Method and apparatus for restricting flow through an opening in the side wall of a body lumen, and/or for reinforcing a weakness in the side wall of a body lumen, while still maintaining substantially normal flow through the body lumen

Abstract

A method for making a device for causing thrombosis of an aneurysm, wherein said device comprises a single elastic filament configurable between (i) an elongated, substantially linear configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration, said method comprising: providing a sheet of shape memory material; producing a single filament, two-dimensional interim structure from said sheet of shape memory material; mounting said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure to a fixture so that said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure is transformed into said longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration; and heat treating said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure while it is mounted to said fixture so as to produce said device in its longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration.

1 . A method for making a device for causing thrombosis of an aneurysm, wherein said device comprises a single elastic filament configurable between (i) an elongated, substantially linear configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration, said method comprising:
 providing a sheet of shape memory material;   producing a single filament, two-dimensional interim structure from said sheet of shape memory material;   mounting said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure to a fixture so that said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure is transformed into said longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration; and   heat treating said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure while it is mounted to said fixture so as to produce said device in its longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure is produced from said sheet of shape memory material by etching. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure is produced from said sheet of shape memory material by laser cutting. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of electro-polishing said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure before it is mounted to said fixture. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein said step of electro-polishing said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure is performed while said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure is still attached to said sheet of shape memory material. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said fixture comprises a three-dimensional body. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein said three-dimensional body comprises surface features for releasably retaining said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure on said three-dimensional body. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said surface features comprise posts mounted to said three-dimensional body. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said fixture comprises a two part fixture comprising a male half and a female half. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said male half of said fixture comprises surface features for releasably retaining said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure on said male half of said fixture. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said surface features comprise posts mounted to said male half of said fixture. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said step of heat treating comprises heating followed by quenching. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure comprises a continuous closed loop. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure comprises two distinct ends. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  comprising the additional step of unifying the two distinct ends so as to form a continuous closed loop. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the two distinct ends are unified by welding. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the two distinct ends are unified by banding. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein a plurality of single filament, two-dimensional interim structures are produced from said sheet of shape memory material. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure has a width which varies along its length. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure has a thickness which varies along its length. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure has a cross-section which varies along its length. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure comprises a cross-section comprising flat edges. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure comprises a cross-section comprising flat edges and rounded edges. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure comprises a cross-section which is circular. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said single filament, two-dimensional interim structure comprises a cross-section which is ovoid. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said sheet of shape memory material has different material properties in different dimensions, and further wherein said device is fabricated so as to take advantage of the varying material properties of said sheet of shape memory material. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the shape memory material is selected from the group consisting of: a nickel titanium alloy, a copper-based alloy, an iron-based alloy, and a shape memory polymer. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29  wherein the nickel titanium alloy comprises nitinol. 
     
     
         31 .- 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method for making a device for causing thrombosis of an aneurysm, wherein said device comprises a single elastic filament configurable between (i) an elongated, substantially linear configuration, and (ii) a longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration, said method comprising:
 providing a filament of shape memory material;   mounting said filament of shape memory material to a fixture so that said filament is transformed into said longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration; and   heat treating said filament so as to produce said device in its longitudinally-contracted, substantially three-dimensional configuration.   
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 37  wherein said fixture comprises a three-dimensional body having surface features for releasably retaining said filament of shape memory material on said three-dimensional body, and further wherein mounting said filament of shape memory material to said fixture comprises winding said filament of shape memory material around said surface features. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38  wherein said surface features comprise posts mounted to said three-dimensional body. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the single elastic filament has a rectangular cross-section along at least a portion of its length.