Plug coil delivery system and components

Abstract

A system for delivering a plug coil device, and components useful in such a system, are described. The system includes a flexible elongate delivery shaft having a distal region, and a plug coil device removably connected to the distal region of the elongate delivery shaft. In some forms, when removably connected, at least some of the coil windings of the plug coil device, such as the coil windings within the proximal segment of the coil winding, are in an elastically longitudinally compressed state. When the plug coil device is removed from the delivery shaft, the coil windings elastically move to a longitudinally extended state, and the coil windings in the longitudinally extended state are more open than in the elastically longitudinally compressed state. In some forms, the system has a coil removal interface at the distal region of the flexible elongate delivery shaft. The coil removal interface includes a distal tubular segment and a bridge segment proximal to the distal tubular segment. The bridge segment includes a bridge wall or other bridge component defining an upper surface, a lower surface, a proximal-facing edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces, and a distal-facing edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces. The bridge segment further defines a lumen between the lower surface of the bridge wall or other bridge component and the bottom wall of the bridge segment. A plug coil device and a bridge member configured for use in such a system are also described.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 354,078, filed on June 21, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 354,093, filed on June 21, 2022, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Background The present disclosure generally relates to systems for implanting embolization coil devices for establishing embolization or vascular occlusion within a patient's blood vessel, as well as devices and components useful in such systems.

Background Art

[0003] Embolization coil devices are used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including, for example, the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Embolization coils typically take the form of a flexible helically wound coil formed by winding a wire (e.g., a platinum or platinum alloy wire) around a primary mandrel. In some known forms, the coil thus formed is then wound around a larger secondary mandrel and heat treated to impart memory for a secondary shape. The secondary shape can also be imparted by cold forming. When delivered from a tubular device, such as a catheter, to the treatment site, the coil transitions to, or towards, its more collapsed secondary shape.

[0004] Various arrangements for removing the coil from the delivery shaft are known, including in particular electrolytic and mechanical removal arrangements. Many known mechanical removal arrangements have a delivery shaft defining a lumen and a pull wire (also referred to as a "release" wire) that interfaces with a feature of the coil device and can move proximally within the shaft lumen to cause removal of the embolization coil device.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] There is still a need for a plug coil delivery system that incorporates a removable feature or a mechanical removal arrangement that is useful in manufacturing, easy to use, and reliable. Aspects of the present disclosure address these needs.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] Overview In some aspects, a system for delivering a plug coil device is provided. The system includes a flexible elongate delivery shaft having a distal region. The plug coil device is removably connected to the distal region of the elongate delivery shaft with the coil windings of the plug coil device elastically compressed longitudinally. When the plug coil device is removed from the elongate delivery shaft, the coil windings elastically move to a longitudinally extended state, and the coil windings in the longitudinally extended state are more open than in the elastically compressed longitudinally state. The coil windings involved can represent some or all of the coil windings of the plug coil device. In some forms, the coil windings involved are only a portion of the entire coil windings, providing a first segment of coil windings that is operable as described above, and the first segment is preferably disposed in the proximal region of the coil device. A proximal segment having coil windings that are relatively closed (more narrowly spaced) compared to the coil windings of the first segment can be located laterally of the first segment. Additionally or alternatively, a distal segment having coil windings that are relatively closed compared to the coil windings of the first segment can be located laterally of the first segment.

[0007] In some additional aspects, a system for delivering an embolization coil device is provided. The system includes a flexible elongate delivery shaft that defines a lumen and has a distal region and a coil removal interface at the distal region of the elongate delivery shaft. The coil removal interface includes a distal tubular segment and a bridge segment proximal to the distal tubular segment. The bridge segment includes a bridge component such as a bridge wall having an upper surface and a lower surface, and the bridge segment defines a lumen between the lower surface of the bridge wall or other bridge component and the bottom wall of the bridge segment. The embolization coil device is removably connected to the distal region of the elongate delivery shaft, and optionally, the proximal end of the coil winding of the embolization coil device is positioned at a distal location of the distal tubular segment of the elongate delivery shaft. A pull wire extends through the lumen of the elongate delivery shaft and couples to a retention member of the embolization coil device. Retraction of the pull wire in the proximal direction causes removal of the embolization coil device from the elongate delivery shaft. In some forms, the distal tubular segment and the bridge segment are provided by a bridge member, the bridge member can also have a proximal tubular segment proximal to the bridge segment, and / or define at least one sidewall opening positioned to provide an opening proximate to the proximal surface of the bridge wall or other bridge component providing the bridge segment. The bridge member can be a monolithic structure formed from a single length of tubing and can be attached to the distal end of a length of metal hypodermic tubing providing all or a portion of the remainder of the elongate delivery shaft. In some forms, the bridge wall defines a proximally facing edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the bridge wall and a distally facing edge extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the bridge wall.

[0008] In other aspects, a bridging member useful in the removal interface of a plug coil device delivery system is provided. The bridging member includes a distal tubular segment, a proximal tubular segment, and an intermediate segment between the distal tubular segment and the proximal tubular segment. The intermediate segment includes a bridging component such as a bridging wall that defines an upper surface and a lower surface. The intermediate segment also defines a lumen between the lower surface of the bridging wall or other bridging component and the bottom wall of the intermediate segment. The bridging member can be of a monolithic structure, can be formed from a single length of tubing, and can generally have various configurations of a bridging wall that includes a planar or multi-curved bridging wall. In some forms, the bridging wall has an edge facing in the proximal direction that extends between the upper and lower surfaces of the bridging wall and an edge facing in the distal direction that extends between the upper and lower surfaces of the bridging wall.

[0009] In other aspects, a plug coil device configured for use in the systems described above and elsewhere in this specification is provided.

[0010] In yet other aspects, methods for making and using systems and plug coil devices as described above and elsewhere in this specification are provided.

[0011] Further embodiments, as well as the features and advantages of the embodiments described herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art from the description herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Detailed Description Here, several embodiments are referred to, some of which are shown in the drawings and a specific language is used to describe them. Nevertheless, it should be understood that no limitation of the scope of the present disclosure is thereby intended. The described embodiments of the principles described herein and any modifications and further changes in any further applications are intended to be commonly contemplated by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.

[0014] As described above, aspects of the present disclosure relate to a system for delivering a plug device to a patient, as well as related devices, components, and methods. The system can include an elongate delivery shaft and a plug device removably connected to the distal region of the delivery shaft, such as a plug coil device, and the medical device can be removed from the delivery shaft by proximal movement of a pull wire.

[0015] As used herein, the term "proximal" means close to the operator, and the term "distal" means away from the operator.

[0016] For example, as shown in the figures, spatially relative terms such as "lower", "upper", "under", "over", "above", etc. can be used to describe the relationship of an element and / or feature to another element or feature. It should be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the system, device, or component in use in addition to the orientation depicted or illustrated in the figures. For example, if a device or component as shown in the figure is inverted, an element shown and described as "upper" is oriented as "lower".

[0017] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a system 10 for delivering an embolization device 12 to a vascular space, such as an aneurysm, received within the lumen of a catheter 300. The embolization device 12 may be formed as an embolization coil device 14 having a plurality of coil windings 16 extending from a proximal end 16A to a distal end 16B. Typically, the coil windings 16 are made from a wire, which is usually made from a metal such as platinum, a platinum alloy, or a superelastic metal alloy (e.g., a superelastic nickel / titanium alloy such as nitinol). The diameter of the wire forming the coil windings 16 may range from about 0.005 mm to about 0.15 mm. The coils formed by the windings 16 may have a primary outer diameter of about 0.075 to about 1 mm, and in some configurations, particularly coil devices 14 intended for use in neurovascular applications, will have a primary outer diameter of about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm.

