Polymer composites for biomedical applications and methods of making
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for thermally treating tissue, comprising:
- an elongate introducer having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior passageway extending from the proximal end to an opening in the distal end;
a flowable insulative material carried in or otherwise in fluid communication with the interior passageway;
at least one electrode coupled to or proximate to the distal end of the introducer;
an energy delivery actuator configured to controllably energize the at least one electrode; and
a flow actuator configured to actuate a controlled flow of the flowable insulative material from the interior passageway through the distal end opening and outwardly from the distal end of the introducer;
wherein the flowable insulative material comprises a base polymer and dispersed nonconductive filler.
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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 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.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for thermally treating tissue, comprising:
an elongate introducer having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior passageway extending from the proximal end to an opening in the distal end; a flowable insulative material carried in or otherwise in fluid communication with the interior passageway; at least one electrode coupled to or proximate to the distal end of the introducer; an energy delivery actuator configured to controllably energize the at least one electrode; and a flow actuator configured to actuate a controlled flow of the flowable insulative material from the interior passageway through the distal end opening and outwardly from the distal end of the introducer; wherein the flowable insulative material comprises a base polymer and dispersed nonconductive filler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for thermally treating tissue, comprising:
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an elongate introducer having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior passageway extending from the proximal end to an opening in the distal end; a flowable insulative material carried in or otherwise in fluid communication with the interior passageway; at least one electrode coupled to or proximate to the distal end of the introducer; an energy delivery actuator configured to controllably energize the at least one electrode; and a flow actuator configured to actuate a controlled flow of the flowable insulative material from the interior passageway through the distal end opening and outwardly from the distal end of the introducer; wherein the flowable insulative material comprises a thermochromic material.
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13. A system for thermally treating tissue, comprising:
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an elongate introducer having a proximal end, a distal end, a first interior passageway extending from the proximal end to a first opening in the distal end, and a second interior passageway extending from the proximal end to a second opening in the distal end proximate the first opening, a flowable insulative material carried in or otherwise in fluid communication with the first interior passageway; a flowable conductive material carried in or otherwise in fluid communication with the second interior passageway; one or more actuation mechanisms configured to simultaneously actuate a controlled flow of the flowable insulative material out the first distal end opening, and a controlled flow of the flowable conductive material out the second distal end opening; and at least one electrode coupled to or proximate to the distal end of the introducer; and an energy delivery actuator configured to controllably energize the at least one electrode; wherein the flowable insulative material comprises a base polymer and dispersed nonconductive filler. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification