IMPLANT FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANEURYSMS

Abstract

An implant (1) for the treatment of aneurysms (11), wherein the implant (1) has an elongated configuration navigable via a microcatheter (12) and a secondary configuration which it assumes upon release from the microcatheter (12). The implant (1) forms an open, unrolled structure (2) extending from proximal to distal, said implant being built up of a plurality of struts (3) forming adjacent cells (4), and with at least a part of said cells (4) being provided with membranes (6) filling the cells (4), and with the secondary structure comprising an at least partial rolling up of the open, unrolled structure (2) axially and radially relative to the longitudinal axis of the implant (1) and resulting in the formation of a spherical structure. The implant (1) proposed by the invention is suitable to adapt to the inner wall of an aneurysm (11) and to fill an aneurysm (11) almost completely.

Claims

1. An implant for the treatment of aneurysms (11), wherein the implant (1) has a proximal end and a distal end, said implant comprising a plurality of struts (3) forming adjacent cells (4), with at least a part of said cells (4) being provided with membranes (6) filling the cells (4), said implant having a first, small diameter, long length configuration in which it is rolled up about its longitudinal axis suitable for placement in a lumen of the microcatheter, and having a second, large diameter, short length configuration in which it is more loosely rolled about its longitudinal axis compared to the first, small diameter, long length configuration and in which it is rolled up relative to a radial axis to comprise a balled-up configuration adapted for disposition with a saccular aneurysm.

2. An implant according to claim 1, wherein: the membranes (6) comprise polymer fibers or polymer films.

3. An implant according to claim 1, wherein: the membranes (6) are produced by an electrospinning process.

4. An implant according to any one of claim 1, wherein: the membranes (6) are composed of an electrospun polycarbonate urethane.

5. An implant according to claim 1, wherein: the membranes (6) comprise substances promoting endothelial formation and/or thrombogenesis.

6. An implant according to claim 1, wherein: at least some of the cells (4) are provided with center struts (10) each extending from one edge region of a cell (4) to another edge region.

7. An implant according to claim 1, wherein: the individual cells (4) are arranged offset from one another in the longitudinal direction.

8. An implant according to claim 1, wherein: the size of the cells (4) varies.

9. An implant according to claim 8, wherein: the size of the cells (4) increases from the distal end to proximal end of the implant.

10. An implant according to claim 1, wherein: the curvature of the implant (2), when in the second, large diameter, short length configuration increases from the proximal end to distal end thereof.

11. An implant according to claim 1, wherein: when in the second, large diameter, short length configuration the individual cells (4) in the implant overlap.

12. An implant according to claim 1, wherein: at least a part of the cells (4), which are located in the interior of the implant after its formation, are not or only partially provided with a membrane (6).

13. An implant according to claim 1, wherein: the implant has a diameter ranging between 4 and 25 mm when the implant (1) has been fully released.

14. An implant according to claim 1, further comprising radiopaque markers (7, 8).

15. A method for manufacturing an implant according claim 1, wherein the implant (2) is created from a plurality of struts (3) and the implant (2) is transformed into a balled-up configuration adapted for disposition within a saccular aneurysm, subjected to heat treatment and provided with membranes (6).

16. An implant according to claim 1, wherein: the implant is configured for detachable connection to a delivery wire (9).

Description

[0045] Clarification of the invention is provided by the following figures where

[0046] FIG. 1 shows an implant according to the invention in a flat spread out form;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows another implant according to the invention in flat spread out form provided with radiopaque markers;

[0048] FIG. 3 shows another implant according to the invention in flat spread out form provided with radiopaque markers; and

[0049] FIGS. 4-8 illustrate the insertion of the inventive implant into an aneurysm.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows in a flat spread-out form an implant 1 according to the invention, as well as the area structure 2 which consists of individual struts 3. Struts 3 form various cells 4 arranged offset from one another, with the struts 3 each converging at nodes 5 arranged between the cells 4. The cells 4 are provided with membranes 6. In addition, the individual cells 4 are improved in shape by center struts 10, which at the same time increase the thrusting stability when advancing the implant 1 from proximal to distal. At the proximal end of the implant 1 shown here at the bottom, the implant 1 is attached to a delivery wire 9.

[0051] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the implant 1 proposed by the invention, which is largely similar to the first embodiment. It can be seen that the struts 3 also form cells 4, which are provided with membranes 6, with the totality of the cells 4 forming the area structure 2. Other than shown in the first embodiment, only some cells 4 are provided with center struts 10 in this case. Furthermore, the implant 1 is also attached to a delivery wire 9 at the proximal bottom end of the implant 1.

[0052] FIG. 2 additionally indicates radiopaque markers, on the one hand in the form of radiopaque marker spirals 7 and on the other hand in the form of radiopaque rivets 8, with these markers being arranged at various locations on the implant 1 to enable the attending physician to visualize them.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment, with the implant 1 in this case also being connected to the delivery wire 9 at the proximal bottom of the implant. Some of the cells 4 are provided with center struts 10, with radiopaque marker spirals 7 being arranged around the center struts 10. Additionally located at the distal top end of implant 1 is a radiopaque rivet 8.

[0054] In FIGS. 4 to 8 it is depicted how implant 1 is inserted into an aneurysm 11. By means of the delivery wire 9 the implant 1 is pushed out of and through the microcatheter 12 placed in front of the aneurysm 11 which enables the implant to unfold within aneurysm 11. The implant 1 is provided with membranes 6. During deployment from the microcatheter 12, the implant 1 rolls up radially on the one hand, but also axially, so that it constitutes a spherical structure which occupies the aneurysm 11 practically completely. As the filling process steadily progresses, more of the implant 1 is pushed out of the microcatheter 12, as can be seen in FIGS. 5 to 7. When the implant 1 has been completely pushed out of the microcatheter 12 and the aneurysm 11 is filled completely, a preferably electrolytic detachment can take place at the severance point 13, which forms the connection between the implant 1 and the delivery wire 9. As can be seen in FIG. 8 the implant 1 has been fully inserted into the aneurysm 11 and detached from the delivery wire.