Occluding vasculature of a patient using embolic coil with improved platelet adhesion

Abstract

A method as provided for occluding the vasculature of a patient. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of embolic coils having a textured surface. The embolic coils are introduced into the patient's vasculature. In this manner, the textured surface provides improved platelet adhesion compared to a non-textured surface, to promote clotting. In the illustrative embodiment, the embolic coil comprises a platinum-tungsten alloy wire and the texturing is performed by abrasion or sandblasting to provide substantially uniform roughness comprising pockets having diameters of about 0.125 microns to about fifty microns and depths of about 0.25 microns to about twenty microns.

1 . A method for occluding the vasculature of a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of embolic coils having a textured surface;    introducing said plurality of embolic coils into the patient's vasculature, whereby the textured surface provides improved platelet adhesion compared to a non-textured surface, to promote clotting.    
     
     
         2 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , including the step of texturing the surface of an embolic coil by abrasion.  
     
     
         3 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , including the step of texturing the surface of an embolic coil by sandblasting.  
     
     
         4 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , in which said embolic coil comprises a platinum-tungsten alloy wire.  
     
     
         5 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , in which said embolic coil includes a proximal portion and a distal portion; said proximal portion being relatively smooth and said distal portion being relatively textured.  
     
     
         6 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , in which said embolic coil has substantially uniform roughness comprises pockets having diameters between about 0.125 microns and about 50 microns.  
     
     
         7 . A method as defined in  claim 6 , in which said pockets have depths of between about 0.25 microns and about 20 microns.  
     
     
         8 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , in which the embolic coils are used to embolize a vessel for vessel sacrifice.  
     
     
         9 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , in which the embolic coils are used to reduce or block blood flow to an arterial-venous malformation or to a fistula.  
     
     
         10 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , in which the embolic coils are used to block blood flow to tumor.  
     
     
         11 . A method for treating an aneurysm of a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of embolic coils having a textured surface;    introducing said plurality of embolic coils into the patient's aneurysm, whereby the textured surface provides improved platelet adhesion compared to a non-textured surface, to promote clotting.    
     
     
         12 . A method as defined in claim including the step of texturing the surface of an embolic coil by abrasion.  
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , including the step of texturing the surface of an embolic coil by sandblasting.  
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , in which said embolic coil comprises a platinum-tungsten alloy wire.  
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , in which said embolic coil includes a proximal portion and a distal portion; said proximal portion being relatively smooth and said distal portion being relatively textured.  
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , in which said embolic coil has substantially uniform roughness comprises pockets having diameters between about 0.125 microns and about 50 microns.  
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , in which said pockets have depths of between about 0.25 microns and about 20 microns.  
     
     
         18 . A method for occluding the vasculature of a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of embolic coils formed of a platinum-tungsten alloy;    texturizing the surface of said embolic coils by abrasion or sandblasting;    introducing said plurality of textured embolic coils into the patient's vasculature, whereby the textured surface provides improved platelet adhesion compared to a non-textured surface, to promote clotting.    
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in  claim 18 , in which said embolic coils have substantially uniform roughness comprising pockets having diameters of between about 0.125 microns and about 50 microns and depths of between about 0.25 microns and about 20 microns.  
     
     
         20 . A embolic coil formed of a platinum alloy wire and having a textured surface which, when said embolic coil is implanted in a patient's vasculature, provides improved platelet adhesion compared to a non-textured surface, to promote clotting.