Braided Medical Device And Manufacturing Method Thereof

Abstract

An medical implantable occlusion device (100) is disclosed having a collapsed state and an expanded state and comprising a braiding (101) of at least one thread, and a distal end (102) comprised of said braiding. The distal end comprises loops (103, 104, 204, 304) formed by loop strands (105, 106, 206, 306) of the at least one thread, wherein, at least in said expanded state, each loop strand has a curved shape and extends away from a centre point (117) of the distal end, whereby an apex point (107, 108, 208, 308) of each of the loop strands corresponds to the turning point of the curved shape and to the point of each of the loop strands being arranged closest to the centre point. At least one of the loop strands is displaced from the centre point by a centre distance (109, 110, 210, 310), and the apex point lie at a distance from a periphery (113) of the distal end.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A medical implantable occlusion device comprising: a braiding of at least one thread forming a first end and a second end; in an expanded state, the first end comprising 1) a first periphery and a first center, and 2) thread segments of the at least one thread having a curved shape with an apex located between the periphery of the first end and the center of the first end so as to form a plurality of first loops; and, an opening through the first end and the second end.

3. The medical implantable device according to claim 2, wherein the opening through the first end and the second end extends along a center axis between a proximal end and a distal end of the medical implantable occlusion device.

4. The medical implantable device according to claim 2, wherein in the expanded state, the first end has a circular disc shape, a spherical shape, or an elongated state.

5. The medical implantable device according to claim 2, wherein the thread segments, in the expanded state, cross each other.

6. The medical implantable occlusion device according to claim 2, wherein the first end comprises at least two groups of thread segments, wherein apices of the first group of thread segments are located about a first radius from the center, and wherein apices of a second group of thread segments are located about a second radius from the center.

7. The medical implantable occlusion device according to claim 2, further comprising at least one center thread segment, wherein the at least one center thread segment crosses the first end near but not across the first center of the first end.

8. The medical implantable occlusion device according to claim 2, wherein in the expanded state, the second end comprises 1) a second periphery and a second center, and 2) thread segments of the at least one thread having a curved shape with an apex located between the periphery of the second end and the center of the second end so as to form a plurality of second loops.

9. The medical implantable occlusion device according to claim 8, wherein in the expanded state, the second end has a circular disc shape, a spherical shape, or an elongated state.

10. The medical implantable occlusion device according to claim 8, wherein the first end is a distal end and the second end is a proximal end.

11. The medical implantable occlusion device according to claim 8, wherein the second end comprises at least two groups of thread segments; wherein apices of some of the thread segments are located about a first radius from the center; and wherein apices of some of the thread segments are located about a second radius from the center.

12. The medical implantable occlusion device according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of first loops are U-shapes, elliptical, half circle, or W shaped.

13. A medical implantable occlusion device comprising: at least one thread braided to form a first end and a second end; in an expanded state, the first end comprising 1) a first periphery and a first center, and 2) thread segments of the at least one thread having a curved shape with an apex located between the periphery of the first end and the center of the first end so as to form a plurality of first loops; in the expanded state, the second end comprises 1) a second periphery and a second center, and 2) thread segments of the at least one thread having a curved shape with an apex located between the periphery of the second end and the center of the second end so as to form a plurality of second loops; and, an opening through at least the first end.

14. The medical implantable occlusion device according to claim 12, wherein in the expanded state, the second end comprises 1) a second periphery and a second center, and 2) thread segments of the at least one thread having a curved shape with an apex located between the periphery of the second end and the center of the second end so as to form a plurality of second loops; and, wherein the opening is also through the second end.

15. The medical implantable occlusion device according to claim 12, wherein in the expanded state, the second end comprises 1) a second periphery and a second center, and 2) thread segments of the at least one thread having a curved shape with an apex located between the periphery of the second end and the center of the second end so as to form a plurality of second loops; and, wherein the opening is only through the first end.

