EMBOLIZATION DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USE
Devices used to restrict flow within a blood vessel are disclosed. Devices within the scope of this disclosure include a braided lattice of nitinol wires that form self-expanding enclosures of an embolic structure. The self-expanding enclosures may be sized and dimensioned such that when deployed within a blood vessel, at least one of the plurality of self-expanding enclosures takes on an elongated generally cylindrical shape having opposing generally conical, frustoconical, or semispherical end regions. Methods of manufacturing and using the embolic structures are disclosed.
1 . An embolization device, comprising:
an embolic structure comprising a plurality of enclosures comprising a braided lattice of nitinol wires, at least one enclosure of the plurality of enclosures including an inner layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, an outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, and a cup-shaped member disposed in the at least one enclosure between the inner layer and the outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires.
2 . The embolization device of claim 1 , wherein the cup-shaped member includes a material including at least one of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, fabric, polyester, nylon, or polyether block amide.
3 . The embolization device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one enclosure includes a first end and a second end, and the cup-shaped member extends from the first end at least halfway to the second end.
4 . The embolization device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one enclosure is generally spherical and the cup-shaped member is generally semispherical.
5 . The embolization device of claim 1 , wherein: the plurality of enclosures includes a first enclosure and a second enclosure, the first enclosure including the inner layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, the outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, and the cup-shaped member disposed in the first enclosure between the inner layer and the outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires.
6 . The embolization device of claim 5 , wherein the cup-shaped member disposed in the first enclosure includes an open end oriented towards the second enclosure.
7 . The embolization device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of enclosures includes a third enclosure, the second enclosure being disposed between the first enclosure and the third enclosure, and the cup-shaped member being absent from the second enclosure and the third enclosure.
8 . The embolization device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of enclosures includes a third enclosure, the first enclosure being disposed between the third enclosure and the second enclosure, and the cup-shaped member being absent from the second enclosure and the third enclosure.
9 . The embolization device of claim 6 , wherein:
the plurality of enclosures includes a third enclosure including an inner layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, an outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, and a cup-shaped member disposed in the third enclosure between the inner layer and the outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires of the third enclosure;
the first enclosure is disposed between the third enclosure and the second enclosure; and
the cup-shaped member of the third enclosure includes an open end oriented towards the first enclosure.
10 . The embolization device of claim 6 , wherein the second enclosure includes an inner layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, an outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, and a cup-shaped member disposed in the second enclosure between the inner layer and the outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires of the second enclosure with an open end of the cup-shaped member of the second enclosure orientated away from the first enclosure.
11 . The embolization device of claim 5 , wherein the cup-shaped member disposed in the first enclosure includes an open end oriented away from the second enclosure, the cup-shaped member being absent from the second enclosure.
12 . A method of restricting blood flow within a blood vessel, the method comprising:
deploying an embolization device from a delivery catheter into the blood vessel at a treatment site;
disposing a plurality of enclosures of an embolic structure of the embolization device within the blood vessel, wherein the plurality of enclosures comprise a braided lattice of nitinol wires that contact a wall of the blood vessel, at least one enclosure of the plurality of enclosures including an inner layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, an outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, and a cup-shaped member disposed in the at least one enclosure between the inner layer and the outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, wherein the cup-shaped member includes an open end oriented away from a direction of blood flow in the blood vessel; and
restricting blood flow through the embolic structure.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the cup-shaped member includes a material including at least one of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, fabric, polyester, nylon, or polyether block amide.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one enclosure includes a first end and a second end, and the cup-shaped member extends from the first end at least halfway to the second end.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of enclosures includes a first enclosure and a second enclosure, the first enclosure including the inner layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, the outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, and the cup-shaped member disposed in the first enclosure between the inner layer and the outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the open end of the cup-shaped member disposed in the first enclosure includes is oriented towards the second enclosure.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of enclosures includes a third enclosure, the second enclosure being disposed between the first enclosure and the third enclosure, and the cup-shaped member being absent from the second enclosure and the third enclosure.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of enclosures includes a third enclosure, the first enclosure being disposed between the third enclosure and the second enclosure, and the cup-shaped member being absent from the second enclosure and the third enclosure.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the plurality of enclosures includes a third enclosure including an inner layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, an outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires, and a cup-shaped member disposed in the third enclosure between the inner layer and the outer layer of the braided lattice of nitinol wires of the third enclosure;
the first enclosure is disposed between the third enclosure and the second enclosure; and
the cup-shaped member of the third enclosure includes an open end oriented towards the first enclosure.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the cup-shaped member disposed in the first enclosure includes an open end oriented away from the second enclosure, the cup-shaped member being absent from the second enclosure.