Structures for permanent occlusion of a hollow anatomical structure

Abstract

An apparatus for treating a hollow anatomical structure comprises an implant sized for insertion into a hollow anatomical structure. The implant comprises a plurality of loose, bulked fibers. The fibers are formed from one or more bioabsorbable materials.

1 . Apparatus for treating a hollow anatomical structure (HAS), the apparatus comprising:
 an implant sized for insertion into the HAS, the implant comprising a fibrous mass of loose, radially bulked fibers that are formed from one or more bioabsorbable materials;   wherein the radially bulked fibers are self-expanding, such that the implant is deliverable in a compressed, low-profile state through the HAS, and self-expandable in the radial direction at a treatment site in the HAS to fill the HAS at the treatment site.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the fibers are from 0.1 denier to 10 denier. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises between 500 and 500,000 fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers have a crimped, bent, or undulating configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein upon expansion the fibers collectively and/or individually become relatively shorter in the longitudinal direction and relatively thicker in the radial direction. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are randomly arranged. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are non-knit. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are non-woven. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are formed from an alpha-hydroxy acid. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are formed from material selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polyglycolic-co-lactic acid, polylactic-glycolic acid, polyglycolide-co-lactide, and polyglycolide. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are joined at a first end portion of the implant. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the fibers are joined at a second end portion of the implant. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers have a bioabsorption time of 2-24 weeks after implantation. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the implant has a first density associated with an unstressed state of the implant, and a higher second density associated with a radially compressed state of the implant. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise first fibers having a first bioabsorption rate and second fibers having a second bioabsorption rate, and wherein the first bioabsorption rate differs from the second bioabsorption rate. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , additionally comprising an implant locking mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the implant locking mechanism comprises a funnel coupled with the implant. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pull string coupled with the implant, the pull string being operable to expand the implant radially. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the pull string is configured to extend beyond at least one end portion of the implant. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the pull string extends within the implant. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the pull string comprises a plurality of bumps along at least a portion thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the implant additionally comprises a drug. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the implant additionally comprises a sclerosant. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus for treating a hollow anatomical structure (HAS), the apparatus comprising:
 a scaffold configured for implantation in the (HAS), at least a section of the scaffold comprising a plurality of loose, radially bulked fibers that extend generally longitudinally and form a plurality of bends along the length thereof, the fibers being formed from one or more bioabsorbable materials;   wherein the radially bulked fibers are self-expanding, such that the scaffold is deliverable in a compressed, low-profile state through the HAS, and self-expandable in the radial direction at a treatment site in the HAS to fill the HAS at the treatment site.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the fibers are randomly arranged in the scaffold. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the fibers comprise a plurality of the bends that are spaced apart along the fiber by one or more distances that are significantly smaller than the length of the fiber. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the section of the scaffold is non-knit. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the section of the scaffold is non-woven. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein an outer surface of the scaffold is abrasive. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the fibers comprise first fibers having a first bioabsorption rate and second fibers having a second bioabsorption rate, and wherein the first bioabsorption rate differs from the second bioabsorption rate. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the fibers have a bioabsorption time of 2-24 weeks after implantation.