[0018] The axial length of the embolization coil device 14 typically ranges from about 0.5 to about 100 cm, more typically from about 2 to 40 cm. However, it will be understood that other axial lengths may be used depending on the application. Similarly, the embolization coil device 14 may have a thrombogenic material, such as a fiber (not shown) connected to the coil windings 16 to enhance its thrombogenicity, and it will be understood that other embolization coil devices described herein may similarly include such thrombogenic materials.

[0019] Continuing to refer to FIGS. 2, 8, 9, and 10 together with FIG. 1, the coil device 14 includes a proximal retention member in the form of a loop 18. The retention member in the illustrated embodiment is formed as the loop 18 by a length of filament 20 attached to the coil device 14. The filament 20 can be formed from, for example, a suitable polymeric or metallic material and, in some variations, may have a diameter of about 0.01 to about 0.1 mm. As the filament 20, a suture material, particularly a durable (non-bioabsorbable) suture material, may be preferably used. The loop 18 extends into the coil winding 16 and provides two filament segments 20A and 20B that are attached to the coil winding, as will be further described below. Although the specifically shown retention member is the loop 18, other retention members are known and can be used that include, for example, balls, hooks, fasteners, or other similar elements that can facilitate the removable connection of the plug coil device to the delivery shaft.

[0020] Delivery system 10 also includes a flexible elongate delivery shaft 22 having a distal end 24, a proximal end 26, and a lumen 28 therebetween. The delivery shaft 22 may be formed from any suitable material including, by way of example, a polymeric material, a metallic material, or a combination thereof. Metallic hypo tube materials such as stainless steel hypo tube or nitinol hypo tube material may be used. As exemplary polymeric materials, flexible and lubricious materials such as polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) may be used. Similarly, combinations of different metallic hypo tube materials can typically be used, such as a combination including a first stainless steel hypo tube segment attached (e.g., welded) to a second different stainless steel hypo tube segment. For example, the second stainless steel hypo tube segment may be positioned distally of the first hypo tube segment and may be more flexible and / or shorter than it. This can provide an overall delivery shaft 22 that is more flexible in its distal region than in its proximal region. Other combinations of materials that provide a more flexible distal region and a less flexible proximal region can also be used in some forms.

[0021] Metallic hypo tube materials, and thus segments of the delivery shaft 22 made therefrom, can in some embodiments have an inner diameter in the range of about 0.5 to about 0.9 mm and / or an outer diameter in the range of about 0.6 to about 1 mm. In some preferred small diameter forms, such hypo tube materials have an inner diameter in the range of about 0.1 to about 0.4 mm and / or an outer diameter in the range of about 0.2 to about 0.5 mm. The wall thickness of the hypo tube material can be in the range of about 0.05 mm to about 0.25 mm between the inner and outer diameters.

[0022] The delivery shaft 22 generally has a length between a distal end 24 and a proximal end 26 and enables the shaft to be advanced intravascularly to a target site for delivery of the coil device 14 while positioning the proximal end 26 outside the patient's body. For example, the delivery shaft 22 can have a length in the range of about 1 to about 2 meters.

[0023] With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the system 10 also includes an elongate pull wire 30 disposed within the lumen 28 of the delivery shaft 22. The elongate pull wire 30 has a distal end 32 (see FIG. 3) and a proximal end 34 (see FIG. 1). The elongate pull wire 30 is typically formed from a flexible material that provides sufficient column strength to avoid breakage or twisting during use of the system 10. For example, the elongate pull wire 30 may be formed from one or more polymeric materials or metallic materials, or combinations thereof. The pull wire 30 may be formed from a metal such as nitinol, titanium, titanium alloy, platinum, stainless steel, etc. The pull wire 30 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lumen 28 of the elongate delivery shaft 22. In an exemplary embodiment, the pull wire 30 is formed from nitinol optionally coated with a lubricious polymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and has an outer diameter of about 0.1 mm.

[0024] System 10 may also include an arrangement for protecting against an unintentional proximal retraction of pull wire 30 that could cause an unintentional release of coil device 14. As shown in FIG. 1, at a first location 36, delivery shaft 22 is attached to pull wire 30. This attachment can be provided, for example, by a quantity of adhesive 38, although other attachments such as welding or frictional engagement provided by one or more crimps of shaft 22 against the outer surface of pull wire 30 may be used. This attachment fixes the relative position of shaft 22 and pull wire 30. At a second location 40 distal to the first location 36, delivery shaft 22 has a section configured to selectively break and separate in response to a bending force applied across the first location 36 (compared to portions of shaft 22 located laterally on either side of location 36). Thereafter, the separated proximal piece of shaft 22 attached to pull wire 30 at location 36 can pull pull wire 30 proximally within lumen 28 in a sliding motion, thereby moving proximally (e.g., being pulled) to cause removal of plug coil device 14. In this way, system 10 can be used to advance plug coil device 14 to a desired target location within a patient's vasculature, and then shaft 22 can be broken and separated at location 40, and the separated proximal piece of shaft 22 can be pulled proximally to remove coil device 14.

[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 1 - 12 together, an embodiment will be described in which the distal region of the shaft 22 that provides an interface for removable connection and release of the plug coil device 14 is advantageously configured. In the illustrated embodiment, the bridge member 44 provides the most distal segment of the shaft 22. The bridge member 44 extends from a distal end 46 that provides the distal end 24 of the shaft 22 to a proximal end 48. The bridge member 44 generally has three segments: a distal segment 50, an intermediate or bridge segment 52, and a proximal segment 54. In the illustrated embodiment, the distal segment 50 is provided as a tubular segment that defines a lumen 55 and a full - circumference end face 56 that faces distally. The full - circumference end face 56 advantageously provides an annular face with a complete 360 - degree surface, preferably having an outer and an inner circumference, for connection (e.g., abutment) with the proximal end 16A of the coil winding 16 of the coil device 14. It will be understood that other embodiments can have other end - face configurations of the bridge member 44, including those that do not provide a complete 360 - degree circumferential end face that faces distally. However, an end face that substantially faces distally, for example, an end face that provides a planar end face over at least 270 degrees or at least 320 degrees around the circumference (such surface extent can be continuous in some forms and discontinuous in others) is advantageous and preferably provided. The end face 56 is at least as large as the primary outer diameter of the coil formed by the coil winding 16 at the proximal end 16A and may potentially have a larger outer circumference. The intermediate segment 52 of the bridge member 44 provides a lateral bridge component, preferably in the form of a bridge wall 58, that extends transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the longitudinal axis of the delivery shaft 22. The bridge wall 58 can have a rectangular shape in the longitudinal cross - section (e.g., see FIG. 3) as illustrated. In other embodiments, the bridge wall 58 or other lateral bridge components can have another shape in the longitudinal cross - section, for example, another polygon or a rounded shape in the longitudinal cross - section. The bridge wall 58 defines an upper surface 60, a lower surface 62, an edge 64 that faces distally, and an edge 66 that faces proximally. The edges 64 and 66 extend between the upper surface 60 and the lower surface 62 of the bridge wall 58.The intermediate segment 52 may also provide access, for example, during an assembly step in the manufacture of the system 10, particularly for adjusting and assembling the loop 18 of the coil device 14 secured around the pull wire 30 in the vicinity of the bridge wall 58 or other transverse bridge components, by defining at least one sidewall opening, such as bridge side opening 68 and / or opposite side opening 70. To facilitate these purposes, at least one of the side openings, such as opening 68 and / or opening 70, can have a substantial maximum width in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bridge member 44. For example, such a width can be at least 40%, or at least 50%, or at least 60% of a value equal to the corresponding width of the bridge member coextensive in the longitudinal direction with the opening. Additionally, or alternatively, at least one of the side openings (e.g., opening 68 and / or 70) can have a substantial maximum length in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bridge member 44. For example, such a length can be at least equal to, and in some forms greater than (e.g., at least 150% or at least 200%), a value equal to the maximum width of the opening in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bridge member 44. Similarly, at least one of the side openings (e.g., opening 68 and / or opening 70) can be positioned to have a portion of the opening proximal and proximal to the proximal surface of the bridge wall 58 or other transverse bridge components. For example, such a portion of the opening can be proximal to the proximal surface of the bridge wall 58 or other transverse bridge components and at a distance of 200% or less, or in some forms 100% or less, of a value equal to the width of the bridge member 44 coextensive in the longitudinal direction with the opening. As in the illustrated embodiment, the upper surface 60 of the bridge wall 58 can provide the outermost (upper) surface of the bridge member 44 in the longitudinal segment of the bridge member 44 (or generally the shaft 22) where the bridge wall 58 occurs (there is no tubular wall of the bridge member 44 surrounding the bridge wall 58). The opposing wall portions 72 and 74 of the intermediate segment 52 span between the openings 68 and 70.

