Tissue treatment
View Patent ↗A method of treating tissue includes placing substantially spherical polymer particles in the tissue. The particles include an interior region having relatively large pores and a first region substantially surrounding the interior having fewer relatively large pores than the interior region.
1. A method of treating tissue, the method comprising:
placing a plurality of substantially spherical polymer particles in the tissue, wherein:
the particles comprise first pores and second pores that are smaller than the first pores;
each particle has a center, a surface, a radius, a center region, and a surface region;
the center region extends radially from the center to about ⅓ of the radius;
the surface region extends radially from ⅔ of the radius to the surface; and
the surface region comprises fewer of the first pores than the center region.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particles are injected into the tissue.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the particles are injected percutaneously.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particles are delivered through a catheter.
5. The method of claim 1 , comprising forming a cavity in the tissue, and placing the particles in the cavity.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is adjacent to a body passageway.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the passageway is defined by a ureter.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is adjacent to a body passageway, the particles being placed in an amount effective to narrow the passageway.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise polyvinyl alcohol.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is 1,3 diol acetalized.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the particles comprise a polysaccharide.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the polysaccharide comprises alginate.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise a therapeutic agent.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein, for at least some of the plurality of particles, each particle has a different radius.
15. A method of treating an individual, the method comprising:
placing a therapeutically effective amount of substantially spherical particles comprising polyvinyl alcohol in a tissue of the individual,
wherein;
the particles comprise first pores and second pores that are smaller than the first pores;
each particle has a center, a surface, a radius, a center region, and a surface region;
the center region extends radially from the center to about ⅓ of the radius;
the surface region extends radially from ⅔ of the radius to the surface; and
the surface region comprises fewer of the first pores than the center region.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the tissue is adjacent to a gastrointestinal tract.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the tissue is adjacent to a ureter.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with urinary incontinence.
21. The method of claim 15 , further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with fecal incontinence.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the particles are placed percutaneously.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the particles are placed through a catheter.
24. The method of claim 15 , further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with instrinsic sphincteric deficiency.
25. The method of claim 15 , further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with vocal cord paralysis.
26. The method of claim 15 , further comprising selecting the individual in need of a reconstructive or cosmetic procedure.
27. The method of claim 15 , wherein, for at least some of the therapeutically effective amount of particles, each particle has a different radius.