Abstract: An implantable medical device includes an elongate member having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than 0.00085 inch, wherein the elongate member is made from a material comprising a platinum-tungsten alloy having a percentage of tungsten that is at least 10% by weight or alternatively the implantable medical device includes an elongate member made from a material comprising an alloy containing rhenium.

Abstract: An embolic device for placement in a body lumen, includes: an elongated member having a linear configuration when in room temperature, the elongated member being configured to form a first three-dimensional structure in response to body temperature; wherein the elongated member comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, the second segment being located between the first segment and the third segment; wherein the first segment and the third segment are configured to change their respective shapes in response to the body temperature; and wherein the second segment that is located between the first segment and the third segment has a shape that is independent of the body temperature.

Abstract: An embolic device for placement in a body lumen, includes: an elongated member having a linear configuration when in room temperature, the elongated member being configured to form a first three-dimensional structure in response to body temperature; wherein the elongated member comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, the second segment being located between the first segment and the third segment; wherein the first segment and the third segment are configured to change their respective shapes in response to the body temperature; and wherein the second segment that is located between the first segment and the third segment has a shape that is independent of the body temperature.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes an elongate member having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than 0.00085 inch, wherein the elongate member is made from a material comprising a platinum-tungsten alloy having a percentage of tungsten that is at least 10% by weight or alternatively the implantable medical device includes an elongate member made from a material comprising an alloy containing rhenium.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly includes a pusher assembly having proximal and distal ends, a conductive sacrificial link disposed at the distal end of the pusher assembly, and a vaso-occlusive device secured to the pusher assembly by the sacrificial link. The pusher assembly includes first and second conductors extending between the proximal and distal ends thereof. The sacrificial link is electrically coupled between the first and second conductors, such that the first conductor, sacrificial link and second conductor form an electrical circuit, and, when a disintegration current is applied through the sacrificial link through the first and second conductors, the sacrificial link thermally disintegrates, thereby releasing the attachment member and vaso-occlusive device from the pusher assembly.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes an elongate member having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than 0.00085 inch, wherein the elongate member is made from a material comprising a platinum-tungsten alloy having a percentage of tungsten that is at least 10% by weight or alternatively the implantable medical device includes an elongate member made from a material comprising an alloy containing rhenium.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly includes a pusher assembly having proximal and distal ends, a conductive sacrificial link disposed at the distal end of the pusher assembly, and a vaso-occlusive device secured to the pusher assembly by the sacrificial link. The pusher assembly includes first and second conductors extending between the proximal and distal ends thereof. The sacrificial link is electrically coupled between the first and second conductors, such that the first conductor, sacrificial link and second conductor form an electrical circuit, and, when a disintegration current is applied through the sacrificial link through the first and second conductors, the sacrificial link thermally disintegrates, thereby releasing the attachment member and vaso-occlusive device from the pusher assembly.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes an elongate member having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than 0.00085 inch, wherein the elongate member is made from a material comprising a platinum-tungsten alloy having a percentage of tungsten that is at least 10% by weight or alternatively the implantable medical device includes an elongate member made from a material comprising an alloy containing rhenium.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device is constructed out of dissimilar metallic materials that are in contact or otherwise in close proximity with one another, thereby causing the device to undergo galvanic corrosion when exposed to an electrolytic medium, such as blood or other body fluid, wherein one of the dissimilar metallic materials is zirconium or zirconium alloy to create a corrosive product including zirconia having a relatively high hardness, a relatively high fracture toughness, and a relatively high stability when the device is implanted in a vasculature site, such as an aneurysm.

Abstract: A braided vaso-occlusive member formed out of first plurality of filaments interwoven with a second plurality of filaments, wherein filaments of the first plurality are helically wound in a first rotational direction along an elongate axis of the braided member, and filaments of the second plurality are wound in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, such that filaments of the first plurality cross over and/or under filaments of the second plurality at each of a plurality cross-over locations axially spaced along the elongate axis of the braided member, wherein at each cross-over location, the filaments of the first plurality cross over at least two consecutive filaments of the second plurality, then cross under only a single filament of the second plurality, and then cross over at least two additional consecutive filaments of the second plurality.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device is constructed out of dissimilar metallic materials that are in contact or otherwise in close proximity with one another, thereby causing the device to undergo galvanic corrosion when exposed to an electrolytic medium, such as blood or other body fluid, wherein one of the dissimilar metallic materials is zirconium or zirconium alloy to create a corrosive product including zirconia having a relatively high hardness, a relatively high fracture toughness, and a relatively high stability when the device is implanted in a vasculature site, such as an aneurysm.

