Importance

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Abstract

The retention of free coils or GDC coils within body cavities or aneurysms in the human vascular system is achieved through the use of a GDC cage. The GDC cage is comprised of an expandable cage coupled to the wire, which cage and wire are disposed within a catheter. The cage has a memory so that it normally assumes an expanded configuration when unconfined, but is capable of assuming a collapsed configuration when disposed and confined within the catheter. In the illustrated embodiments a detachable joint is provided between the cage and wire so that the cage may be selectively detached from the wire and left in place within the body lumen in its selected position in the expanded configuration. The cage may thus be placed and detached in aneurysms to retain the coils disposed therein or placed in front of aneurysm openings to prevent the escape of free coils from the aneurysm. The cage may be used as a fishing tool to capture escaped free coils in the vessel, which may have escaped from the aneurysm. In addition, RF energy may be applied to the cage so that when the cage is placed in a large body lumen, it serves as a collapsible RF antenna. As the body lumen shrinks on the cage, the cage compliantly yields while continuing to deliver RF energy to the body lumen until the desired amount of shrinkage is obtained.

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First Claim