Embolic coil with twisted wire
An embolic element may be manufactured by twisting a length of wire about a longitudinal axis thereof, the wire having at least one flat portion along its length, to cause the flat portion to form a generally helical shape. The length of wire is then optionally wound onto a mandrel by bending of the wire to form a three-dimensional shape.
1 . An embolic element which comprises:
a coil of wire, said coil extending along a first longitudinal axis of said coil, individual loops of said coil being generally longitudinally spaced;
said wire comprising at least a portion of flat wire having a second wire axis extending longitudinally along said wire, said flat wire being twisted about said second wire axis.
2 . The embolic coil of claim 1 in which said wire comprises spaced, tubular wire portions, separated by twisted portions of said flat wire.
3 . The embolic element of claim 2 in which said portions of said flat wire comprise flattened wire tubing.
4 . The embolic element of claim 1 in which said wire is substantially all flat.
5 . The embolic element of claim 4 in which said flat wire is of a single layer.
6 . The embolic element of claim 1 in which said coil of wire is a helical coil.
7 . The embolic element of claim 1 in which a second wire is included in said coil of wire.
8 . The embolic element of claim 7 in which said second wire is of substantially circular cross section.
9 . The embolic element of claim 7 in which at least one of said wires is made of a material that is more radiopaque than stainless steel.
10 . The embolic element of claim 1 in which at least some of said wire carries a thrombolytic agent.
11 . An embolic element, which comprises:
a length of wire, said wire comprising at least one flat portion which is twisted about its longitudinal axis to define a generally helical shape.
12 . The embolic element of claim 11 in which said length of wire is bent to essentially define a three-dimensional shape.
13 . The embolic element of claim 11 in which said wire comprises spaced, tubular wire portions, separated by twisted portions of said flat wire.
14 . The embolic element of claim 11 in which said wire is substantially all flat and of a single layer.
15 . The embolic element of claim 12 in which said length of wire comprises a coil of wire.
16 . The embolic element of claim 15 in which a second wire is included in said coil of wire.
17 . The embolic element of claim 15 in which at least some of said wire comprises a thrombolytic agent.
18 . The method of manufacturing an embolic element, which comprises:
twisting a length of wire about a longitudinal axis thereof, said wire having at least one flat portion along its length, to cause said flat portion to form a generally helical shape; and winding said length of wire onto a mandrel by bending of the wire to form a three-dimensional shape.
19 . The method of claim 18 in which said wire comprises a flat ribbon.
20 . The method of claim 18 in which said three-dimensional shape is substantially a coil of wire.
21 . The method of claim 18 in which said wire comprises alternating tubular and flattened tubular segments.