16. A medical implantable occlusion device comprising: a braided structure formed from at least one thread; the braided structure comprising a first end means for forming a first periphery means and a first center means; and thread segments of the at least one thread having a curved shape with an apex located between the periphery means of the first end means and the center means of the first end means so as to form a plurality of first loops; and, an opening means through at least the first end means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] These and other aspects, features and advantages of which embodiments of the invention are capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0023] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a braided implantable occlusion device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a braided implantable occlusion device according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a braided implantable occlusion device according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0026] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a braided implantable occlusion device according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0027] FIGS. 5a-b are illustrations of a braided implantable occlusion device according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0028] FIGS. 6a-b are illustrations of a braided implantable occlusion device according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0029] FIGS. 7a-b are illustrations of a method for manufacturing of a braided implantable occlusion device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 8 shows the braided implantable occlusion device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0031] FIG. 9 shows a method of manufacturing a medical implantable occlusion device according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0032] FIGS. 10a-b are illustrations of prior art devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

[0034] The following description focuses on embodiments of the present invention applicable to PFO or ASD devices. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this application but may be applied to many other medical implantable devices, including for example filters, stents, vascular occluders, Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) occluders, aneurysm treatment devices, grafts, etc.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a braided implantable occlusion device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 100 comprises a mesh or braiding 101 of at least one thread. The braiding 101 may be formed from one thread or several. The device 100, or more particularly the braiding 101, has a collapsed state and an expanded state. FIG. 1 depicts an end of the device 100, which in this case is a distal end 102. In other embodiments (not shown) a proximal end of the device 100, or any other part of the device 100, may have the same features as the distal end 102. Hence any part of the braiding 101 forming the device may have the features described in the following, with the associated advantages. The distal end 102 is comprised of the braiding 101.

[0036] The braiding 101 may be made of a material suitable for implanting in a human or animal body, and suitable for being formed in a heat treatment procedure to a desired shape in an expanded state and also in the collapsed state. For example NiTinol may be used as a material for the device 100. However, suitable materials for embodiments of the braiding are various and include shape memory materials, metal, superelastic alloys (such as NiTinol), or polymers, such as degradable polymers.

[0037] The distal end 102 comprises loops 103, 104, formed by loop strands 105, 106, of the at least one thread. In at least the expanded state each loop strand 103, 104, has a curved shape and extends away from a centre point 117 of the distal end 102. Thus, each of the loop strands 105, 106 has an apex point 107, 108, corresponding to the turning point of the curved shape and to the point of each of the loop strands that are closest to the centre point 117.

[0038] In FIG. 1 the loops 103, 104, are U-shaped but may have other shapes of the open curvature, e.g. elliptical, half circular, or W-shaped. The curved shape of the loop strands 103, 104 extending away from the centre point 117 should be construed as the opening of the U-shaped curve points radially outwards from the centre point 117.

[0039] At least one of the loop strands 105, 106, is displaced from the centre point 117 by a centre distance 109, 110, such that the location of the apex point 107, 108 is different from the centre point 117.

[0040] The centre distance 109, 110, between the apex 107, 108, and the centre point may vary, and is preferably less than half the diameter (A) of the device 100, or less than half the cross-section at the location of the apex point in case the device 100 is non-circular.

[0041] By having a displacement of at least one of the loop strands 105, 106, from the centre point 117 the device 100 may exhibit a smaller cross-section or diameter in the collapsed state of the device 100, as less strands are present at the tip or centre point 117 of the device. At the same time by having the apex point 107, 108, at a distance from the periphery 113 of the distal end 102 stability of the device 100 is maintained. I.e. a partly closed distal end 102 is obtained even if no centre strands 115 extend across the centre point 117, as shown in FIG. 4. Having a partly closed distal end 102, i.e. where the apex points 107, 108, of the loop strands are positioned between the centre 105 and the periphery 113 of the distal end 102, may also facilitate occlusion by allowing for easier fixing of a membrane (not shown) in the braiding 101 of the distal end 102 due to a part of the braiding 101 of the distal portion 102 extending in the radial direction. The braiding 101 extending in the radial direction at the distal end 102 may also improve the occlusion ability itself without the need for additional elements. As shown in FIGS. 2-6, 8, the apex points 107, 108, may be displaced from the centre 105 by different distances. The flexibility of the device 101 may thereby be improved while maintaining structural rigidity.

