Wire device with detachable end

Apparatus for selectively occluding body cavities comprising

• a wire for threading to a body cavity, said wire including a distal end section having a plurality of spaced-apart discontinuities to define segments therebetween, each discontinuity adapted to sever when a selected vibrational energy frequency is applied thereto, and
• means for applying selected vibrational energy frequencies to a proximal end of the wire to cause at least some of the discontinuities to sever and thus detach the segment or segments located distally of the severed discontinuities.

A method of disposition of an occlusive element at a target location in a vasculature passageway comprising

• (a) threading an elongate wire into the vasculature passageway so that a distal end, forming an occlusive element, is disposed at the target location, said distal end being detachable from the wire when an ultrasound signal is applied to the wire,
• (b) applying an ultrasound signal to the wire to cause the distal end thereof to detach at the target location, and
• (c) withdrawing the wire from the vasculature passageway, leaving the distal end at the target location.

A method of detaching the terminal end of a wire in a vasculature target site comprising the steps of

• (a) guiding the terminal end of the wire to the target site, and
• (b) applying an ultrasound signal to the wire so as to cause the terminal end thereof to detach at the target site.