Aneurysm closure device
View Patent ↗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.
1. A vascular flow diverter including:
a frame member having first and second ends, the frame member including a support element at the first end and a plurality of frame struts extending from the support element towards the second end, the frame struts each being substantially circular and in a form of a broken ring open at the second end of the frame member; and
a diverter element including a plurality of blade elements attached to and extending from the support element of the frame member, the blade elements being resiliently deformable and having a non-biased condition in which the elements extend radially outwardly from the support element and away from the frame struts.
2. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , including at least four blade elements, said blade elements extending from the support element in radially spaced directions.
3. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 2 , including at least eight blade elements.
4. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , wherein the blade elements extend at regularly spaced radial intervals.
5. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , wherein the blade elements are arranged in opposing pairs around the support element.
6. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , wherein the blade elements curve in a direction away from the frame member when in the non-biased condition.
7. A vascular flow diverter including:
a frame member having first and second ends, the frame member including a support element at the first end and a plurality of frame struts extending from the support element towards the second end, the frame struts each being substantially circular and in a form of a broken ring open at the second end of the frame member; and
a diverter element including a plurality of blade elements attached to and extending from the support element of the frame member, the blade elements being resiliently deformable and having a non-biased condition in which the elements extend radially outwardly from the support element and away from the frame struts;
wherein the blade elements curve in a direction away from the frame member when in the non-biased condition; and
wherein in the non-biased condition the blade elements are concave when viewed in a direction from the first end to the second end of the frame member.
8. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , wherein the blade elements are curved in a direction normal to an axis through the first and second ends of the frame member.
9. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , wherein the blade elements widen in a direction from the support element.
10. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , wherein the blade elements are deformable towards the frame member.
11. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , wherein the support element includes a central diverter element attached to the support element and from which the blade elements extend.
12. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 11 , wherein the central diverter element is substantially circular.
13. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , wherein the frame member includes first and second frame struts having a generally annular shape and connected to one another at least at a first inter-crossing location.
14. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 13 , wherein the first and second frame struts are outwardly expandable.
15. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 13 , wherein the first and second frame struts provide a generally spherical shape to the frame member.
16. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , made of a spring material or a shape memory material.
17. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , made of nickel titanium alloy.
18. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , including at least one radiopaque marker.
19. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , wherein the diverter element and the blade elements are formed as a cutting from a common sheet of material.
20. The vascular flow diverter according to claim 1 , wherein the blade elements are separate from one another along their lengths and non-overlapping.