[0042] If the device 100 is stretched substantially along a longitudinal axis 502 passing through the centre point 117, see FIG. 8, the centre point 117 will correspond substantially to the tip of the device 100.

[0043] The device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, is preferably collapsed by stretching. The device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, may also be collapsed by compression. Hence, as the loop strands 105, 106, and further loop strands 206, 306, according to embodiments in FIG. 3, and FIG. 8, are displaced from the centre point 117 less strands will be present at the tip 801 which may reduce the cross-section of the tip 801.

[0044] The apex point 107, 108, 208, 308, of each of the loop strands may be displaced from the centre point 117 along a longitudinal axis 502 when the device is in the collapsed state. The centre point 117 may correspond to a distal tip 802 when the device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, is in the collapsed state, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0045] The braiding of the distal end 102 may comprise a distal surface 116 of the at least one thread. The distal surface 116 extends from the apex point 107, 108, 208, 308, of each of said loop strands to the centre point 117. The distal surface 116 may comprise the loop strands 105, 106, 206, 306, or centre strands 115. In case the device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, is in the collapsed state the distal surface 116 may extend from the apex point 107, 108, 208, 308, of each of said loop strands to the distal tip 802 of the device, as shown in FIG. 8. Hence, the braiding 101 in which the apex points 107, 108, 208, 308, is confined, may be continuous from these apex points to the centre point 117. As shown in FIG. 4 the distal end 102 of the device 400 may also be open. The centre strands 115 improves the stability of the device, and/or occlusion effectiveness, while the flexibility and small cross-section is maintained in the collapsed state due to the loop strands being displaced from the centre point 117.

[0046] By having a plurality of loop strands displaced from the centre point 117 by a plurality of centre distances 109, 110, and further displacement by centre distances 206, 306, according to embodiments in FIG. 3, and FIG. 8, a larger portion of the distal end 102 may exhibit a smaller cross-section in the collapsed state of the device 100. Further, the cross-section of the entire device 100 may be reduced by the displacement. FIG. 8 may be illustrative of a device 100 in both the collapsed state and in the expanded state. Hence, the cross-section may be reduced in the expanded state as well. By provision of a smaller cross-section the device 100 in the collapsed state the device 100 may be delivered to a target site in a patient through a delivery device with a reduced cross-section, which may lead to an easier delivery procedure or manipulation of the delivery device in the patient.

[0047] Further thanks to the displacement of the loop strands 105, 106, 206, 306, from the centre point 117 the amount of force required to compress the device from the expanded state, as illustrated in FIG. 1-4, to the collapsed state, as illustrated in FIG. 8, is reduced. This is thanks to the fact that the loop strands 105, 106, 206, 306, do not cross the centre point 117. Thus, the amount of threads that must be bent at the centre point 117 when compressing the device 100 is reduced. Each thread crossing the centre point 117 or a region close to the centre point 117 that is subjected to substantial deformation when compressing the device 100 to the collapsed state has a certain amount of structural integrity and an associated force that must be exceeded in order to deform the thread. By having several loop strands 105, 106, 206, 306 displaced from the region subjected to the most of the deformation, e.g. the centre point 117 or tip 801, the force required for deformation is thus substantially reduced. A more flexible braided device 100-600 is thus obtained, which for example can be more easily retracted into a catheter sheath and which exerts less frictional force on the walls of the catheter thereby increasing the ease of operation of the device 100-600 in the catheter, for example during push and pull motion.

