Method of manufacturing expansile filamentous embolization devices
First Claim
1. A method for making a body cavity occlusion device, the method comprising:
- providing an elongated, flexible, filamentous carrier; and
coaxially encapsulating at least a portion of the length of the carrier in an expansile, hydrophilic polymer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An embolization device for occluding a body cavity includes one or more elongated, expansible, hydrophilic embolizing elements non-releasably carried along the length of an elongated filamentous carrier that is preferably made of a very thin, highly flexible filament or microcoil of nickel/titanium alloy. At least one expansile embolizing element is non-releasably attached to the carrier. A first embodiment includes a plurality of embolizing elements fixed to the carrier at spaced-apart intervals along its length. In second, third and fourth embodiments, an elongate, continuous, coaxial embolizing element is non-releasably fixed to the exterior surface of the carrier, extending along a substantial portion of the length of the carrier proximally from a distal tip, and optionally includes a lumenal reservoir for delivery of therapeutic agents. Exemplary methods for making these devices include skewering and molding the embolizing elements. In any of the embodiments, the embolizing elements may be made of a hydrophilic, macro-porous, polymeric, hydrogel foam material. In the second, third and fourth embodiments, the elongate embolizing element is preferably made of a porous, environmentally-sensitive, expansile hydrogel, which can optionally be made biodegradable and/or bioresorbable, having a rate of expansion that changes in response to a change in an environmental parameter, such as the pH or temperature of the environment.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for making a body cavity occlusion device, the method comprising:
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providing an elongated, flexible, filamentous carrier; and
coaxially encapsulating at least a portion of the length of the carrier in an expansile, hydrophilic polymer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26)
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15. A device for occluding a body cavity, the device comprising:
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an elongated, flexible, filamentous carrier; and
a member of an expansile, hydrophilic polymer coaxially encapsulating at least a portion of the length of the carrier.
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23. A device for occluding a cavity, the device comprising:
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an elongated, filamentous carrier formed of a biocompatible material having an elastic memory and an external surface; and
a coaxial member of an expansile hydrogel formed over the carrier such that the member covers a substantial portion of the external surface of the carrier;
wherein the device has at least one of a greater flexibility and a greater lubricity when the hydrogel is hydrated than when the hydrogel is dehydrated.
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25. A device for occluding a body cavity, the device comprising:
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an elongated, filamentous carrier with an external surface; and
a coaxial member of a hydrophilic polymer covering a substantial portion of the external surface of the carrier;
wherein a physical property of the coaxial member in an aqueous environment is a function of time in the environment and a physical parameter of the environment.
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Specification