Apparatus and method for deployment of a therapeutic device using a catheter

1. An apparatus for release and deployment of a therapeutic device within the vasculature of a patient, comprising:

an elongated, flexible pusher member having an interior lumen;

a first connector member mounted to said elongated, flexible pusher member;

an elongated second connector member connected to a therapeutic device and detachably connected to the first connector member, said elongated second connector member thereby connecting the therapeutic device to the pusher member for placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature, and said first connector member having a severable portion disposed within said elongated, flexible pusher member, the severable portion being capable of being broken by heating;

a heat source disposed in the interior lumen of the pusher member adjacent to said severable portion of said first connector member for heating said severable portion of said first connector member to cause said severable portion of said first connector member to break and release the elongated second connector member for detaching and deploying the therapeutic device from the flexible pusher member when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said heat source comprises an electrical resistance heat source coil.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit, and wherein said heat source is connected by electrical connectors to the control unit which supplies electrical current to the heat source coil.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said flexible pusher member comprises a heat insulating shaft.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first connector member is formed from a molded thermoplastic material.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said first connector member has the configuration of a rod extending across and connected between opposing sides of the interior diameter of the interior lumen of the pusher member.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said first connector member has the configuration of a post connected at one end to the pusher member and having a free end with an enlarged portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said first connector member has the configuration of a ring connected to the pusher member.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said thermoplastic is high density polyethylene.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said pusher member includes an entry port communicating with said interior lumen of said pusher member, and said heat source is disposed in the interior lumen of the pusher member adjacent to said entry port.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said elongated second connector member is a connector fiber.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said elongated second connector member comprises a ribbon.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said flexible pusher member has a distal tip, and the heat source is spaced apart from said distal tip of said flexible pusher member.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic device is a vasoocclusive device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic device comprises a microcoil.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said heat source comprises an induction ring, and said first connector member includes said induction ring.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said induction ring has a blade portion that can be heated, said blade portion is positioned in contact with said elongated second connector member, and said elongated second connector member is severable by heating of said blade portion.

18. A method for release and deployment of a therapeutic device within the vasculature of a patient, the steps of the method comprising:

providing an elongated, flexible pusher member having an interior lumen;

providing a first connector member mounted to said elongated, flexible pusher member;

providing an elongated second connector member connected to a therapeutic device and detachably connected to the first connector member, said elongated second connector member thereby connecting the therapeutic device to the pusher member for placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature, at least one of said first and second connector members having a severable portion disposed within said elongated, flexible pusher member, the severable portion being capable of being broken by heating;

positioning the therapeutic device at a desired placement within a patient's vasculature; and

heating said severable portion within said interior lumen of said flexible pusher member to break said severable portion for detaching and deploying the therapeutic device from the flexible pusher member when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within a patient's vasculature is achieved.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said first connector member includes said severable portion, and said step of heating said severable portion comprises disposing said severable portion of said first connector member adjacent to an electrical resistance heater disposed within said lumen of said flexible pusher member, and passing electrical current through said electrical resistance heater to break said severable portion of said first connector member.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein said second connector member includes said severable portion, and said first connector member includes an induction ring having a blade portion that can be heated by said induction ring, and said step of heating said severable portion comprises positioning said blade portion in contact with said elongated second connector member, and heating said blade portion to break said elongated second connector member.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein said therapeutic device is a vasoocclusive device.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein said therapeutic device comprises a microcoil.