[0026] The proximal segment 54 of the bridge member 44 is of a generally tubular shape. In some embodiments, the proximal segment 54 may define a first sidewall opening 76 and a second sidewall opening 78 that face each other. The openings 76 and 78 in the illustrated embodiment can provide means for attaching the bridge member 44 during a handling stage in a manufacturing or assembly step of the bridge member 44, although the openings 76 and 78 or other similar openings may also, for example, provide a line of sight or other access to the interior of the bridge member 44. It will be appreciated that the openings 68 and / or the openings 78 can be absent in other embodiments. The proximal segment 54 provides the proximal end 48 of the bridge member 44 and defines a lumen 79 and a proximally facing circumferential end face 80. The circumferential end face 80 advantageously provides a complete 360-degree surface for end-to-end attachment of the bridge member 44 to an adjacent segment of the delivery shaft 22, provided, for example, by an adjacent length of metallic (e.g., stainless steel) hypodermic tubing or other tubing material. This attachment can, in some forms, be a welded attachment.

[0027] The bridge member 44 defines a bridge wall lumen 82 between the lower surface 62 of the bridge wall 58 and the inner tube surface 84 of the bridge member 44. The bridge wall lumen 82 generally has a smaller lumen cross-sectional area than the lumen 55 of the distal segment 50 of the bridge member 44 and the lumen 79 of the proximal segment 54 of the bridge member 44. The bridge wall lumen 82 can manage the position of the filament material 20 passing through the lumen, as in the illustrated embodiment. In other embodiments, the bridge wall lumen 82 can be used to manage the position of the pull wire 30 when it is arranged to pass through the lumen 82. For example, the filament 20 can pass through the upper surface 60 of the bridge wall and position the loop 18 around the pull wire 30 in a direction substantially opposite to the illustrated direction. The bridge wall 58 and the lumen 82 can be of suitable shape and / or size for these and other arrangements. Generally speaking, the bridge wall 58 separates the bridge wall lumen 82 from the region that occurs above the upper surface 60 of the bridge wall 58. As a result, different component parts of the system (e.g., a part of the pull wire or the holding member) can remain separated from each other by the bridge wall 58. One of the components passes through the lumen 82, and the other passes above the upper surface 60 of the bridge wall 58 and potentially contacts.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the bridge wall 58 of the bridge member 44 has a non-planar shape. In particular, the bridge wall 58 is a multi-curved wall section having a central curved segment 58A (see, e.g., FIG. 7) that curves radially inwardly where a first curved segment 58B and a second curved segment 58C that curve radially outwardly are located on both sides. Thus, the central curved segment 58A defines a concave-curved surface portion 60A (see, e.g., FIG. 6) of the upper surface 60 of the bridge wall 58, and the first curved segment 58B and the second curved segment 58C define convex-curved surface portions 60B and 60C of the upper surface 60. On the other hand, the central curved segment 58A defines a convex-curved surface portion 62A of the lower surface 62 of the bridge wall 58, and the first curved segment 58B and the second curved segment 58C define concave-curved surface portions 62B and 62C of the outer surface 60. In the illustrated embodiment, the central curved segment 58A defines a longitudinal channel 86 for slidably receiving the pull wire 30.

[0029] The bridge member 44 and other bridge members disclosed herein can be of a monolithic structure. Such bridge members can be formed from a single length of tubing, e.g., a single length of metal (e.g., stainless steel) hypodermic tubing, which can have the same dimensions and / or other characteristics as described herein for the hypodermic tubing material of the delivery shaft 22. The hypodermic tubing or other tubing material used to form the bridge member 44 and other bridge members herein is cut and formed to provide the features of the disclosed bridge members. As an example, forming operations such as bending and punching may be used. Bridge members formed from a single length of tubing are advantageous in manufacturing in that there is no need to assemble and attach multiple parts together to make the bridge member, they are small in size, and thus can present handling and attachment challenges. The bridge member 44 and other bridge members described herein may also be manufactured using three-dimensional metal printing to reduce or eliminate the need for metal forming processes such as bending or stamping while still providing a monolithic-structured bridge member. It will be appreciated that the bridge member 44 or other bridge members described herein may also be manufactured by connecting (e.g., welding) multiple metal or other parts together. The bridge member 44 and other bridge members described herein can, in certain embodiments, have a longitudinal length in the range of about 10 mm or less, or about 5 mm or less, typically about 1 mm to about 5 mm, or about 1 to about 3 mm.

[0030] In the removal operation, the pull wire 30 is pulled proximally within the lumen 28 of the delivery shaft 22 until the distal end 32 of the pull wire 30 passes through the loop 18 and passes proximally (e.g., after breaking the shaft 22 at location 40 if the above-described release configuration exists). This releases the loop 18 and moves it distally from the distal end 46 of the bridge member 44 through the bridge wall lumen 82. Thereby, the coil device 14 is removed from the delivery shaft 22. In one usage form, prior to removing the coil device 14, the shaft 22 can be used to push the coil device 14 out from the distal end 302 of the catheter 300 at the target vascular site for delivery, and the coil device contacts the vessel wall at that site and remains in place. This operation may position the bridge member 44 distally beyond the distal end 302 of the catheter 300. Thereafter, the proximal movement of the pull wire 30 and the resulting removal of the coil device 14 can be performed with the bridge member deployed beyond the distal end 302 of the catheter 300.

