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Occlusive implant and methods for hollow anatomical structure

  • US 9,017,361 B2
  • Filed: 04/20/2006
  • Issued: 04/28/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of treating a hollow anatomical structure having a lumen, the method comprising:

  • inserting an implant into the lumen, the implant comprising a radially-compressible fibrous mass and a tether extending axially through the fibrous mass to a distal tether end coupled to a distal end of the fibrous mass, wherein the fibrous mass predominantly comprises a plurality of loose bioabsorbable fibers that are in substantial alignment with each other along their lengths, wherein the fibers are radially-bulked, such that when the fibrous mass is in a radially compressed configuration, each of the fibers has a greater length and defines a smaller radial thickness than when the fibrous mass is in a radially uncompressed configuration, wherein inserting the implant comprises inserting the implant into the lumen with the fibrous mass in its compressed configuration, and so that the tether has a proximal end extending outside of the hollow anatomical structure, and wherein the hollow anatomical structure comprises a blood vessel;

    securing the proximal end of the tether to tissue outside of the hollow anatomical structure;

    allowing the fibrous mass to expand within the lumen from its radially compressed configuration toward its radially uncompressed configuration as the fibers of the fibrous mass decrease in length and thereby define a greater radial thickness, thereby creating a high void-content scaffold spanning a section of the lumen of the hollow anatomical structure and causing a partial occlusion of the lumen, wherein causing the partial occlusion comprises reducing blood flow through the lumen by 10%-90%; and

    gradually creating a substantially complete occlusion of the lumen by allowing blood to infiltrate the voids of the scaffold.

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