Polymer composites for biomedical applications and methods of making

• US 7,569,626 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2004
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dfine Incorporated (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dfine Incorporated (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Truckai, Csaba
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoon; Tae H
• Application Number:
  US10/790,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20040247849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: 523/218, 523/219, 523/210, 523/351, 524/439
• US Class Current: 523/218
• 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 17/12045 double occlusion, e.g. during anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12113 within an aneurysm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12118 for positioning in conjunction with a stent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1214 Coils or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12168 having a mesh structure A61B17/1214 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12181 formed by fluidized, gelatinous or cellular remodelable materials, e.g. embolic liquids, foams or extracellular matrices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12186 liquid materials adapted to be injected
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12068 detachable by heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12072 the heat created by laser light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00416 Treatment of aneurisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/42 characterised by the use of certain kinds of fibres insofar as this use has no preponderant influence on the consolidation of the fleece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249924 Noninterengaged fiber-containing paper-free web or sheet which is not of specified porosity

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.

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-K, wherein the composite is formed into microshells having hollow cores.

2. A biocompatible polymer composite as in claim 1 wherein the microshell cores are filled with a gas.

3. A biocompatible polymer composite as in claim 1 wherein the microshell cores are filled with CO₂.

4. A biocompatible polymer composite as in claim 1 wherein the microshell cores are filled with first and second cooperating polymerizable components.

5. A biocompatible polymer composite as in claim 1 wherein the microshell cores are filled with a drug.