Adding microscopic porosity to the surface of a microcoil to be used for medical implantation

1. A vasoocclusive microcoil for therapeutic treatment of a patient's vasculature, comprising:

a vasoocclusive microcoil including a radiopaque metal wire, said microcoil including at least a portion having an outer surface adapted to contact the tissue of a patient to be treated, the outer surface of said microcoil defining a plurality of pores having a complex shape therein; and

a therapeutic/bioactive material disposed within said plurality of pores in said outer surface of said microcoil, wherein said therapeutic material is a plastic agent which can act to accelerate the healing process once the coil is in place.

2. The vasoocclusive microcoil of claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic material is selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid and poly (D,L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid).

3. The vasoocclusive microcoil of claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic material is selected from the group consisting of silk, collagen, elastin, polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), poly(L-lactide), poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide), poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide), poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate), polyethylene oxide, polydioxanone, polycaprolactone, hylauric acid, polyhydroxylbutyrate, poly(phosphazene), poly(D,L-lactide-co-caprolactone), poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone), polyvinyl alcohol, polyanhydrides thereof, poly(ortho esters) thereof, poly(phosphate esters) thereof, poly(amino acids) thereof, poly(hydroxy butyrates) thereof, copolymers thereof, composites thereof, and combinations thereof.

4. The vasoocclusive microcoil of claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic material is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-octene copolymer, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), polyurethane, polysiloxane, copolymers thereof, composites thereof, and combinations thereof.

5. The vasoocclusive microcoil of claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic material is a therapeutic drug.

6. A method for occluding a patient's vasculature, comprising:

providing a vasoocclusive microcoil including a radiopaque metal wire, said microcoil including at least a portion having an outer surface adapted to contact the tissue of a patient to be treated, the outer surface of said microcoil defining a plurality of pores having a complex shape therein, and a therapeutic/bioactive material disposed within said plurality of pores in said outer surface of said microcoil, wherein said therapeutic material is a plastic agent which can act to accelerate the healing process once the coil is in place; and

introducing said vasoocclusive microcoil into the patient's vasculature, whereby said therapeutic/bioactive material can act to accelerate a healing process in the patient's vasculature.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said therapeutic material is selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid and poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid).

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said therapeutic material is selected from the group consisting of silk, collagen, elastin, polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, poly(D ,L-lactic acid-co-glyco lic acid), poly(L-lactide), poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide), poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide), poly(glycolide-co-trimethylene carbonate), polyethylene oxide, polydioxanone, polycaprolactone, hylauric acid, polyhydroxylbutyrate, poly(phosphazene), poly(D ,L-lactide-co-caprolactone), poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone), polyvinyl alcohol, polyanhydrides thereof, poly(ortho esters) thereof, poly(phosphate esters) thereof, poly(amino acids) thereof, poly(hydroxy butyrates) thereof, copolymers thereof, composites thereof, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein said therapeutic material is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-octene copolymer, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), polyurethane, polysiloxane, copolymers thereof, composites thereof, and combinations thereof.

10. A method for delivering a hydrogel to a patient's vasculature, comprising:

providing a vasoocclusive microcoil including a radiopaque metal wire, said microcoil including at least a portion having an outer surface adapted to contact the tissue of a patient to be treated, the outer surface of said microcoil defining a plurality of pores having a complex shape therein, and a hydrogel disposed within said plurality of pores in said outer surface of said microcoil; and

introducing said vasoocclusive microcoil into the patient's vasculature.

11. A method for forming a vasoocclusive microcoil including a radiopaque metal wire, said microcoil including at least a portion having an outer surface adapted to contact the tissue of a patient to be treated, the outer surface of said microcoil defining a plurality of pores having a complex shape therein, comprising:

providing a vasoocclusive microcoil including a radiopaque metal wire; and

forming a plurality of pores having a complex shape on the surface of the vasoocclusive microcoil by a process selected from the group consisting of sputtering and etching, and a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein etching comprises an etching process selected from the group consisting of plasma etching, photolithography and chemical etching, and combinations thereof.