[0031] Other bridge member structures and delivery systems incorporating them are contemplated herein. Referring now to FIGS. 13 - 17, one alternative embodiment of bridge member 144 is shown. Bridge member 144 can have features corresponding to those of bridge member 44, and such features of bridge member 144 are numbered corresponding to the features of bridge member 44, except that they are in the 100s (e.g., 144 vs. 44, 146 vs. 46, etc.), and thus the corresponding description is not repeated here. Bridge member 144 is different from bridge member 44 with respect to bridge wall 158 and with respect to bridge wall lumen 182, which is partially defined by bridge wall 158. In particular, bridge wall 158 is provided as a generally straight wall extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of bridge member 144. Bridge wall 158 is provided by a first bridge wall piece 158A and a second bridge wall piece 158B separated by gap 158G. The bridge wall lumen 182 of bridge member 144 has a generally straight upper wall provided by the lower surface 162 of bridge wall 158 adjacent to a continuously curved wall providing curved tube surface 184. Lower surface 162 and tube surface 184 define the shape of bridge wall lumen 182, which can generally be "D"-shaped.

[0032] As described above, bridge member 144 can be used in place of bridge member 44 in the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 1 - 12. By doing so, pull wire 30 is typically positioned above and with respect to upper surface 160 of bridge wall 158, and filament segments 20A and 20B of filament material 20 attached to plug coil device 14 extend through the distal end of bridge member 144 and through bridge wall lumen 182 and are positioned proximal to bridge wall 158, providing loop 18 through which pull wire 30 extends.

[0033] Yet another bridge member structure is shown in FIGS. 18-21 and can be further used in an alternative plug coil delivery system 210 having an alternative delivery shaft / plug coil device retention interface, as further discussed below. The bridge member 244 can have features corresponding to those of the bridge member 144, and such features of the bridge member 244 are numbered corresponding to those of the bridge member 144, except that they are in the 200s (e.g., 244 vs. 144, 246 vs. 146, etc.), and thus the corresponding description will not be repeated here. The bridge member 244 differs from the bridge member 144 in that it has a longer tubular distal segment 250 that further has a ball receiving opening 206 for receiving a retention ball, as described below. The opening 206 can be located around the bridge member 244 aligned with a wall surface 284 that partially defines the bridge wall lumen 282. In this way, when the pull wire 230 extends distally through the tubular distal segment 250 over the upper surface 260 of the bridge wall 258, the bridge wall 258 biases the pull wire 230 to a position within the tubular distal segment 250 on the opposite side of the ball receiving opening 206.

[0034] Generally, the embolization coil delivery system 210 can have features corresponding to those of the version of the system 10 incorporating the bridge member 144, and such features of the system 210 are numbered corresponding to those of the system 10, except that they are in the 200s (e.g., 210 vs. 10, etc.), and thus the corresponding descriptions are not repeated here. The coil device 214 differs from the coil device 14 of the system 10 with respect to features of the retention member that cooperates with the pull wire to hold and remove the coil relative to the delivery shaft. The embolization coil device 214 has, at its proximal end, an attached ball element 200 that cooperates with the opening 206 of the bridge member 244 and the pull wire 230 to removably connect the coil device 214 to the delivery shaft 222. In particular, when the pull wire 230 has a portion that extends longitudinally coextensive with the ball element 200 such that it is partially received within the opening 206, the dimensions within the region of the ball element 200, the pull wire 230, and the shaft lumen 228 do not permit movement of the ball element 200 to escape from the window or opening 206, and thus the ball element 200 is held in a partially received state (in this arrangement, the pull wire functions as a so-called "interference wire"). Removal of the coil device 214 from the shaft 222 can be accomplished by retracting the pull wire 230 proximally until its distal end 232 is positioned proximal to the ball element 200, thus releasing the ball element and moving it distally from the end 224 of the shaft 222 through the lumen 228.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the ball element 200 is attached to the stem 202, and the stem is attached to the grommet 204. The proximally located loop 218 formed by the filament material 220 is positioned through the grommet 204. It will be appreciated that the filament material 220 is connected to the winding 216 of the coil device 214 as discussed above and elsewhere in this specification in connection with the winding 16 of the coil device 14 and the filament material 20. It will also be appreciated that the coil device 214 can be delivered to a target location using the system 210 and removed at such location in a manner corresponding to the description of the system 10 and the coil 14 herein.

[0036] The embolization coil system disclosed herein can have features of the embolization coil device that facilitate secure removal from the shaft of the coil device, and features of being removably connected to the delivery shaft. Referring again to FIGS. 1-12 and system 10 described in connection therewith, the embolization coil device 14 in a relaxed (unstressed) state (e.g., see FIGS. 8-10) has at least segment 92 where the windings 116 of the device are open windings, and the surfaces of adjacent windings are longitudinally spaced from each other. Such longitudinal spacing can, in some forms, be a distance 98 (FIG. 9) equal to at least 10% of the diameter of the wire of the winding 116, or at least 20% of such diameter, typically in the range of about 10% to about 200% of such diameter, or about 20% to about 100% of such diameter. Additionally, or alternatively, adjacent windings of the coil windings within segment 92 can be spaced from each other by a distance in the range of about 0.0005 to about 0.15 mm in a relaxed (longitudinally extended) state. The open windings of the coil device 14 are configured to act as elastic, longitudinally compressible spring segments that can be longitudinally compressed to more closely approximate their adjacent surfaces, thereby shortening the coil device 14, and when released from such compression, move their adjacent surfaces away from each other and elastically expand to lengthen the coil device 14, e.g., the open windings elastically expand at least towards their original open and spaced state, potentially to such state.

[0037] To connect the coil device 14 to the shaft 22, the loop 18 can pass through the end 24 of the bridge member 44 that provides the end 46 of the shaft 22 and be pushed proximally through the bridge wall lumen 82 to a proximal position adjacent to the bridge wall 58. Thereby, the proximal end 16A of the coil winding 16 can first be brought into contact with the distal surface 56 of the bridge member 44, and then, by the continued proximal movement of the loop 18, the open windings within the segment 92 of the coil device are elastically compressed. Next, the distal end 32 of the pull wire 30 can be passed through the loop 18 in a distal direction of movement to connect the coil device 14 to the delivery shaft 22, and the open windings of the segment 92 are held in an elastically compressed state. In this detachably connected state, the proximal end 16A of the coil winding 116 exerts a longitudinal force in the proximal direction on the distal surface 56 of the bridge member 44. As described above, then, when the pull wire 30 is retracted proximally to release the loop 18 in order to remove the coil device 14, the elastic expansion of the open windings of the segment 92 can urge the distal movement of the loop 18 out of the end 24 of the delivery shaft 22 through the bridge wall lumen 82. This can facilitate more reliable removal of the device 14 from the shaft 22. In the detachably connected state of the plug coil device 14 to the shaft 22, the distal end 32 of the pull wire 30 is positioned distal to the distal end of the loop 18, preferably distal to the bridge wall 58, and even more preferably distal to the distal end 24 of the delivery shaft 22 (e.g., positioned within the lumen defined by the coil winding 116). Additionally, or alternatively, in some forms, the distal end 32 of the pull wire 30 may be retracted by at least about 1 mm, or at least about 3 mm, typically in the range of about 1 mm to about 10 mm, to cause removal of the plug coil device 14. It will be understood that the corresponding plug coil connection operation can be performed using a delivery shaft having other bridge members disclosed herein.