[0048] In FIG. 1 the device 100 comprises a group 111 of a plurality of loop strands 105, 106, that are displaced from the centre point 117 such that the apex points 107, 108, of the group 111 lie on an imaginary circle 112 enclosing the centre point 117. The apex points 107, 108 also lie at a distance from a periphery 113 of the distal end 102.

[0049] The stability of the device is thereby improved as compared to the case when the wires turn at the periphery of the braiding, as with the distal end of a device of a tubular braiding. It is also easier to manufacture the device according to the invention compared to such tubular braidings. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 the distance the apex points lies from the periphery 113 may vary from less than half of the radius, e.g. at a fourth of the radius, to more than half the radius, e.g. three fourths of the radius. Similarly, FIG. 2-4 shown devices 200-400 comprising at least one group 111, 211, 311 of a plurality of loop strands 105, 106, 206, 306, that are displaced from the centre point 117 such that the apex points 107, 108, 208, 308, of the at least one group lie on at least one imaginary circle 112, 212, 312 enclosing the centre point 117. The apex points 107, 108, 208, 308, also lie at a distance from a periphery 113 of the distal end 102. The radius of the at least one imaginary circle 112, 212, 312 corresponds to the centre distances 109, 110, 210, 310. An increased radius may provide a more flexible device 100-400 with less force required for compression of the device 100-400 from its expanded state to its collapsed state.

[0050] The at least one imaginary circle 112, 212, 312 may have its circle centre 114 corresponding to the location of the centre point 117. Thereby, the at least one group 111, 211, 311 of the plurality of loop strands 105, 106, 206, 306, are displaced concentrically from the centre point 117. Alternatively, the device 100-400 may have an asymmetrical position of the at least one imaginary circle 112, 212, 312 with respect to the centre point 117. Optionally, imaginary circles 112, 212, 312 may be equidistantly distributed from each other in radial direction of the distal end 102.

[0051] In FIG. 2 the loop strands 106, 206, comprise two groups 111, 211, of pluralities of loop strands. The first group 111 and the second group 211 of the plurality of loop strands have a first and second plurality of apex points 108, 208, respectively. The first and second plurality of loop strands are displaced from the centre point 117 such that the first plurality of apex points 108 lies on the periphery of an imaginary circle 112 having a first radius 110 and the second plurality of apex points 208 lies on the periphery of an imaginary circle 212 having a second radius 210 which different from the first radius 110. The first and second radius 110, 210, are less than the diameter (A) of the distal end 102.

[0052] In FIG. 3 a third group 311 of the plurality of loop strands has a third plurality of apex points 308 that lies on the periphery of an imaginary circle 312 having a third radius 310 different from the first and second radius 110, 210.

[0053] The first, second, and third groups 111, 211, 311, of the plurality of apex points 108, 208, 308, may lie concentrically with respect to the centre point 117.

[0054] Each group 111, 211, 311, of the pluralities of loop strands may be formed by a plurality of threads respectively, or by a single thread. The braiding may 101 comprise any number of threads.

[0055] The distal end 102 may be closed, as shown in FIG. 1-3, preferably by a plurality of centre stands 115 of the braiding 102 crossing each other at the centre point 117. The distal end 102 may also be open, as shown in FIG. 4. An open distal end 102 may be advantageous in some applications.

[0056] The amount of the centre strands 115 may be varied. The flexibility of the device 100-600 may be adjusted by varying the amount of centre strands 115, hence providing customization of the device 100-600 to various applications. Fewer centre strands 115 may decrease the force required for compressing the device 100-600 from the expanded state to the collapsed state, hence increasing the flexibility. The ratio between the amount of the centre strands 115 and the loop strands may be set to a defined value. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 50% of the threads are looped back, i.e. are comprised of loop strands 105, 106, 206, 306. In FIG. 2 75% of the threads are looped back, and in FIG. 4 100% of the threads are looped back. By varying the amount of loop strands the flow through the device may also be optimized. More or less dense loop strands or more strands crossing the centre may increase the maximum flow throughput of the device.

