Longitudinally compressible vascular occluder
Vascular occluder and methods for occluding a passage are provided. The vascular occluder comprises an elongated occluder body with an occluding section, and a tension member connected with one end thereof to occluder body. Occluding section forms a tubular bellows-like shaped structure comprising a plurality of bellows sections when in an elastically relaxed configuration, is elastically stretchable longitudinally from the elastically relaxed configuration to a delivery configuration, and elastically compressible longitudinally from the elastically relaxed configuration, by way of applying tension to the tension member, to a fixed deployed configuration.
1 . A method of occluding a passage in a body of a live subject, the method comprising:
providing a vascular occluder comprising a braided or interwoven occluding section, the occluding section is configured to form a tubular bellows-like shaped structure comprising a plurality of bellows sections when in an elastically relaxed configuration, and is elastically stretchable longitudinally from the elastically relaxed configuration to a delivery configuration, and elastically compressible longitudinally from the elastically relaxed configuration to a fixed deployed configuration;
inserting the vascular occluder into or through the passage, while maintaining the occluding section in the delivery configuration;
releasing the occluding section in the passage from the delivery configuration such that the occluding section is allowed to shorten and laterally expand into a less elastically stressed configuration;
compressing longitudinally the occluding section into the deployed configuration by increasing longitudinal elastic stress of the occluding section relative to the less elastically stressed configuration, thereby occluding the passage, wherein the compressing includes widening the passage locally with the vascular occluder at least until blood flow rate in the passage reduces by at least 30% of the original blood flow rate; and
locking the occluding section in the deployed configuration.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the releasing or the compressing longitudinally includes bending at least one of the bellows sections, and the compressing longitudinally or locking includes generating continuous internal stresses configured to hold the at least one of the bellows sections bent, thereby locking the occluding section in the deployed configuration.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the compressing longitudinally includes applying tension to a tension member, and the locking includes fastening a portion of the tension member to the occluder body remotely to the one end of the tension member for preventing or resisting elongation from the deployed length.
4 . The method according to claim 3 , comprising disjoining or cutting the tension member to a predetermined length, optionally by applying tension thereto above a chosen tension force.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the passage is a blood vessel and the occluding affects immediate or gradual cessation of blood flow through the occluding section in the blood vessel.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the passage includes an opening in an organ wall separating between distinct organ lumens, wherein the inserting includes passing the occluder body through the opening, and the releasing includes first releasing a distal portion of the occluding section distally to the organ wall and later releasing a proximal portion of the occluding section proximally to the organ wall, such that the compressing occludes the opening.
7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the organ wall is a blood vessel wall and the method is configured to treat vessel wall aneurism or a patent ductus arteriosus; or the organ wall is a septal wall and the method is configured to treat a septal defect such as an atrial septal defect.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
advancing a catheter enclosing a catheter lumen through a blood vessel, such that a distal opening of the catheter lumen is positioned in the passage; and
pushing the vascular occluder with a pusher until protruding at least partially the occluding section in the passage via the distal opening;
wherein the inserting includes the pushing, and/or the compressing includes increasing tension in a tension member sufficiently to compress and lock the occluding section in the deployed configuration.
9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the detaching includes releasing the pusher from being rigidly connected to the occluder body, and/or cutting the tension member distally to the pusher.