Porous materials for use in aneurysms
This is a device for occluding a space within the body. In particular, the device comprises an elastomeric porous material, preferably having a pore size of greater than about 30 microns. The elastomeric porous material is optionally expandable from its uncompressed form. The devices may be placed in a desired site within a mammal and are useful in inhibiting the formation of scar tissue.
1 . A vaso-occlusive device comprising an elastomeric porous material having a first compressed volume and a second uncompressed volume, wherein the porous material expands from the second uncompressed volume after deployment.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the porous material expands immediately upon deployment.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the porous material does not expand immediately upon deployment.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises a polymer.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of silicones, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyesters, polyurethanes, proteins, hydrogel materials and combinations thereof.
6 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a radioopaque material.
7 . The device of any of claim 1 , further comprising a structural element.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the porous material at least partially surrounds, or is at least partially surrounded by, the structural element
9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the porous material at least partially surrounds the structural element.
10 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the structural element at least partially surrounds the porous material.
11 . The device of claim 7 , comprising first and structural elements, wherein the porous material at least partially surrounds the first structural element and the second structural element at least partially surrounds the porous material.
12 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the porous material is attached to the structural element at one or more locations.
13 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the structural element comprises a metal.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of nickel, titanium, platinum, gold, tungsten, iridium and alloys or combinations thereof.
15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the metal is nitinol or platinum.
16 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the structural element comprises a coil.
17 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the structural element comprises a coil, the coil comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, titanium, platinum, gold, tungsten, iridium and alloys or combinations thereof.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the coil comprises a stainless steel or super-elastic metal alloy.
19 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the structural element comprises a tubular braid.
20 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the structural element comprises a biodegradable material.
21 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the structural element further comprises a detachment junction.
22 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the detachment junction comprises an electrolytically detachable end adapted to detach from a pusher by imposition of a current on the pusher.
23 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising bioactive component.
24 . A method of occluding a body cavity comprising introducing a vaso-occlusive device according to claim 1 into the body cavity.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the body cavity is an aneurysm.