Upon injecting driving fluid into the dispensing assembly filamentary material unwinds from the spherical carrier and is pulled through the catheter to be dispensed from the distal end of the catheter. The apparatus includes a pressure sensitive valve disposed at the inlet or the outlet of the receptacle, the pressure sensitive valve being closed when the pressure of driving fluid is below a threshold and open when the pressure of driving fluid is above the threshold. The pressure sensitive valve, when open, allows fluid flow through the chamber and dispensation of filamentary material from the outlet.

Abstract: An improved catheter and method of using the same is described. The catheter has at least one anchoring element at its distal tip region which is used to secure the catheter to a pre-implanted medical device, such as a stent, during the filling of an aneurysm. Such action prevents a buildup of pressure or of material from forcing the distal tip of the catheter to be forced from the aneurysm before the procedure is complete.

Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material (24) through a catheter (12) into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack (20) in a patient's vessel (22). In one embodiment the assembly (100) includes a conical material carrier (150) which is substantially aligned with the dispensing direction, thereby avoiding the need to have a rotating carrier. Another embodiment has a carrier (340) which is at least partially cylindrical. The carrier (150, 340) provides for efficient dispensation of filamentary material at substantial dispensing speeds.

Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material (24) through a catheter (12) into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack (20) in a patient's vessel (22). In one embodiment, the dispensing assembly (30) includes a chamber having a spherical carrier (50) onto which filamentary material (24) is wound. Upon injecting driving fluid into the dispensing assembly (30) filamentary material (24) unwinds from the spherical carrier (50) and is pulled through the catheter (12) to be dispensed from the distal end (18) of the catheter.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering material into a patient includes a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end. Material, preferably of filamentary or thread form, is fed from a material supply into a Y-fitting having a main branch and a side branch. The side branch is connected to a source of driving fluid able to feed drive fluid under pressure into the material carrier so as to pull material forwardly and out of the distal end of the catheter. The assembly includes an inner cannula within which material is passed from the material source. This increases the speed of delivery of material though the device and reduces the amount of drive fluid which is required.

Abstract: An aneurysm closure device or flow diverter includes a frame member formed of crossing frame elements and a diverter portion formed of a plurality of blade elements extending in radially opposing directions from a diverter element. The flow diverter is ideally suited for diverting the flow of fluid from an aneurysm at a vessel bifurcation, whereupon the blade elements and diverter element can be positioned at the neck of the aneurysm so as to substantially close off the flow path into the aneurysm sac. The crossing frame elements hold the device in position at the bifurcation. The structure provides reliable deployment of the device and closure of an aneurysm.

Abstract: An implantable flow adjuster (20) includes proximal and distal support rings (22, 24) which support a flow adjuster panel (26). The flow adjuster panel (26) divides the lumen through the device (20) into two sections, one of reducing cross sectional area and the other of increasing of increasing cross sectional area. The two sections (40, 42) cause, respectively, an increase in blood pressure and blood flow and a decrease in blood pressure and blood flow. These result is a pressure differential beyond the distal end of the device (20). This pressure differential can be used to divert blood flow away from the neck (14) into an aneurysm (12), thus to reduce pressure and wall sheer stress within the aneurysm in order to assist in the repair of the vessel.

Abstract: A flow diverter for implantation into a patient's vessel includes a distal annular support element and a proximal annular support element, the proximal and distal support elements supporting a longitudinally twisted diverter element. The flow diverter is designed to be disposed within a vessel and to impart a rotational or twisting motion to the flow of blood passing therethrough, thereby to reduce the pressure of blood at the center of the vessel. Such flow diversion can reduce the pressure of blood impinging upon an aneurysm at a bifurcation downstream of the vessel. The device can be particularly useful for the treatment of aneurysms occurring at the bifurcation between the basilar artery and the posterior cerebral arteries.