Intracorporeal occlusive device and method
An intracorporeal space filling device and a delivery system and method of using the device is disclosed. The space filling device is preferably configured for percutaneous delivery from a peripheral conduit of a patient. The space filling device has an elongated tubular or interconnected bead structure which may have a transmutable material disposed within it. The transmutable material can be altered from a non-rigid state to a rigid state by the application of various types of energy or by other suitable means. The space filling device can be positioned by a delivery system and detached from the delivery system after desired positioning is achieved.
1 . A method of occluding an intracorporeal void, comprising:
(a) positioning the distal end of a microcatheter such that a distal port in the distal end is directed to the cavity of the intracorporeal void;
(b) distally advancing an intracorporeal space filling device comprising:
an elongate tubular shell which has a first port disposed at a first end and a second port disposed at a second end and an inner lumen disposed within the shell in fluid communication with the first port and second port; and
a transmutable material disposed within the inner lumen of the shell that is transmutable from a non-rigid state to a substantially rigid state within the patient's body,
(c) deploying the space filling device into the void
(d) transmuting the transmutable material from a non-rigid state to a substantially rigid state;
(e) detaching the space filling device from the delivery system by activation of a detachment mechanism after the space filling device has been positioned with the intracorporeal void.