MICROGRAFT FOR THE TREATMENT OF INTRACRANIAL ANEURYSMS AND METHOD FOR USE
A device for occluding a vasculature of a patient including a micrograft having an absorbent polymeric structure with a lumen of transporting blood. The micrograft has a series of peaks and valleys formed by crimping. The occluding device is sufficiently small and flexible to be tracked on a guidewire and/or pushed through a microcatheter to a site within the vasculature of the patient. Delivery systems for delivering the micrografts are also disclosed.
1 . A vascular graft configured for occluding a vasculature of a patient, the vascular graft comprising:
an absorbent biocompatible structure; and
a core element having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen within the core element, the core element positioned inside the biocompatible structure and attached to the biocompatible structure;
wherein a capillary effect is created within the vascular graft when the biocompatible structure is exposed to blood such that blood is transported in a proximal direction through the vascular graft wherein blood clots.
2 . The vascular graft of claim 1 , wherein the vascular graft is non-self-expanding.
3 . The vascular graft of claim 1 , wherein the core element has a coiled structure and the vascular graft further comprises a tube positioned within coils of the coiled structure.
4 . The vascular graft of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible structure has an outer diameter less than 0.027 inches.
5 . The vascular graft of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible structure includes a plurality of yarns spaced to wick blood when placed in contact with blood.
6 . The vascular graft of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of yarns are each formed by a plurality of fibers, the fibers spaced to wick blood when placed in contact with blood.
7 . The vascular graft of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible structure is crimped to form a series of peaks and valleys along a surface of a wall to increase flexibility.
8 . The vascular graft of claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque element within the vascular graft.
9 . The vascular graft of claim 1 , wherein the vascular graft is movable to a substantially linear configuration for delivery and returns to a non-linear configuration for placement within the vasculature.
10 . The vascular graft of claim 1 , wherein the core element is made of a radiopaque material and wound into an open pitch helical coil.
11 . The vascular graft of claim 1 , wherein the lumen in the core element is dimensioned to transport blood in the proximal dimension.
12 . An occluding device for treating an intracranial aneurysm of a patient, the occluding device comprising an elongate tubular structure having a plurality of yarns, a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate tubular structure having a longitudinal axis extending in a distal to proximal direction, the tubular structure crimped to alter the shape of the yarns and provide a first series of peaks defined by the yarns and a first series of valleys formed between the yarns and a second series of peaks and a second series of valleys formed in the tubular structure in a longitudinal direction to increase the flexibility of the tubular structure.
13 . The occluding device of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of yarns is formed by a plurality of polymer filaments, the plurality of filaments having a first set of pores therebetween for absorption of blood to create a first capillary effect, the plurality of yarns having as second set of pores therebetween for absorption of blood to create a second capillary effect.
14 . The occluding device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of yarns and plurality of filaments wick blood and the occluding device further has a lumen therein through which blood can flow into to create a third capillary effect.
15 . The occluding device of claim 12 , wherein the occluding device is shape set to a non-linear configuration.
16 . A system for occluding a vasculature of a patient, the system comprising:
a vascular micrograft having an absorbent textile structure, a lumen for passage of blood therein, an outer wall, and a retaining structure attached to the vascular micrograft; and
a delivery element having engagement structure cooperating with the retaining structure to retain the vascular micrograft and retain the micrograft during insertion by the delivery element through the vasculature.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the retaining structure includes a radiopaque marker band positioned within an internal portion of the vascular micrograft and the engagement structure includes a taper on the delivery element for frictionally engaging a proximal portion of the vascular micrograft.
18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the engagement structure includes a plurality of members movable from a first expanded position to a second grasping position to grasp the retaining structure.
19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the retaining structure includes a tab movable between a first engaged position and a second non-engaged position.
20 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising a pusher catheter, the delivery element extending through the pusher catheter, the micrograft having a diameter less than 0.027″ for delivery through a microcatheter to an intracranial aneurysm.