[0038] As described above, any suitable length segment and position of the open winding of the coil device 14 that functions elastically can be utilized. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and most proximal segment 90 of the coil device 14 has a relatively closed winding 116 compared to the winding 116 of segment 92 (having adjacent windings that contact each other and / or having a smaller longitudinal spacing than the windings of segment 92), and a preferred arrangement is shown. The relatively closed winding segment 90 positioned proximally facilitates a secure connection between the proximal end 16A of the coil winding 116 and the distal surface 56 of the bridge member 44. The illustrated plug coil device 14 also has a distal segment 94 having a relatively closed winding 116 compared to the winding 116 of segment 92 (again, having adjacent windings that contact each other and / or having a smaller longitudinal spacing than the windings of segment 92). In other embodiments, all of the windings of the plug coil device can be open, such that the entire length of the winding can participate in the elastic compression and expansion functions described above, or the open winding segments can be positioned more proximally or distally on the coil device 14 than shown herein, or multiple such open winding segments can be provided by the coil device 14. The coil device 14 preferably includes such an elastically open winding segment (e.g., segment 92) in the region near or at the proximal end 16A of the coil winding 16. For example, the proximal end of the elastically open winding segment is within about 10 mm from the proximal end 16A. For example, the proximal end of the elastically open winding segment is at the proximal end 16A or is spaced distally from the proximal end 16A by a distance of about 0.2 to about 10 mm, or in some forms about 0.5 to about 5 mm. The plug coil device 14 also includes an element 96, such as a spherical or hemispherical member, attached to the distal end 16B of the coil winding 16 and providing a smooth distal end to the device 14.

[0039] The longitudinal length of the elastic release winding segment 92 or any other elastic release winding segment described herein can be any suitable longitudinal length. In some forms, such longitudinal length is at least about 1 mm, or at least about 2 mm, typically in the range of about 1 mm to about 15 mm, more typically in the range of about 2 mm to about 8 mm.

[0040] The above discussion has focused on the systems shown in FIGS. 1-12, but it should be understood that systems having alternative bridge members described in connection with FIGS. 13-17, and the system 210 of FIGS. 18-21, can also be equipped with the above-described elastic release winding features in their plug coil devices. Still other systems within the scope of this specification can also include these features. With respect to the system 210, particularly referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, corresponding to the segments 90, 92, and 94 described in connection with FIGS. 1-12, it can be seen that the plug coil device 214 includes a relatively closed winding segment 290, an open winding segment 292, and a relatively closed winding segment 94. When removing the coil device 214 from the shaft 222 of the system 210, when the distal end 232 of the pull wire 230 moves proximally beyond the ball element 200 and it is released from the opening 206, the elastic expansion of the open winding of the segment 292 can move the ball 200 distally and push it out from the end 224 of the delivery shaft 222. Again, this can facilitate more reliable removal of the coil device 214 from the shaft 222.

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, in a preferred form of the coil device 14 and the system including the same, the filament 20 is connected to the coil winding 116 of the coil at a location 100 that is immediately distal to the distal end of the open winding segment 92, for example, within about 3 mm, or within about 1 mm, from the distal end of the open winding segment 92. For purposes of illustration, FIGS. 8 and 10 show a location 100 where the coil winding is elastically forced open so that an adhesive 102 can be applied or another attachment of the filament 20 to the coil winding can be made. The particular attachment configuration of the filament to the coil winding 116 may vary depending on the materials used for the filament 20 and / or the coil winding 116. For example, in various embodiments, it will be understood that the attachment may be achieved by soldering or welding, or by a binder such as an adhesive or glue. After achieving the attachment, the winding at location 100 can be released and returned to a more closed state. In other forms, the coil winding at location 100 can be in a relatively open state, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 in a relaxed state. The attachment of the filament 20 to the coil winding at location 100 provides the feature that the coil winding 116 distal to location 100 is not subject to the compressive force described above in relation to the loaded and removably connected state of the coil device 14. This is because the proximal biasing of the loop 18 pulls on the coil winding 116 at position 100 but does not pull on the coil winding 116 distal to location 100. In some embodiments, the filament 20 may terminate at location 100. In a preferred form, the filament continues distally from the distal end of the plug coil device 14 and is also attached to the coil winding at location 104. Thus, the filament can provide elongation resistance to the plug coil device 14 between locations 100 and 104, for example, during delivery operations before and / or after removal at the target site. Similarly, it will be understood that a segment of the filament 20 extending between location 100 and the loop 18 provides elongation resistance to the length of the coil device 14 positioned proximal to location 100 in a removably connected state (e.g., during delivery of the coil to or manipulation at the target site).

[0042] The above-described attachment features of the filament 20 to the coil winding 116 of the plug coil device 14, including protection of the distal coil winding of the attachment location 100 against compressive forces and / or provision of elongation resistance by the filament 20, can also be incorporated into a coil delivery system having alternative bridge members as described in connection with FIGS. 13-17, in the systems 210 of FIGS. 18-21, and in other systems within the scope of the description herein.

[0043] The delivery systems 10, 210 described herein can be used to deliver the coil devices 14, 214 to an aneurysm within a blood vessel. In so doing, a catheter 300 (e.g., a microcatheter) can be positioned within the blood vessel such that its distal end 302 is placed within the aneurysm. The delivery systems 10, 210, including the delivery shafts 22, 222 and the detachably connected coil devices 14, 214, then advance through the catheter 300. The systems 10, 210 may be pre-loaded into an introducer sheath or the like (not shown). The systems 10, 210 are then advanced to place the coil devices 14, 214 within the aneurysm. One or more radiopaque markers placed on the delivery systems 10, 210 and / or the catheter 300 may be used to assist the physician in positioning the systems 10, 210 for deployment of the coil devices 14, 214. The coil devices 14, 214 can then be released into the aneurysm by proximal withdrawal of the pull wires 30, 230. If the systems 10, 210 include an arrangement for protecting against inadvertent release of the coil devices 14, 214 as described above, prior to proximal withdrawal of the pull wires 30, 230, the shafts 22, 222 are broken at location 40 by applying a bending force to the shafts 22, 222 to cross location 40.

[0044] List of enumerated specific embodiments of this specification The following provides a non-limiting list of enumerated specific embodiments of this specification.

[0045] 1. A system for delivering an embolization coil device, comprising: A flexible elongate delivery shaft having a distal region; and An embolization coil device removably connected to the distal region of the elongate delivery shaft with the coil windings of the embolization coil device elastically compressed longitudinally; wherein when the embolization coil device is removed from the elongate delivery shaft, the coil windings elastically move to a longitudinally extended state, and the coil windings in the longitudinally extended state are more open than in the elastically longitudinally compressed state.

[0046] 2. The system of embodiment 1, wherein the embolization coil device is removably connected to the distal region by a retaining member of the embolization coil device that couples to a pull wire extending through the lumen of the elongate delivery shaft, and retraction of the pull wire in the proximal direction causes removal of the embolization coil device from the elongate delivery shaft.

[0047] 3. The system of embodiment 2, wherein the retaining member includes a ball, the delivery shaft defines a ball receiving aperture, and the ball is retained within a window by the pull wire until retraction in the proximal direction.

[0048] 4. The system of embodiment 3, wherein the ball is attached to a filament extending within the lumen of the embolization coil device, and preferably the filament provides elongation resistance to the embolization coil device at least until said removal.

[0049] 5. The system of embodiment 2, wherein the retaining member includes a loop and the pull wire extends through the loop.

[0050] 6. The system of embodiment 5, wherein the loop is defined by a filament extending within the lumen of the embolization coil device, and preferably the filament provides elongation resistance to the embolization coil device at least until said removal.