[0057] The device may comprise biocompatible fibres or patches of for example of PET that support sealing of the blood flow through the device.

[0058] Each of the apex points 107, 108, 208, 308 may be equally spaced apart around the peripheries of the at least one imaginary circle 112, 212, 312.

[0059] The distal end 102 may have any shape such as a circular disc shape, and/or spherical shape, and/or elongate shape.

[0060] FIG. 5a shows a perspective view of a device 500 having a braiding 101 according to the embodiment in FIG. 3. FIG. 5b show a side view of the device 500 in FIG. 5a according to an embodiment. FIGS. 5a-b may represent a PFO occluder with two double layer discs. The braiding 101 of the device 500 may comprise loop strands according to any of the devices 100-400, e.g. one, two, or more groups of loop strands being displaced from the centre point 117 at different distances.

[0061] As shown in FIGS. 5a-b, a longitudinal axis 502 extends between centre points of the distal and proximal ends the device 500. The occlusion device 500 has rotational symmetry around the longitudinal axis 502, and the centre point 117 coincide with the intersection of the longitudinal axis 502 with the distal end 102 of the device 500, which may also be the case for the devices 100-400.

[0062] FIGS. 6a shows a perspective view of a device 600 having a braiding 101 according to the embodiment in FIG. 3. FIG. 6b show a side view of the device 600 in FIG. 6a according to an embodiment. FIGS. 6a-b may represent an ASD occluder with two double layer discs. The braiding 101 of the device 600 may comprise loop strands according to any of the devices 100-400.

[0063] FIGS. 7a-b and FIG. 9 illustrates a method 900 of manufacturing a medical implantable occlusion device 100-400 of a braiding 101 of at least one thread. The method 900 comprises forming 901 loops by loop strands 106, 206, 306 of the at least one thread by an annular braiding tool 701 having a centre point 702. Each loop strand 106, 206, 306 has a curved shape and extends away from the centre point 702 of the braiding tool 701. The apex point 108, 208, 308, of each of the loop strands 106, 206, 306, corresponds to the turning point of the curved shape and to the point of each of the loop strands 106, 206, 306, being arranged closest to said centre point 702. At least one of the loop strands 106, 206, 306, is displaced from the centre point 702 by a centre distance 110, 210, 310, such that the location of the apex point 108, 208, 308, is different from the centre point 702. As is shown in FIG. 7a-b the apex points 108, 208, 308, lie at a distance from the peripheral edge of the braiding tool 701. A partially closed braiding 101, as discussed above, with returning loops may thereby be manufactured with improved stability over a mere tubular braiding, while maintaining flexibility. An improved occlusion ability is also provided, e.g. by the braiding 101 extending in the radial direction of the distal end 102, or by easier incorporation of a membrane (not shown) in the braiding. As shown in FIG. 7a-b the apex points 108, 208, 308, lie at different distances from the periphery of the braiding tool 701 or from the centre point 702. A braiding 101 with the loop strands displaced from the centre 105 of the braiding 101 by different distances may thereby be manufactured. A device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, having such braiding 101 has the advantages as described above.

[0064] The method 900 comprises forming 902 at least one group 111, 211, 311, of a plurality of loop strands being displaced from the centre point 702 such that the apex points 108, 208, 308, of the at least one group lie on at least one imaginary circle 112, 212, 312, enclosing the centre point 702.

[0065] The loops may be formed without crossing the loop strands 106, 206, 306, with each other.

[0066] The method 900 may comprise forming 903 a closed end of the braiding by crossing 904 the centre point 702 with a plurality of centre strands 115.

[0067] The present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, other embodiments than the above described are equally possible within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended patent claims. The different features and steps of the invention may be combined in other combinations than those described. The scope of the invention is only limited by the appended patent claims.

[0068] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of the present invention is/are used.