Embolization device and a method of using the same

• US 20050015110A1
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Endologix
• Original Assignee: Endologix
• Inventors: Drews, Michael J., Modesitt, D. Bruce, Holmgren, Neil, Fogarty, Thomas J., Willis, David B.
• Application Number:
  US10/622,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20050015110A1
• 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 17/12118 for positioning in conjunction with a stent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12163 having a string of elements connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/001 Figure-8-shaped, e.g. hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0021 square
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/044 Collagen

Abstract

Space-occupying devices for treating voids within the body are disclosed. The devices can have multiple elements connected to a flexible leader. The devices can be coated by a binding agent. The devices can also be fillable. Methods of making and using the devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A space-occupying device comprising:

a space-occupying element comprising a device volume, and wherein the device volume is maintained in a substantially cylindrical configuration by a binding agent, and wherein the flexibility of the device volume is increased when the binding agent is exposed to a softening agent.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device volume comprises a flexible segment.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device volume comprises a helical segment.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device volume comprises a woven segment.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the binding agent comprises a gel.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the gel comprises a hydrogel.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the gel comprises a gelatin.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the bindging agent comprises agar.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the bindging agent comprises a sugar.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the binding agent comprises collagen.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the bindging agent comprises a collagen matrix

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the binding agent comprises a radial constraining device.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the binding agent comprises a net.

14. A device for filling an abnormal void within the body comprising:

a first space-occupying piece;

a second space-occupying piece, wherein the first space-occupying piece is flexibly attached to the second space-occupying piece; and

a binding agent attached to the first space-occupying piece and the second space-occupying piece, wherein the binding agent increases the colum strength of the attachment of the first space-occupying piece and the second space-occupying piece, and wherein the flexibility of the attachment of the first space-occupying piece and the second space-occupying piece is increased when the binding agent is exposed to a softening agent.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the first space-occupying piece comprises a first segment of a flexible leader,

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the second space-occupying piece comprises a second segment of the flexible leader.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising a flexible leader, wherein the first space-occupying piece is connected to the leader at a first length along the leader, and wherein the second space-occupying piece is connected to the leader at a second length along the leader.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the leader comprises a first end integrated with the first space-occupying piece.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the leader comprises a second end integrated with the second space-occupying piece.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the leader comprises a first end attached to the first space-occupying piece to impede removal of the first space-occupying piece from the leader.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the leader comprises a knot to impede removal of the first space-occupying piece from the leader.

22. The device of claim 14, wherein the first space-occupying piece comprises a first non-expandable space-occupying element

23. The device of claim 15, wherein the second space-occupying piece comprises a second non-expandable space-occupying element.

24. The device of claim 14, wherein the first space-occupying piece comprises collagen.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the second space-occupying piece comprises collagen.

26. The device of claim 14, further comprising a coating on the device.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the coating comprises a therapeutic agent and/or a diagnostic agent.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the coating comprises a thrombogenic material.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein the coating comprises a collagen matrix.

30. The device of claim 14, wherein the first space-occupying piece is woven with the second space-occupying piece.

31. The device of claim 14, wherein the first space-occupying piece comprises a first fiber.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the second space-occupying piece comprises a second fiber.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein the first fiber comprises polyester.

34. The device of claim 14, wherein the first space-occupying piece is discrete from the second space-occupying piece.

35. The device of claim 14, wherein the first space-occupying piece is integrated with the second space-occupying piece.

36. The device of claim 14, wherein the first space-occupying piece is helical.

37. The device of claim 14, wherein the binding agent comprises a gel.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the gel comprises a hydrogel.

39. A method for filling an abnormal void within the body, the method comprising:

placing in a void within the body a catheter having a distal exit, the distal exit placed at a treatment site;

passing a space-occupying device through the catheter and distal exit, the space-occupying device comprising a device volume and a binding agent, wherein the binding agent reduces the flexibility of the space-occupying device; and

deploying the device into the treatment site.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the flexibility of the space-occupying device increases when the binding agent is exposed to a softening agent.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein deploying comprises exposing the device to a softening agent.