Novel compositions for use in embolizing blood vessels

Abstract

Disclosed are compositions suitable for use in embolizing blood vessels which compositions comprise a polymer, a biocompatible solvent and a contrast agent. The polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylonitrile, polyurethane, polyvinylacetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, nitrocellulose and copolymers of urethane/carbonate and copolymers of styrene/maleic acid.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A composition comprising: 
 (a) from about 2.5 to about 8.0 weight percent of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylacetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, nitrocellulose and copolymers of urethane/carbonate and copolymers of styrene/maleic acid, and mixtures thereof;    (b) from about 10 to about 40 weight percent of a contrast agent;    (c) from about 52 to about 87.5 weight percent of a biocompatible solvent    wherein the weight percent of the polymer, contrast agent and biocompatible solvent is based on the total weight of the complete composition.    
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein said contrast agent is a water insoluble contrast agent.  
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 2  wherein said biocompatible solvent is DMSO.  
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 2  wherein said contrast agent is tantalum.  
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 2  wherein said contrast agent is tantalum oxide.  
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 3  wherein said contrast agent is barium sulfate.  
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein said polymer is polyacrylonitrile.  
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein said polymer is polyvinylacetate.  
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein said polymer is cellulose acetate butyrate.  
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein said polymer is nitrocellulose.  
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein said polymer is a copolymer of urethane/carbonate.  
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein said polymer is a copolymer of styrene/maleic acid.  
     
     
         13 . A method for embolizing a blood vessel by injecting into said blood vessel a sufficient amount of a composition comprising: 
 (a) from about 2.5 to about 8.0 weight percent of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylacetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, nitrocellulose and copolymers of urethane/carbonate and copolymers of styrene/maleic acid, and mixtures thereof;    (b) from about 10 to about 40 weight percent of a contrast agent;    (c) from about 52 to about 87.5 weight percent of a biocompatible solvent    wherein the weight percent of the polymer, contrast agent and biocompatible solvent is based on the total weight of the complete composition    under conditions wherein a precipitate is formed which embolizes the blood vessel.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said contrast agent is a water insoluble contrast agent.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said biocompatible solvent is DMSO.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein said contrast agent is tantalum.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein said contrast agent is tantalum oxide.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein said contrast agent is barium sulfate.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said polymer is polyacrylonitrile.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said polymer is polyvinylacetate.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said polymer is cellulose acetate butyrate.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said polymer is nitrocellulose.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said polymer is a copolymer of urethane/carbonate.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said polymer is a copolymer of styrene/maleic acid.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the embolizing composition is injected into the blood vessel at a rate of about 0.05 to 0.3 cc/minute.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the embolizing composition is injected into the blood vessel at a rate of at least 0.6 cc/minute.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein the injection rate of at least 0.6 cc/minute is employed to form a filament like mass projecting down stream from the catheter tip for embolizing tumor masses, organs and arteriovenous malformations (AVM).