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US 5,578,074 AGranted
Implant delivery method and assembly
AssigneeTarget Therapeutics, Inc.
InventorGregory E. Mirigian
Life of this patent
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AssigneeTarget Therapeutics, Inc.
InventorGregory E. Mirigian
Estimating the term…
A thermally activated occlusive implant delivery assembly is provided. The assembly includes an occlusive implant device and a pusher. The pusher has a distal section and a proximal section. The distal section includes a coupling portion which is shape memory material and exhibits different configurations depending on the coupling portion's temperature. The coupling portion interlockingly engages the implant when it is in one of the configurations and releases the implant from interlocking engagement therewith when in another one of the configurations. In operation, the assembly is introduced into the body of a mammal via a guide catheter suited for the particular lumen being navigated. When the implant is positioned at the desired site, the coupling portion of the pusher is thermally activated to effect the return of its original, pre-set configuration, which is originally formed to release the implant from interlocking engagement therewith. The pusher can then be readily removed from the mammal without imparting any significant force on the implant during retraction.
An occlusive implant delivery assembly for occluding a site in a mammal, said assembly comprising an implant and a pusher, said pusher having a distal section and a proximal section, said distal section having a coupling portion comprising thermal memory material and exhibiting different configurations depending on the temperature of said portion, said coupling portion interlockingly engaging said implant when said coupling portion is in a first one of said configurations and disengaging from said implant when in second one of said configurations.
An occlusive implant delivery assembly for occluding a site in a mammal, said assembly comprising an implant and a pusher, said pusher having a distal section and a proximal section, said distal section having a coupling portion comprising thermal memory material having a transition temperature and exhibiting multiple configurations depending on the temperature of said portion, said coupling portion interlockingly engaging said implant when said coupling portion is in one of said configurations and being disengaged from interlocking engagement with said implant when in a second one of said configurations such that said distal section can be readily removed from said implant, whereby when the temperature of the coupling portion is brought above its transition temperature, the coupling portion reconfigures to said second configuration and releases said implant.
A method of placing an implant in a mammal comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.