Expandable body cavity liner device

Abstract

The present invention is an aneurysm treatment device for treating aneurysms of various shapes and sizes.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An aneurysm liner for treating an aneurysm in a parent vessel, the aneurysm liner comprising: 
 a liner sac made of an inelastic material having a sac and folded or pleated expansion zones, the sac, under ambient external pressure being expandable to a first peripheral dimension under influence of a first internal pressure and the expansion zones being expandable to a second, larger peripheral dimension, under influence of a second internal pressure greater than the first internal pressure.    
     
     
         2 . The aneurysm liner of  claim 1  wherein the one or more folded or pleated expansion zones are disposed on the liner sac and remain in an unexpanded configuration at the first internal pressure and assume an expanded configuration at the second internal pressure.  
     
     
         3 . The aneurysm liner of  claim 2  wherein the one or more expansion zones each comprise a pleated portion of the inelastic material folded upon itself in an accordion-like configuration and remaining folded under the first internal pressure.  
     
     
         4 . The aneurysm liner of  claim 3  wherein the folded portion unfolds when subjected to the second internal pressure.  
     
     
         5 . The aneurysm liner of  claim 4  wherein the liner sac is perforated to permeate blood from the aneurysm to the parent vessel.  
     
     
         6 . An aneurysm liner, comprising: 
 a structure having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion and distal portion being configured to preferentially permeate embolics introduced therein through the distal portion.    
     
     
         7 . The aneurysm liner of  claim 6  wherein the distal portion has perforations sized to permeate embolics.  
     
     
         8 . The aneurysm liner of  claim 7  wherein the proximal portion has perforations sized to permeate blood but to inhibit permeation of embolics.  
     
     
         9 . The aneurysm liner of  claim 8  wherein the proximal portion comprises a liner portion supported by expandable struts.  
     
     
         10 . The aneurysm liner of  claim 9  wherein the distal portion is formed of the struts, free of any covering.  
     
     
         11 . The aneurysm liner of  claim 10  wherein the distal portion is comprised of a liner portion supported by the struts.  
     
     
         12 . The aneurysm liner of  claim 9  wherein the liner portion comprises a shape memory polymer material.  
     
     
         13 . The aneurysm liner of  claim 12  wherein the shape memory polymer is actuable between a first low profile delivery configuration in which it confines the struts to a low profile configuration and a relaxed, expanded configuration.  
     
     
         14 . An aneurysm treatment device, comprising: 
 an expandable liner sac; and    a retaining member within the liner sac, the retaining member releasably retaining therein a retained portion of the liner sac under a first internal pressure within the liner sac and releasing at least part of the retained portion under a second internal pressure, higher than the first pressure.    
     
     
         15 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 14  wherein the retaining member is oriented in the liner sac such that when the retained portion is released, it increases a deployed axial length of the liner sac.  
     
     
         16 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 14  wherein the retaining member comprises: 
 a coil disposed within the liner sac and having the retained portion of the liner sac tucked within an interior of the coil.  
 
     
     
         17 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 15  wherein the coil is configured such that when it releases the retained portion, the coil floats within the liner sac.  
     
     
         18 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 15  wherein the coil remains connected to the liner sac after it has released the retained portion of the liner sac.  
     
     
         19 . An aneurysm treatment device, comprising: 
 a sac configured to receive internal pressure therein and to increase a radial dimension thereof and decrease an axial dimension thereof with increases in the internal pressure.    
     
     
         20 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 19  wherein the sac is formed of an axially oriented polymer material.  
     
     
         21 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 20  wherein the sac is releasably connected to an elongate delivery member.  
     
     
         22 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 19  wherein the sac is perforated.  
     
     
         23 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 19  wherein the sac has an expanded radial dimension sufficient to bridge a neck of an aneurysm.  
     
     
         24 . An aneurysm treatment device, comprising: 
 an elongate delivery member; and    a liner formed of shape memory polymer material.    
     
     
         25 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 24  wherein the liner has a compressed, low profile configuration and a relaxed expanded configuration.  
     
     
         26 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 25  wherein the liner is configured to maintain its compressed configuration during delivery to a treatment site and to assume the relaxed configuration upon being subjected to an elevated temperature above that during delivery.  
     
     
         27 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 24  wherein the liner comprises a mesh.  
     
     
         28 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 24  wherein the liner comprises a weave.  
     
     
         29 . An aneurysm treatment device, comprising: 
 an expandable liner having a medial portion formed of a fabric material and proximal and distal portions formed of a thin material relative to the fabric material in the medial portion.    
     
     
         30 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 29  wherein the proximal and distal portions comprise a flowable material, flowed around proximal and distal ends of the medial portion, respectively.  
     
     
         31 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 30  wherein the flowable material comprises urethane.  
     
     
         32 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 29  wherein the fabric material forms an expandable braid.  
     
     
         33 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 29  wherein the fabric material forms an expandable mesh.  
     
     
         34 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 29  wherein the medial portion terminates in substantially constant diameter, unfolded, proximal and distal ends.  
     
     
         35 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 34  wherein the proximal and distal ends are covered by the thin material.  
     
     
         36 . The aneurysm treatment device of  claim 35  wherein the thin material forming the proximal portion has an outer diameter that tapers proximally.