Non-planar heating chamber detachment mechanism of an implantable vaso-occluding device delivery system

1. A delivery system for an implantable vaso-occluding device, comprising:

an advancing member having a distal end and an opposite proximal end;

a non-planar heating chamber disposed proximate to the distal end of the advancing member; the non-planar heating chamber having an interior surface facing away from the distal end of the advancing member and an opposite exterior surface facing the distal end of the advancing member;

a detachment fiber made from a polymeric material and having a closed distal end protruding from the interior surface of the non-planar heating chamber; and

at least one heating element disposed on the interior surface of the non-planar heating chamber; the at least one heating element producing heat sufficient to sever the detachment fiber.

2. The delivery system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the non-planar heating chamber has a parabolic, elliptical or cone shape lateral cross-section.

3. The delivery system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the non-planar heating chamber has at least one opening defined longitudinally therethrough; the at least one heating element being threaded through the at least one opening.

4. The delivery system in accordance with claim 1 , where in the non-planar heating chamber has a central opening defined therein.

5. The delivery system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the non-planar heating chamber has a neck projecting from the exterior surface;

the neck having a channel longitudinally defined therein for receiving free ends of the detachment member fiber.

6. The delivery system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the closed distal end of the detachment fiber is enlarged to prevent a portion of the detachment fiber from passing through the central opening of the non-planar heating chamber.

7. The delivery system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a power source electrically connected to the at least one heating element.

8. The delivery system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein physical contact is maintained at all times between the detachment fiber and the at least one heating element.

9. A method for assembling a delivery system for an implantable vaso-occluding device; the delivery system including: an advancing member having a distal end and an opposite proximal end; a non-planar heating chamber disposed proximate to the distal end of the advancing member, the non-planar heating chamber having an interior surface facing away from the distal end of the advancing member and an opposite exterior surface facing the distal end of the advancing member; a detachment fiber made from a polymeric material and having a closed distal end protruding from the interior surface of the non-planar heating chamber; and at least one heating element disposed on the interior surface of the non-planar heating chamber; the at least one heating element producing heat sufficient to sever the detachment fiber; wherein the method comprises the steps of:

positioning on the interior surface of the non-planar heating chamber the at least one heating element;

securing the exterior surface of the non-planar heating chamber to the distal end of the advancing member;

threading one of two terminating free ends of the detachment fiber through a securing member disposed on the vaso-occluding device until the securing member physically contacts the closed distal end of the detachment fiber; and

securing the two terminating free ends of the detachment fiber along with the vaso-occluding device to the distal end of the advancing member with the non-planar heating chamber disposed therebetween; the at least one heating element is disposed on the interior surface of the non-planar heating chamber to produce sufficient heat to sever the detachment fiber.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein a number and location of the at least one heating element is reconfigurable by threading the at least one heating element through at least one hole defined longitudinally through the non-planar heating chamber.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein an articulation point is established between a proximal end of the vaso-occluding device and a distal end of the delivery system.

12. A method for positioning an implantable vaso-occluding device at a target site within a blood vessel using a delivery system including: an advancing member having a distal end and an opposite proximal end; a non-planar heating chamber disposed proximate to the distal end of the advancing member, the non-planar heating chamber having an interior surface facing away from the distal end of the advancing member and an opposite exterior surface facing the distal end of the advancing member; a detachment fiber made from a polymeric material and having a closed distal end protruding from the interior surface of the non-planar heating chamber; and at least one heating element disposed on the interior surface of the non-planar heating chamber; the at least one heating element producing sufficient heat to sever the detachment fiber;c the method comprising the steps of:

introducing the delivery system into the blood vessel using a delivery catheter;

advancing the delivery catheter through the blood vessel to the target site;

deploying the advancing member to project the vaso-occluding device from the delivery catheter at the target site in the blood vessel;

energizing the at least one heating element from a power source to produce sufficient heat to sever the detachment fiber thereby freeing the vaso-occlusive device at the target site in the blood vessel; and

extracting the delivery catheter and the advancing member disposed therein from the blood vessel while maintaining the vaso-occlusive device located at the target site in the blood vessel.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein an articulation point is established between a proximal end of the vaso-occluding device and a distal end of the delivery system.

14. The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the vaso-occluding device remains at all times self-centered while being advanced.