Abstract: A braided vaso-occlusive member formed out of first plurality of filaments interwoven with a second plurality of filaments, wherein filaments of the first plurality are helically wound in a first rotational direction along an elongate axis of the braided member, and filaments of the second plurality are wound in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, such that filaments of the first plurality cross over and/or under filaments of the second plurality at each of a plurality cross-over locations axially spaced along the elongate axis of the braided member, wherein at each cross-over location, the filaments of the first plurality cross over at least two consecutive filaments of the second plurality, then cross under only a single filament of the second plurality, and then cross over at least two additional consecutive filaments of the second plurality.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device, includes: a vaso-occlusive structure configured for implantation in an aneurysm sac, the vaso-occlusive structure having a delivery configuration when restrained within a delivery catheter and having a deployed configuration when released from the delivery catheter into the aneurysmal sac, at least a portion of the vaso-occlusive structure being composed of a AuPtW (gold-platinum-tungsten) alloy; wherein the AuPtW alloy comprises platinum within a range between 25% and 40% by weight, and wherein the AuPtW alloy comprises tungsten within a range between 0.01% and 10% by weight.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices, such as embolic devices and blood flow filters are disclosed, the devices being made at least partially out of a platinum-tungsten alloy, wherein a percentage of tungsten in the alloy is equal to or greater than about 10% of the alloy by weight.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive treatment system includes a delivery assembly; and a vaso-occlusive device detachably coupled to the delivery assembly by a delivery assembly junction. The vaso-occlusive device includes a braided portion formed out of one or more composite wires, a coiled portion coupled to the braided portion, and an intra-device junction coupling the braided portion to the coiled portion. Each composite wire includes a core made from a core metallic material, and an external layer made from an external metallic material different from the core metallic material. One of the core and the external layer has a greater radiopacity and a lesser stiffness, respectively, than the other one of the core and the external layer.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive treatment system includes a delivery assembly; and a vaso-occlusive device detachably coupled to the delivery assembly by a delivery assembly junction. The vaso-occlusive device includes a braided portion formed out of one or more composite wires, a coiled portion coupled to the braided portion, and an intra-device junction coupling the braided portion to the coiled portion. Each composite wire includes a core made from a core metallic material, and an external layer made from an external metallic material different from the core metallic material. One of the core and the external layer has a greater radiopacity and a lesser stiffness, respectively, than the other one of the core and the external layer.

Abstract: A guidewire includes: a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending from the proximal end to the distal end; a blunt tip; and a sleeve; wherein the body of the shaft comprises at least a segment that is surrounded by the sleeve, the segment coupled to the blunt tip; and wherein the segment of the body of the shaft comprises a flat portion having one or more openings extending through a thickness of the flat portion.

Abstract: An embolic device for placement in a body lumen, includes: an elongated member having a linear configuration when in room temperature, the elongated member being configured to form a first three-dimensional structure in response to body temperature; wherein the elongated member comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, the second segment being located between the first segment and the third segment; wherein the first segment and the third segment are configured to change their respective shapes in response to the body temperature; and wherein the second segment that is located between the first segment and the third segment has a shape that is independent of the body temperature.

Abstract: An embolic device for placement in a body lumen, includes: a first segment having a first linear configuration when located inside a catheter, the first segment being configured to form a first three-dimensional structure when outside the catheter, wherein the first three-dimensional structure defines a cavity; and a second segment extending from the first segment, the second segment having a second linear configuration when located inside the catheter, the second segment being configured to form a second three-dimensional structure when outside the catheter; wherein the cavity of the first three-dimensional structure is configured to accommodate at least a majority of the second three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes an elongate member having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than 0.00085 inch, wherein the elongate member is made from a material comprising a platinum-tungsten alloy having a percentage of tungsten that is at least 10% by weight or alternatively the implantable medical device includes an elongate member made from a material comprising an alloy containing rhenium.