Anchor assemblies in stretch-resistant vaso-occlusive coils

Abstract

Vaso-occlusive devices are provided for occluding an aneurysm within the human vasculature. The vaso-occlusive device also includes a stretch-resisting member that extends through at least a portion of a lumen of the primary coil and is directly or indirectly attached to the primary coil at two locations axially separated from each other to prevent or minimize axial stretching of the primary coil. At one location, the stretch-resisting member is coupled to the primary coil via a flexible anchor assembly disposed within the lumen. In one embodiment, the anchor assembly may comprise an anchor coil and a link directly or indirectly coupled between the anchor coil and the stretch-resisting member. Alternatively, the anchor assembly may comprise a chain of twisted links.

1 . A vaso-occlusive device, comprising:
 a primary coil having a proximal end, a distal end, and defining an axial lumen;   a stretch-resisting member coupled to the primary coil and extending through at least a portion of the primary coil lumen; and   an anchor assembly coupled with the primary coil and to the stretch resisting member, the anchor assembly comprising an anchor coil having windings that are disposed between windings of the primary coil.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor coil is directly attached to the stretch-resisting member. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each winding of the anchor coil is disposed between adjacent windings of the primary coil. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least two windings of the anchor coil are disposed between adjacent windings of the primary coil. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stretch-resisting member comprises at least one polymeric filament. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the stretch-resisting member is coupled to the distal end of the primary coil and a proximal end of the stretch-resisting member is coupled to the anchor coil. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the distal end of the stretch-resisting member is directly attached to the distal end of the primary coil. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor assembly is coupled to the proximal end of the primary coil. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a deployment mechanism coupled to the proximal end of the anchor coil. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the deployment mechanism comprises an electrolytically severable junction adapted to detach from a core wire by imposition of an electrical current on the core wire. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein all of the windings of the anchor coil are disposed between the windings of the primary coil. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , the anchor coil further comprising an attachment member at a distal end of the anchor coil, wherein a proximal end of the stretch-resisting member is secured to the attachment member. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a plurality of primary coils, each having a proximal end, a distal end, and each defining an axial lumen; and   a plurality of stretch-resisting members, each extending through at least a portion of a respective primary coil lumen.   
     
     
         14 . A catheter assembly for occluding a body cavity, comprising:
 a delivery device having a distal end; and   a vaso-occlusive device associated with the distal end of the delivery device, the vaso-occlusive device comprising
 a primary coil having a proximal end, a distal end, and defining an axial lumen, 
 a stretch-resisting member coupled to the primary coil and extending through at least a portion of the primary coil lumen, and 
 an anchor assembly coupled with the primary coil and to the stretch resistant member, the anchor assembly comprising an anchor coil having windings that are disposed between windings of the primary coil. 
   
     
     
         15 . The catheter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each winding of the anchor coil is disposed between adjacent windings of the primary coil. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein at least two windings of the anchor coil are disposed between adjacent windings of the primary coil. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein a distal end of the stretch-resisting member is coupled to the distal end of the primary coil and a proximal end of the stretch-resisting member is coupled to the anchor coil. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the distal end of the stretch-resisting member is directly attached to the distal end of the primary coil. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the anchor assembly is coupled to the proximal end of the primary coil. 
     
     
         20 . The catheter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein all of the windings of the anchor coil are disposed between the windings of the primary coil.