[0051] ​ 7. The winding is that of a first winding segment, and the first winding segment includes only a part of the coil winding of the plug coil device, in any system of the preceding embodiments.

[0052] 8. The system of embodiment 7, wherein the first winding segment is positioned in the proximal region of the plug coil device.

[0053] 9. A winding segment is positioned laterally and proximally to the first winding segment, and the laterally positioned winding segment has a relatively closed coil winding compared to the first winding segment, in the system of embodiment 7 or 8.

[0054] 10. A winding segment is positioned laterally and distally to the first winding segment, and the laterally positioned winding segment has a relatively closed coil winding compared to the first winding segment, in the system of embodiment 7 or 8.

[0055] 11. A second winding segment is positioned laterally and proximally to the first winding segment, and a third winding segment is positioned laterally and distally to the first winding segment, and both the second winding segment and the third winding segment have a relatively closed coil winding compared to the first winding segment, in the system of embodiment 7 or 8.

[0056] 12. The system of embodiment 10, wherein the laterally positioned winding segment extends from the distal end of the first winding segment to the distal end of the coil winding of the plug coil device.

[0057] 13. The system of embodiment 11, wherein the third winding segment extends from the distal end of the first winding segment to the distal end of the coil winding of the plug coil device.

[0058] 14. The first coil segment has a length in the range of at least about 1 mm or from about 1 mm to about 15 mm, for any one of the systems of embodiments 7 - 13.

[0059] 15. A coil winding, for any one of the systems of embodiments 1 - 6, comprising all of the coil windings of the plug coil device.

[0060] 16. Adjacent windings of the coil winding in the longitudinally extended state are spaced apart from each other by a distance equal to at least 10% of the diameter of the wire forming the coil winding, more preferably at least 20% of said diameter, for any one of the systems of embodiments 1 - 6 or 15.

[0061] 17. Adjacent windings of the coil winding in the longitudinally extended state are longitudinally spaced apart from each other by a distance in the range of about 0.0005 mm to about 0.15 mm, for any one of the systems of embodiments 1 - 6 and 15 - 16.

[0062] 18. Adjacent windings of the coil winding within the first coil segment are spaced apart from each other by a distance equal to at least 10% of the diameter of the wire forming the coil winding, more preferably at least 20% of said diameter, in the longitudinally extended state, for any one of the systems of embodiments 7 - 14.

[0063] 19. Adjacent windings of the coil winding within the first coil segment are longitudinally spaced apart from each other by a distance in the range of about 0.0005 to about 0.15 mm in the longitudinally extended state, for any one of the systems of embodiments 7 - 14 and 18.

[0064] 20. A plug coil device for removably connecting to an elongate delivery shaft of a plug coil delivery system, A coil winding having a longitudinally extended state in the relaxed state of the plug coil device, the coil winding being elastically compressible to a longitudinally compressed state for attachment to the shaft and configured to elastically move to or towards a longitudinally extended state when removed from the shaft, the coil winding in the longitudinally extended state being more open than in the longitudinally compressed state, the coil winding, A holding member attached to the coil winding and configured to cooperate with the shaft in a removable connection to the shaft of the plug coil device A plug coil device comprising:

[0065] 21. The device of embodiment 20, wherein the holding member includes a ball. 22. The device of embodiment 21, wherein the ball is attached to a filament extending within the lumen of the plug coil device, and preferably the filament is configured to provide extension resistance to the plug coil device at least until said removal.

[0066] 23. The device of embodiment 20, wherein the holding member includes a loop. 24. The device of embodiment 23, wherein the loop is defined by a filament extending within the lumen of the plug coil device, and preferably the filament is configured to provide extension resistance to the plug coil device at least until said removal.

[0067] 25. The device of any one of embodiments 20-24, wherein the winding is of a first winding segment, and the first winding segment includes only a portion of the coil winding of the plug coil device.

[0068] 26. The device of embodiment 25, wherein the first winding segment is positioned in the proximal region of the plug coil device.

[0069] 27. Lateral to the first winding segment is a laterally positioned winding segment positioned proximal to the first winding segment, the laterally positioned winding segment positioned proximal to the first winding segment having a relatively closed coil winding as compared to the first winding segment, a device of embodiment 25 or 26.

[0070] 28. Lateral to the first winding segment is a laterally positioned winding segment positioned distal to the first winding segment, the laterally positioned winding segment positioned distal to the first winding segment having a relatively closed coil winding as compared to the first winding segment, a device of embodiment 25 or 26.

[0071] 29. Lateral to the first winding segment are a second winding segment positioned proximal to the first winding segment and a third winding segment positioned distal to the first winding segment, both the second winding segment and the third winding segment having a relatively closed coil winding as compared to the first winding segment, a device of embodiment 25 or 26.

[0072] 30. The laterally positioned winding segment extends from the distal end of the first winding segment to the distal end of the coil winding of the plug coil device, a device of embodiment 28.

[0073] 31. The third winding segment extends from the distal end of the first winding segment to the distal end of the coil winding of the plug coil device, a device of embodiment 29.

[0074] 32. The first winding segment has a length of at least about 1 mm or in the range of about 1 mm to about 15 mm, a device of any one of embodiments 25 - 31.

[0075] 33. The coil winding includes all of the coil winding of the plug coil device, a device of any one of embodiments 20 - 24.

[0076] 34. In the device of any one of Embodiments 20-24 or 33, adjacent turns of the coil winding in the longitudinally extended state are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction by a distance equal to at least 10% of the diameter of the wire forming the coil winding, more preferably at least 20% of said diameter.

[0077] 35. In the device of any one of Embodiments 20-24 and 33-34, adjacent turns of the coil winding in the longitudinally extended state are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction by a distance in the range of about 0.0005 to about 0.15 mm.

[0078] 36. In the device of any one of Embodiments 25-32, adjacent turns of the coil winding within the first winding segment are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction by a distance equal to at least 10% of the diameter of the wire forming the coil winding, more preferably at least 20% of said diameter, in the longitudinally extended state.

[0079] 37. In the device of any one of Embodiments 25-32 and 36, adjacent turns of the coil winding within the first winding segment are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction by a distance in the range of about 0.0005 to about 0.15 mm, in the longitudinally extended state.

[0080] 38. The elongate delivery shaft has a coil removal interface in the distal region of the flexible elongate delivery shaft. The coil removal interface includes a distal tubular segment and a proximal bridge segment of the distal tubular segment. Optionally, the bridge segment includes a bridge wall defining an upper surface and a lower surface, and the bridge segment defines a lumen between the lower surface of the bridge wall and the bottom wall of the bridge segment. This is the system of any one of Embodiments 2-19.

[0081] 39. In the system of Embodiment 38, the bridge wall defines a proximally facing edge extending between the upper surface and the lower surface and a distally facing edge extending between the upper surface and the lower surface.

[0082] 40. The bridge wall is substantially planar or defines at least one curved wall portion, and / or the bridge wall has a rectangular cross-section in the longitudinal direction, for the system of Embodiment 38 or 39.

[0083] 41. The bridge wall defines a first curved portion and a second curved portion, for any one of the systems of Embodiments 38 to 40.

[0084] 42. The first curved portion and the second curved portion each define a concave surface on the lower surface of the bridge wall and a convex surface on the opposite side of the upper surface of the bridge wall, for the system of Embodiment 41.

