Self-expanding medical occlusion device

1. A self-expanding medical occlusion device for treating heart defects in patients, in particular closing abnormal openings in tissue, whereby the occlusion device is introduced into the body of a patient in a minimally invasive fashion using a catheter system, comprising:

a braiding of thin threads;

wherein said braiding exhibits a first preliminarily definable shape as the occlusion device is being inserted into the patient's body; and a second preliminarily definable shape in the implanted state of the occlusion device; and

wherein the braiding of said occlusion device in the first profile form is in a collapsed state and the braiding in the second profile form is in expanded state; and

wherein the threads of braiding are comprised of a shape memory polymer composite so that the braiding will deform from a temporary shape to a permanent shape by means of an external stimulus, said shape memory polymer composite comprising a linear, phase-segregated multiblock copolymer network which can exhibit at least two different phases; and

wherein the temporary shape is given in a first profile form of braiding and the permanent shape is given in a second profile form of braiding.

2. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said external stimulus is a definable switching temperature.

3. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the switching temperature is within a range of between room temperature and the patient's body temperature.

4. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the polymer composite comprises polymer switching elements; and

wherein the temporary shape of said braiding is stabilized below the definable switching temperature based on the characteristic phase transitions of polymer switching elements.

5. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the polymer composite exhibits a crystalline or semi-crystalline polymer network having crystalline switching segments;

wherein the temporary shape to said braiding is fixed and stabilized by freezing the crystalline switching segments at crystallization transition; and

wherein the switching temperature is a function of the crystallization temperature, of the switching temperature of the crystalline switching segments respectively.

6. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the polymer composite exhibits an amorphous polymer network having amorphous switching segments; and

wherein the temporary shape to said braiding is fixed and stabilized by freezing of the amorphous switching segments at the switching segment glass transition;

whereby the switching temperature is a function of the glass transition temperature of the amorphous switching segments.

7. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 1 ,

wherein the first phase that can be exhibited by said linear, phase-segregated multiblock copolymer network is a hard segment-forming phase in which a plurality of hard segment-forming blocks are formed in the polymer which serve the physical crosslinking of the polymer structure and define and stabilize the permanent shape to said braiding; and

wherein the second phase that can be exhibited by said linear, phase-segregated multiblock copolymer network is a switching segment-forming phase in which a plurality of switching segment-forming blocks are formed in the polymer which serve to fix the temporary shape of said braiding; and

wherein the transition temperature from the switching segment-forming phase to the hard segment-forming phase is the switching temperature; and

wherein conventional methods such as injection molding or extrusion processes can be used to set the profile form to said braiding above the transition temperature of the hard segment-forming phase.

8. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the polymer composite exhibits thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers of a multiblock structure; and

wherein the hard segment-forming phase is formed by conversion of diisocyanates, in particular methylene-bis(4-phenylisocyanate) or hexamethylene diisocyanate, with diols, in particular 1,4-Butandiol; and

wherein the switching segment-forming phase yields from oligomeric polyether/poly-esterdiols, in particular based on OH-terminated oly(tetrahydrofuran), poly(.epsilon.-caprolactone), poly(ethylene adipate), poly(ethylene glyocol) or poly(propylenglycol).

9. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the phase-segregated diblock copolymers of the polymer composite exhibit an amorphous A-block and a semi-crystallized B-block; and

wherein the glass transition of the amorphous A-block constitutes the hard segment-forming phase; and

wherein the melting temperature of the semi-crystalline B-block serves as the switching temperature for the thermal shape memory effect.

10. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the polymer composite has polystyrol as the amorphous A-block and poly(1,4-butadiene) as the semi-crystalline B-block.

11. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the polymer composite exhibits a phase-segregated triblock copolymer having a semi-crystalline central B-block and two amorphous terminal A-blocks;

wherein the A-blocks constitute the hard segment and the B-block establishes the switching temperature.

12. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the polymer composite exhibits semi-crystalline poly-(tetrahydrofuran) as the central B-block and amorphous poly(2-methyloxazolin) as terminal A-blocks.

13. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the polymer composite comprises polynorbornene, polyethylene/nylon-6-graft copolymers and/or crosslinked poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) copolymers.

14. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the polymer composite exhibits a covalent crosslinked polymer network which is formed by polymerization, polycondensation and/or polyaddition of difunctional monomers or macromers with additive of tri or higher functional crosslinking; and

wherein given an appropriate selection of the monomers, their functionality and ratio of crosslinkers, the chemical, thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer network as formed can be specifically and selectively set.

15. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the polymer composite is a covalent polymer network which comprises a crosslinker by crosslinking copolymerization of stearylacrylate and methacrylic acid with N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide, whereby the shape memory effect of the polymer composite is based on crystallizing stearyl-side chains.

16. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the polymer composite exhibits a covalent crosslinked polymer network which is formed by subsequent crosslinking of linear or branched polymers.

17. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 16 , wherein crosslinking is actuated by one of ionizing radiation and by thermal fission of radical-forming groups.

18. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the polymer composite comprises at least one biologically degradable material.

19. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the polymer composite exhibits a hydrolytically degradable polymer, in particular poly(hydroxy carboxylic acids) or the corresponding copolymers.

20. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the polymer composite exhibits enzymatically degradable polymers.

21. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the polymer composite exhibits a biodegradable thermoplastic amorphous polyurethane-copolyester polymer network.

22. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the polymer composite exhibits biodegradable elastic polymer network, obtained from crosslinking of oligomer diols with diisocyanate.

23. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the polymer composite is formed as covalent networks based on oligo(.epsilon.-caprolactone)dimethacrylate and butylacrylate.

24. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second preliminarily definable shape of the occlusion device is configured to close an abnormal tissue opening in a patient's heart; and

wherein in its expanded state, the occlusion device exhibits a proximal retention area, a distal retention area and a center section interposed between the two;

wherein the said occlusion device exhibits a smaller diameter at the center segment than at the proximal and/or distal retention areas.

25. The occlusion device in accordance with 24 , wherein the ends of the threads of said braiding converge in a holder at the distal retention area; and wherein the proximal retention area exhibits a flaring toward the proximal end.

26. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 24 , wherein the center of said proximal and/or distal retention areas is offset relative the center of the center section.

27. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 24 , wherein the interior of proximal and/or distal retention area exhibits a concave profile.

28. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 24 , wherein the proximal retention area of said braiding extends to the proximal end in the shape of an open bell.

29. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 24 , wherein the proximal retention area of said braiding extends in bell-shaped form to the proximal end.

30. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 24 , wherein said occlusion device exhibits a barbell-shaped profile in its expanded state.

31. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 24 , wherein said center area exhibits a smaller diameter compared to said proximal and distal retention areas; and

wherein said center area exhibits a length to correspond to a thickness of an abnormal opening in a wall of tissue.

32. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 24 , wherein a length of the center section is to be dimensioned such that a peripheral edge of the distal or proximal retention area overlaps the peripheral edge of the other retention area.

33. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 24 , wherein the proximal and/or distal retention area exhibits a recess in which said holder is arranged.

34. The occlusion device in accordance with claim 33 , wherein at least one connective element is further disposed in the recess at the proximal and/or distal retention area; and

wherein said connective element can engage with a catheter.