Variable stiffness coil for vasoocclusive devices
AssigneeMicrus Corporation
InventorsDavid A. Ferrera, Daniel R. Kurz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The variable stiffness vasoocclusive coil is given variable stiffness along the length of the coil by selectively heat treating certain segments of a primary or secondary coil. The primary coil can be selectively heat treated to form soft or deformable segments along the length of the coil, and can then be shaped into a secondary shape that is set by a heat treatment process. Distal regions of the coil can also be heat treated to make the distal ends of the coil softer, more deformable, or less traumatic.
Claims6
A method for making a variable stiffness occlusive coil for use in interventional therapy and vascular surgery adapted to be inserted into a portion of a vasculature for occluding the portion of the vasculature of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- providing a coil formed from at least one flexible strand of a shape memory metal, said coil having a primary coil configuration and an initial stiffness;
- and
- heat treating a plurality of segments of said coil to cause said plurality of segments to have reduced stiffness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.