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 at least one flexible metal strand of a resilient material, said at least one flexible metal strand of a resilient material including at least a portion having an exterior surface forming an exterior surface of the vasoocclusive microcoil and defining a plurality of voids therein; and

a therapeutic material disposed within said plurality of voids.

2. The vasoocclusive microcoil of claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic material is a plastic agent which can act to accelerate the healing process once the coil is in place.

3. 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).

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

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

providing a vasoocclusive microcoil including at least one flexible metal strand of a resilient material, said at least one flexible metal strand of a resilient material including at least a portion having an exterior surface forming an exterior surface of the vasoocclusive microcoil and defining a plurality of voids therein, and a therapeutic material disposed within said plurality of voids; and

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

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said therapeutic material is a plastic agent which can act to accelerate the healing process once the coil is in place.

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

10. The method of claim 7 , 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.

11. The method of claim 7 , 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.

12. A method for delivering a therapeutic drug to a patient's vasculature, comprising:

providing a vasoocclusive microcoil including at least one flexible metal strand of a resilient material, said at least one flexible metal strand of a resilient material including at least a portion having an exterior surface forming an exterior surface of the vasoocclusive microcoil and defining a plurality of voids therein, and a therapeutic drug disposed within said plurality of voids; and

introducing said vasoocclusive microcoil into the patient's vasculature.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of controlling delivery of the therapeutic drug by controlling porosity of said surface defining a plurality of voids therein.