[0085] 43. The bridge wall defines a third curved portion that intervenes and connects the first curved portion and the second curved portion, for the system of Embodiment 42.

[0086] 44. The third curved portion defines a convex surface on the lower surface of the bridge wall and a concave surface on the opposite side of the upper surface of the bridge wall, for the system of Embodiment 43.

[0087] 45. The bridge wall extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated delivery shaft, for any one of the systems of Embodiments 38 to 44.

[0088] 46. The elongated delivery shaft includes a bridge member attached to the distal end of a tube of a certain length, preferably a metal hypodermic tube. The bridge member provides a distal tubular segment and a bridge segment of the coil removal interface. Optionally, the bridge member includes a bridge component extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the bridge member, defining at least one sidewall opening having an opening occurring proximal to the proximal face of the bridge component, and / or optionally, the delivery shaft has a shaft segment in the proximal region of the delivery shaft. The shaft segment is configured to selectively break and separate the delivery shaft at the shaft segment in response to a bending force applied across the shaft segment. The pull wire is attached to the delivery shaft at a location proximal to the shaft segment, for any one of the systems of embodiments 38 - 45.

[0089] 47. The bridge segment is an intermediate segment of the bridge member. The bridge member also includes a tubular segment that is proximal to the bridge segment and defines a circumferential surface facing proximally. The bridge member is attached to the distal end of a tube of a certain length, preferably a metal hypodermic tube, at the circumferential surface facing proximally, for the system of embodiment 46.

[0090] 48. The bridge member is a monolithic structure formed from a single length of tube, for the system of embodiment 46 or 47.

[0091] 49. The holding member includes a ball at the proximal end of the plug coil device, for any one of the systems of embodiments 38 - 48.

[0092] 50. The elongated delivery shaft defines a ball receiving opening. The ball is held in the ball receiving opening by the pull wire until the pull wire retracts in the proximal direction, for the system of embodiment 49.

[0093] 51. The retaining member comprises a ball at the proximal end of the plug coil device, the distal tubular segment of the bridge member defines a ball receiving opening, and the ball is retained in the ball receiving opening by the pull wire until the proximal direction retraction of the pull wire, for any one system of embodiments 46 - 48.

[0094] 52. The ball receiving opening is defined in the side wall of the distal tubular segment of the bridge member, for the system of embodiment 51.

[0095] 53. The pull wire extends within a path on the upper surface of the bridge wall, for any one system of embodiments 38 - 52.

[0096] 54. The retaining member comprises a loop attached to the plug coil, for any one system of embodiments 38 - 48.

[0097] 55. The pull wire extends through the loop until the proximal direction movement of the pull wire, for the system of embodiment 54.

[0098] 56. The proximal end of the loop is retained at a proximal position of a bridge component, preferably the bridge wall, until the proximal direction movement of the pull wire, for the system of embodiment 55.

[0099] 57. The retaining member extends through a lumen defined by the bridge segment, and the pull wire extends within a path on the upper surface of the bridge wall through the loop, for the system of embodiment 56.

[0100] 58. The distal tubular segment has a most distal end defining a full circumferential surface facing distally, and the proximal end of the coil winding of the plug coil device abuts against the full circumferential surface facing distally, for any one system of embodiments 38 - 57.

[0101] 59. The pull wire has a distal end positioned distally of a bridge component, preferably the bridge wall, for any one system of embodiments 38 - 58.

[0102] 60. The distal end of the pull wire is positioned distal to the distal tubular segment, the system of embodiment 59.

[0103] 61. A system for delivering an embolization coil device, a flexible elongate delivery shaft defining a lumen and having a distal region, and a coil removal interface in the distal region of the flexible elongate delivery shaft, the coil removal interface including a distal tubular segment and a bridge segment proximal to the distal tubular segment, the bridge segment including a bridge wall or other bridge component defining an upper surface and a lower surface, the bridge segment defining a lumen between the lower surface of the bridge wall or other bridge component and the bottom wall of the bridge segment, and optionally, the bridge segment defining a sidewall opening having an opening occurring proximal to the proximal face of the bridge wall or other bridge component, the coil removal interface; an embolization coil device removably connected to the distal region of the elongate delivery shaft, and a pull wire extending through the lumen of the elongate delivery shaft and coupled to a retention member of the embolization coil device, comprising, retraction of the pull wire in the proximal direction causes removal of the embolization coil device from the elongate delivery shaft, the system.

[0104] 62. The bridge wall defines a proximally facing edge extending between the upper surface and the lower surface and a distally facing edge extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, the system of embodiment 61.

[0105] 63. The bridge wall is substantially planar or defines at least one curved wall portion, the system of embodiment 61 or 62.

[0106] 64. The bridge wall defines a first curved portion and a second curved portion, the system of embodiment 61 or 62.

[0107] 65. The system of Embodiment 64, wherein the first curved portion and the second curved portion each define a concave surface on the lower surface of the bridge wall and a convex surface on the opposite side of the upper surface of the bridge wall.

[0108] 66. The system of Embodiment 65, wherein the bridge wall defines a third curved portion that intervenes and connects the first curved portion and the second curved portion.

[0109] 67. The system of Embodiment 66, wherein the third curved portion defines a convex surface on the lower surface of the bridge wall and a concave surface on the opposite side of the upper surface of the bridge wall.

[0110] 68. The system of any one of Embodiments 61 - 67, wherein the bridge wall extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated delivery shaft.

[0111] 69. The elongated delivery shaft includes a tube of a certain length and a bridge member optionally attached to the distal end of a metal hypodermic tube. The bridge member provides a distal tubular segment and a bridge segment of a coil removal interface. Optionally, the delivery shaft has a shaft segment in the proximal region of the delivery shaft. The shaft segment is configured to selectively break and separate the delivery shaft at the shaft segment in response to a bending force applied across the shaft segment. The pull wire is attached to the delivery shaft at a location proximal to the shaft segment. The system of any one of Embodiments 61 - 68.

[0112] 70. The bridge segment is an intermediate segment of the bridge member. The bridge member also includes a tubular segment that is proximal to the bridge segment and defines a circumferential surface facing proximally. The bridge member is attached to the distal end of a tube of a certain length, preferably a metal hypodermic tube, at the circumferential surface facing proximally. The system of Embodiment 69.

[0113] 71. The system of Embodiment 69 or 70, wherein the bridge member is a monolithic structure formed from a single length of tube.

[0114] 72. The retaining member is a system according to any one of embodiments 61-71, comprising a ball at the proximal end of the plug coil device.

[0115] 73. The elongated delivery shaft defines a ball receiving opening, and the ball is held in the ball receiving opening by the pull wire until the proximal retreat of the pull wire, in the system of embodiment 72.

[0116] 74. The retaining member comprises a ball at the proximal end of the plug coil device, the distal tubular segment of the bridge member defines a ball receiving opening, and the ball is held in the ball receiving opening by the pull wire until the proximal retreat of the pull wire, in a system according to any one of embodiments 69-71.

[0117] 75. The ball receiving opening is defined in the side wall of the distal tubular segment of the bridge member, in the system of embodiment 74.

[0118] 76. The pull wire extends within a path on the upper surface of the bridge wall, in a system according to any one of embodiments 61-75.

[0119] 77. The retaining member comprises a loop attached to the plug coil, in a system according to any one of embodiments 61-71.

