Coil occlusion devices and systems and methods of using the same

1. A method of using an occluder device, the method comprising the steps of:

introducing an occluder device into a patient's body, the occluder device comprising a coil having at least a first, uncompressed configuration and a second, compressed configuration, wherein the coil in the first, uncompressed configuration is configured to fit within a delivery mechanism sized and shaped to fit within a vein, and wherein the coil in the second, compressed configuration is configured to at least partially occlude a vein, the occlusion device positioned within a lumen of the delivery mechanism;

advancing at least part of the delivery mechanism to a desired location within the patient's body;

advancing the coil directly into a vein within the patient's body;

compressing the coil within the vein to partially occlude the vein and effect a pressure increase therein resulting in arterialization of the vein;

excising the arterialized vein from the patient's body;

grafting the arterialized vein into the patient's arterial system; and

performing a retroperfusion procedure while the coil is in the second, compressed configuration and partially occluding the vein.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the introducing step includes the steps of introducing a guidewire into the patient's body, advancing the delivery mechanism into the patient's body over the guidewire, and removing the guidewire from the patient's body.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of advancing the occluder device directly into the vein is performed by using a pusher positioned within the delivery mechanism to advance the occluder device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of compressing the coil within the vein is performed by using a pusher positioned within the delivery mechanism to compress the coil.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of compressing is performed to facilitate a configuration change of the coil from the first, uncompressed configuration to the second, compressed configuration.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of advancing at least part of the delivery mechanism to a desired location within the patient's body is performed using a technique selected from the group consisting of (i) advancing at least part of the delivery mechanism into a heart of the patient, through a coronary sinus, and into a cardiac vein, and (ii) advancing the occluder device directly into the cardiac vein.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vein comprises the cardiac vein.

8. A method of using an occluder device, the method comprising the steps of:

introducing an occluder device into a patient's body, the occluder device comprising a coil having at least a first, uncompressed configuration and a second, compressed configuration, wherein the coil in the first, uncompressed configuration is configured to fit within a delivery mechanism sized and shaped to fit within a vein, and wherein the coil in the second, compressed configuration is configured to partially occlude a vein, the occlusion device positioned within a lumen of the delivery mechanism;

advancing at least part of the delivery mechanism to a desired location within the patient's body;

advancing the coil directly into a vein within the patient's body;

compressing the coil within the vein to partially occlude the vein and effect a pressure increase therein to arterialize the vein; and

performing a retroperfusion procedure using the excised arterialized vein while the coil is in the second, compressed configuration within the vein.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of removing the coil from the arterialized vein.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the vein comprises the cardiac vein.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of advancing the occluder coil directly into a vein within the patient's body is performed by using a pusher positioned within the delivery mechanism to advance the coil, the pusher comprising a shaft and a tip, wherein the tip of the pusher is relatively or completely circular in shape and configured to prevent the coil from moving past the pusher within the delivery mechanism.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the coil comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nitinol, stainless steel, and a radiopaque material.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the coil is at least partially coated by a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyurethane.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of compressing the coil within the vein to partially occlude the vein does not altogether stop flow through the vein.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pressure increase to arterialize the vein occurs within the vein at a location at or upstream of the coil.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the vein comprises a cardiac vein, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

advancing at least part of the delivery mechanism into a heart of the patient, through a coronary sinus, and into the cardiac vein; and

advancing the coil directly into the cardiac vein.

17. A method of using an occluder device for a coronary retroperfusion procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

introducing an occluder device into a patient's body, the occluder device comprising a coil having at least a first, uncompressed configuration and a second, retracted configuration, wherein the coil in the second, retracted configuration is configured to partially occlude a cardiac vein within the patient's body;

advancing the coil in the first, uncompressed configuration into a heart of the patient, through a coronary sinus and into the cardiac vein;

advancing the coil directly into the cardiac vein;

moving the coil to the second, retracted configuration to partially occlude the cardiac vein and effect a pressure increase therein at a position at or upstream of the coil;

arterializing a portion of the cardiac vein at the position at or upstream of the coil; and

performing a coronary retroperfusion procedure while the coil is in the second, compressed configuration within the cardiac vein, the procedure exposing the arterialized portion of cardiac vein to arterial blood flow from the patient's arterial system;

wherein the partial occlusion of the cardiac vein does not altogether stop flow through the cardiac vein.