Embolization particulates for occluding a blood vessel

Abstract

Injectable embolization particulates (e.g., particles, microstructures, beads) employed in embolization procedures, for facilitating blood vessel occlusion. Exemplary embolization particulates for occluding a blood vessel include a plurality of embolization beads, each bead having a plurality of outwardly protruding portions, wherein, upon a first one and a second one of the beads accumulating against a boundary of the blood vessel, protruding portions of the first bead are configured to intermesh with protruding portions of the second bead, so as to occlude the blood vessel. Also disclosed are compositions of embolization particulates including a plurality of shaped embolization beads, and methods for embolizing or occluding a blood vessel using embolization particulates or compositions thereof. Embolization particulates have particular shapes for facilitating blood vessel occlusion while preventing or diminishing back flow (reflux) of embolic material, and may be coated or impregnated with therapeutic agents or radioactive isotopes, for increasing desirable therapeutic effects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising a plurality of beads, each of said plurality of beads having a permanent shape, furnishing the beads with a capability to resist aggregation during flow and to promote aggregation upon cessation of flow. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of beads are configured to resist and/or dissipate forces generated by, or originating from, fluid flow during an embolization procedure. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of beads are embolization beads. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of beads have a tetrahedron or tetrahedron-like shape. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of beads have a tetrapod-like shape. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , each of said plurality of beads having a density within the range of between about 0.8 and about 1.6 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of beads comprises holes filled with a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of beads are made of glass, metal, polymer, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of beads has a maximal diameter in a range of between about 5 microns and about 1,000 microns. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein each of said plurality of beads has a maximal diameter within the range of 5 microns and 500 microns. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein each of said plurality of beads has a maximal diameter within the range of between about 5 microns and about 100 microns. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a contrasting agent or a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said contrasting agent is selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tantalum oxide, and barium sulfate. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said therapeutic agent is a chemotherapeutic agent. 
     
     
         16 . A method for embolizing or occluding a blood vessel in a subject, the method comprising: injecting into the blood vessel a sufficient amount of the composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the permanent shape of the plurality of beads prevent aggregation of the beads during injection and promote upon delivery to the blood vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the blood vessel feeds a tumor or an arteriovenous malformation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  for treating and/or ameliorating a tumor or an arteriovenous malformation.