[0120] 78. The pull wire extends through the loop until the proximal movement of the pull wire, in the system of embodiment 77.

[0121] 79. The proximal end of the loop is held in a proximal position of the bridge wall until the proximal movement of the pull wire, in the system of embodiment 78.

[0122] 80. The retaining member extends through a lumen defined by the bridge segment, and the pull wire extends within a path on the upper surface of the bridge wall through the loop, in the system of embodiment 79.

[0123] 81. The distal tubular segment has a distal end that defines a full circumferential surface facing distally, and the proximal end of the coil winding of the plug coil device abuts against the full circumferential surface facing distally, for any one system of Embodiments 61-80.

[0124] 82. The pull wire has a distal end positioned distally of the bridge wall, for any one system of Embodiments 61-81.

[0125] 83. The distal end of the pull wire is positioned distally of the distal tubular segment, for the system of Embodiment 82.

[0126] 84. A bridge member useful in a removal interface of a plug coil device delivery system, comprising a distal tubular segment, a proximal tubular segment, and an intermediate segment between the distal tubular segment and the proximal tubular segment, wherein (i) the intermediate segment includes a bridge wall defining an upper surface and a lower surface, the intermediate segment defines a lumen between the lower surface of the bridge wall and the bottom wall of the bridge segment, or (ii) the intermediate segment includes a bridge component extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the bridge member, the intermediate segment defines at least one sidewall opening having an opening occurring proximally in proximity to the proximal surface of the bridge component, preferably, (a) at least one sidewall opening has a maximum width in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bridge member that is at least 40% of the corresponding width of the bridge member that coextends longitudinally with the at least one sidewall opening, (b) at least one sidewall opening has a maximum length in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bridge member that is at least equal to the maximum width of the at least one sidewall opening, and / or (c) the opening is longitudinally proximal by a distance of no more than 200% of the corresponding width of the bridge member that coextends longitudinally with the at least one opening from the proximal surface of the bridge component, the bridge member.

[0127] 85. The bridge wall defines a proximally facing edge extending between the upper surface and the lower surface and a distally facing edge extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, for the bridge member of Embodiment 84.

[0128] 86. The bridge wall is the bridge member of Embodiment 84 that is substantially planar or defines at least one curved wall portion.

[0129] 87. The bridge wall is the bridge member of Embodiment 84 or 85 that defines a first curved portion and a second curved portion.

[0130] 88. The first curved portion and the second curved portion each define a concave surface on the lower surface of the bridge wall and a convex surface on the opposite side of the upper surface of the bridge wall, which is the bridge member of Embodiment 87.

[0131] 89. The bridge wall is the bridge member of Embodiment 88 that defines a third curved portion intervening and connecting the first curved portion and the second curved portion.

[0132] 90. The third curved portion defines a convex surface on the lower surface of the bridge wall and a concave surface on the opposite side of the upper surface of the bridge wall, which is the bridge member of Embodiment 89.

[0133] 91. The bridge wall is any one of the bridge members of Embodiments 84 to 90 that extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bridge member.

[0134] 92. A flexible elongate delivery shaft useful in a system for delivering a plug coil device, comprising a bridge member according to any one of Embodiments 84 to 91 attached to the distal end of a tube of a certain length, preferably a metal hypodermic tube.

[0135] 93. A flexible elongate delivery shaft having a shaft segment in the proximal region of the delivery shaft, configured to selectively break and separate the delivery shaft at the shaft segment in response to a bending force applied across the shaft segment.

[0136] 94. The flexible elongated delivery shaft of Embodiment 92, in combination with a pull wire extending through the lumen of the elongated delivery shaft and additionally, optionally, in combination with a coil device removably connected to the flexible elongated delivery shaft.

[0137] 95. The delivery shaft has a shaft segment in a proximal region of the delivery shaft, configured to selectively break and separate the delivery shaft at the shaft segment in response to a bending force applied across the shaft segment, and the pull wire is attached to the delivery shaft at a location proximal to the shaft segment, in the combination of Embodiment 94.

[0138] 96. The plug coil device has coil windings in a state elastically compressed longitudinally, and when the plug coil device is removed from the elongated delivery shaft, the coil windings elastically move to a longitudinally extended state, and the coil windings in the longitudinally extended state are more open than in the elastically longitudinally compressed state, in any one of Systems of Embodiments 61 - 83.

[0139] 97. The winding is of a first winding segment, and the first winding segment includes only a part of the coil windings of the plug coil device, in the system of Embodiment 96.

[0140] 98. The first winding segment is positioned in a proximal region of the plug coil device, in the system of Embodiment 97.

[0141] 99. Lateral to the first winding segment is positioned a laterally positioned winding segment positioned proximal to the first winding segment, and the laterally positioned winding segment positioned proximal to the first winding segment has relatively closed coil windings compared to the first winding segment, in the system of Embodiment 97 or 98.

[0142] 100. Lateral to the first winding segment is a laterally positioned winding segment positioned distal to the first winding segment, and the laterally positioned winding segment positioned distal to the first winding segment has a relatively closed coil winding compared to the first winding segment, for the system of Embodiment 97 or 98.

[0143] 101. Lateral to the first winding segment are a second winding segment positioned proximal to the first winding segment and a third winding segment positioned distal to the first winding segment, and both the second winding segment and the third winding segment have relatively closed coil windings compared to the first winding segment, for the system of Embodiment 97 or 98.

[0144] 102. The laterally positioned winding segment positioned distal to the first winding segment extends from the distal end of the first winding segment to the distal end of the coil winding of the plug coil device, for the system of Embodiment 100.

[0145] 103. The third winding segment extends from the distal end of the first winding segment to the distal end of the coil winding of the plug coil device, for the system of Embodiment 101.

[0146] 104. The first winding segment has a length of at least 1 mm or in the range of about 1 mm to about 15 mm, for any one of the systems of Embodiments 97 - 103.

[0147] 105. The coil winding includes all of the coil winding of the plug coil device, for the system of Embodiment 96.

[0148] 106. Adjacent windings of the coil winding in the longitudinally extended state are spaced from each other by a distance equal to at least 10% of the diameter of the wire forming the adjacent coil windings, more preferably at least 20% of said diameter, for any one of the systems of Embodiments 96 - 105.

[0149] 107. In the system of any one of Embodiments 96 to 106, adjacent winding turns of the coil winding in a state of being elongated in the longitudinal direction are separated from each other by a distance in the range of about 0.005 to about 0.15 mm.

[0150] As used herein, the terms "a," "an," and "the" and similar references (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to include both the singular and the plural unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The recitation of a range of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value within the range unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated herein as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein is merely intended to better illuminate the embodiments of the disclosure and does not limit the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in this specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the claimed product or method.

[0151] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, it should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and only some embodiments have been illustrated and described, and it is understood that all changes and modifications within the spirit of the disclosure herein are desired to be protected.

Claims

[Claim 1] A system for delivering embolic coil devices, A flexible, elongated delivery shaft having a distal region, An embolization coil device wherein the coil winding of the embolization coil device is elastically compressed in the longitudinal direction and is removably connected to the distal region of the elongated delivery shaft. Equipped with, A system in which, when the embolization coil device is removed from the elongated delivery shaft, the coil winding elastically moves to a longitudinally stretched state, and the coil winding in the longitudinally stretched state is more open than in the elastically longitudinally compressed state.

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