Delivery and detachment systems and methods for vascular implants
A system for delivering an implant device to a vascular site in a patient a delivery pusher apparatus, an implant device detachably connected to the delivery pusher apparatus by a tether having a distal end connected to a proximal end of the implant device, wherein the tether is substantially non-tensioned when connecting the implant device to the delivery pusher, and an electrical heating element configured coaxially around at least a portion of the tether, wherein heat generated by the heating element severs the tether at a point near the proximal end of the implant device.
1. A method of delivering an implant comprising:
using an elongated delivery device to place an implant at a target site, said implant tethered to a distal end of the elongated delivery device;
energizing a plurality of windings at a said distal end of said elongated delivery device by introducing an electrical current to a first winding wound in a first direction and then to a second winding wound in a second, opposite direction until said implant becomes untethered from said elongated delivery device; and,
withdrawing said elongated delivery device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said implant becomes untethered due to heating caused by energizing said plurality of windings.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said implant becomes untethered due to at least partial melting of a polymeric tether.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said implant becomes untethered due to at least partial melting of a monofilament tether.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first and second windings are open pitch windings.
6. A method of delivering an implant comprising:
placing an implant at a target site using an elongated delivery device having said implant tethered to a distal end of said delivery device;
heating a plurality of windings at the distal end of said elongated delivery device by heating a first winding wound in a first direction and then heating a second winding wound in a second, opposite direction until said implant becomes untethered from said delivery device; and,
withdrawing said elongated delivery device while leaving said implant at said target site.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said heating said plurality of windings comprises sending an electrical current through said windings.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said implant becomes untethered due to said heating caused by said electrical current.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein heating said plurality of windings includes introducing said electrical current to said first winding and then to said second winding.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein said first and second windings are open pitch windings.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein said implant becomes untethered due to at least partial melting of a polymeric tether.
12. The method of claim 6 , wherein said implant becomes untethered due to at least partial melting of a monofilament tether.
13. A method of delivering an implant comprising:
introducing an implant to a target site using an elongated delivery device having an said implant tethered to a distal end of said delivery device;
energizing multiple windings at a said distal end of said elongated delivery device by introducing an electrical current to a first winding wound in a first direction and then to a second winding wound in a second, opposite direction until said implant becomes untethered from said elongated delivery device; and,
withdrawing said elongated delivery device while leaving said implant at said target site.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said implant becomes untethered due to heating.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said implant becomes untethered due to at least partial melting of a polymeric tether.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said implant becomes untethered due to at least partial melting of a monofilament tether.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein said multiple coils comprise open pitch windings.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of windings comprises between 2 and 4 coil windings.