Polymer composites for biomedical applications and methods of making
First Claim
1. A biocompatible polymer composite for use in thermally-related medical therapies, the composite comprising a base polymer component and a dispersed filler component, the filler component having a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W/m−
- K.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A biomedical polymer composite that exhibits ultra-low thermal conductivity properties. In a preferred embodiment, the biomedical polymer composite comprises a base polymer component with a dispersed thermally non-conductive filler component consisting of glass or ceramic nanospheres or microspheres that have a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W/m−K, and preferably less than 2 W/m−K. In one embodiment, the polymer composite is has an electrically conductive filler and can be used in a filament for treating arteriovascular malformations. In another embodiment, the polymeric composite can be used as an energy-coupling means to apply energy to tissue.
-
Citations
33 Claims
- 1. A biocompatible polymer composite for use in thermally-related medical therapies, the composite comprising a base polymer component and a dispersed filler component, the filler component having a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W/m−
-
21. A method of making a biocompatible polymer composite for use in thermally-related medical therapies, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a biocompatible base polymer;
(b) providing a biocompatible dispersable filler material that has a thermal conductivity of less than about 5 W/m−
K; and
(c) mixing the filler component in the base polymeric when in a melt state. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A therapeutic method for treating tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a biocompatible polymer composite comprising a base polymer component and a dispersed filler component, the filler component having a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W/m−
K;
introducing the polymer composite to a site about a body structure;
performing a thermally-mediated treatment on a first region of the body structure wherein the polymer composite thermally protects an adjacent second region of the body structure.
-
-
30. A method of applying energy to tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a biocompatible polymer composite comprising a base polymer component and a first dispersed filler component having a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W/m−
K and a second filler component comprising energy-coupling means;
introducing the polymer composite to a targeted site about a body structure;
applying energy to the polymer composite wherein the energy-coupling means localizes energy application the targeted site.
-
- 31. A method of applying energy as in claim 31, wherein the providing step provides energy-coupling means that comprise at least one of electrically conductive filler materials, ferromagnetic filler materials and chromophore filler materials.
-
33. A method of for controlled application of energy to tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a biocompatible composite comprising a flowable media that carries a dispersed first component comprising energy-coupling means and a dispersed second component comprising a hollow microspheres;
introducing the composite to a treatment region in a body;
applying ultrasound imaging means to the targeted region thereby acquiring data relating to the distribution energy-coupling means about the treatment region;
utilizing algorithms in a controller system to locally and selectively modulate energy application to the energy-coupling means based on its distribution about the treatment region.
-
Specification