Solid embolic material with variable expansion

• US 20030220666A1
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Chan, Huey Quoc, Mirigian, Gregory E., Porter, Stephen C., Chien, Thomas Yung-Hui, Eury, Robert P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,338,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12113 within an aneurysm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12186 liquid materials adapted to be injected
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12195 comprising a curable material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12063 electrolytically detachable

Abstract

A solid embolic material that is capable of filling irregularly shaped and asymmetrical vascular defects in a controlled and predictable manner, without the difficulties associated with delivery of the embolic material through a microcatheter and containment of the embolic material in a defect. A detachable embolic balloon with optional check valve for maintaining liquid in the balloon prior to curing and optional multi-leaflet covering to prevent the balloon from expanding into the native vascular lumen.

Claims

1. A method of treating a vascular defect having an internal wall defining an internal volume, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an elongate catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough;

providing a solid embolic material;

disposing the solid embolic material in the lumen of the catheter;

navigating the catheter through a patient'"'"'s vasculature until the distal end is adjacent the vascular defect; and

urging the solid embolic material from the catheter lumen and into the vascular defect such that the solid embolic material substantially conforms to the internal wall.

2. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 1, wherein the step of disposing the embolic material in the lumen of the catheter comprises injecting the solid into the distal end of the catheter.

3. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 1, wherein the urging step comprises applying fluid pressure in the catheter lumen proximal of the solid embolic material.

4. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 3, wherein the urging step comprises inflating the solid embolic material with a liquid.

5. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 4, wherein the inflating step comprises inflating the solid embolic material with a liquid embolic material.

6. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 5, wherein the liquid embolic material subsequently solidifies.

7. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 4, wherein the inflating step comprises inflating the solid embolic material with a radiopaque liquid.

8. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 4, further comprising the step of detaching the solid embolic material from the distal end of the catheter.

9. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 8, wherein the detaching step comprises pulling the catheter.

10. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 8, wherein the detaching step comprises rotating and pulling the catheter.

11. An embolic device comprising a solid material defining an initially solid volume which is viscid and self-sealing such that the material is able to retain a fluid injected into the solid volume.

12. An embolic device as in claim 11, wherein the fluid comprises a radiopaque liquid.

13. An embolic device as in claim 11, wherein the fluid comprises a liquid embolic material.

14. An embolic device as in claim 11, wherein the material comprises a prepolymer.

15. An embolic device as in claim 11, wherein the material comprises a polymer.

16. An embolic device as in claim 11, wherein the material comprises a polymer and a solvent mixture.

17. An embolic system, comprising:

an elongate catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough; and

a solid embolic material disposed in the lumen at the distal end of the catheter, the solid embolic material comprising a solid material defining an initially solid volume which is viscid and self-sealing such that the material is able to retain a fluid injected into the solid volume.

18. An embolic balloon device, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a distal end; and

an expandable balloon comprising a plastically deformable material, the balloon having a detachable proximal portion connected to the distal end of the shaft, the balloon having an interior, the proximal portion of the balloon including a radiopaque marker.

19. An embolic balloon device as in claim 18, wherein the proximal portion of the balloon includes a check valve.

20. An embolic balloon device as in claim 18, wherein the balloon includes a chemical initiator exposed to the interior of the balloon.

21. An embolic balloon device as in claim 18, further comprising a plurality of leaflets connected to the proximal portion of the expandable balloon and extending distally along the balloon.

22. A method of treating a vascular defect having an internal wall defining an internal volume, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a catheter including an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, with a detachable balloon connected to the distal end of the shaft, the detachable balloon comprising a plastically deformable material;

navigating the catheter through a patient'"'"'s vasculature until the balloon is adjacent an opening to the vascular defect;

urging the detachable balloon into the vascular defect;

inflating the detachable balloon with a curable liquid;

curing the curable liquid; and

disconnecting the detachable balloon from the distal end of the shaft.

23. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 22, wherein the curable liquid is thermally responsive and wherein step of curing the curable liquid comprises applying heat to the liquid.

24. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 22, wherein the detachable balloon comprises a thermally responsive material, and wherein the step of inflating the detachable balloon includes heating the thermally responsive material of the balloon.

25. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 22, wherein the catheter further comprises a plurality of leaflets at least partially surrounding the balloon, further comprising the step of expanding the leaflets across the opening to the vascular defect.

26. A method of treating a vascular defect as in claim 25, wherein the step of inflating the expandable balloon causes expansion of the leaflets.