Device for opening occluded blood vessels
The invention relates to a device for opening occluded blood vessels, comprising a braided structure ( 2 ) on a guide wire ( 1 ), said braided structure ( 2 ) being securely and permanently attached to the guide wire and consisting of a plurality of filaments ( 4 ) arranged in a helical manner and at least at the proximal end combined into a bundle, with the braided structure ( 2 ) assuming an elongated form of smaller diameter when subjected to external force while when in unstressed state defining a tubular element of larger diameter closed at least at its proximal end, with the device being provided with restraining/bracing fiber elements ( 9 ).
1. Device for opening occluded blood vessels, comprising a braided structure ( 2 ) on a guide wire ( 1 ), said braided structure ( 2 ) being securely and permanently attached to the guide wire and consisting of a plurality of filaments ( 4 ) arranged in a helical manner and at least at the proximal end combined into a bundle, with the braided structure ( 2 ) assuming an elongated form of smaller diameter when subjected to external force while when in unstressed state defining a tubular element of larger diameter closed at least at its proximal end, characterized in that the device is provided with restraining/bracing fiber elements ( 9 ), wherein the fibers ( 9 ) within the braided structure ( 2 ) form a spatial structure and attached directly to points of intersection ( 10 ) of the filaments ( 4 ) and extend through the interior of the braided structure ( 2 ) in a zig-zag fashion between oppositely arranged points of intersection ( 10 ) of the filaments ( 4 ).
2. Device according to claim 1 comprising 6 to 16 filaments ( 4 ).
3. Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the filaments ( 4 ) consist of a shape-memory alloy, in particular of nitinol.
4. Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the filaments ( 4 ) at least at the proximal end converge centrically or eccentrically.
5. Device according to claim 4 , characterized in that the filaments terminate in sleeves ( 3 ) which are also designed to serve as radiopaque markers.
6. Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the braiding structure ( 2 ) is of densified configuration distally, preferably through incorporated fibers ( 2 ).
7. Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the restraining fibers are arranged only in the distal area of the braided structure.
8. Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the fibers ( 9 ) extend in zig-zag fashion between oppositely arranged points of intersection ( 10 ) of filaments ( 4 ) longitudinally through the braiding structure ( 2 ).
9. Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the fibers ( 9 ) extend between non-neighboring points of intersection ( 10 ) and filaments ( 4 ) in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the braided structure ( 2 ).
10. Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the braided structure ( 2 ) is adjusted to a force exerted towards a vessel wall of maximum 0.3 N over an effective length of 20 mm.
11. Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the braided structure ( 2 ) has filaments ( 4 ) connected with each other at points of intersection ( 10 ).
12. Device according to claim 11 , characterized in that it has been provided in the proximal and/or central area with filaments ( 4 ) connected with each other at points of intersection ( 10 ).
13. Device according to claim 11 , characterized in that the filaments ( 4 ) at points of intersection ( 10 ) are welded with or bonded to each other or knotted together by means of additional fiber or wire material.