Device for plugging an opening such as in a wall of a hollow or tubular organ including biodegradable elements

A method for occluding a passage in a circulatory system, comprising:

• providing an implant having a plurality of thin generally inextensible members each having a proximal and a distal end, with a first holder to which said distal ends of said members are attached, a second holder to which said proximal ends of said members are attached, an expansible occluding body attached to said members at a point intermediate said first and said second holders, said occluding body having a distal and proximal face, said plurality of members with said occluding body forming an elongated article extending along a longitudinal axis and being adapted for insertion through an intravenous delivery mechanism in an insertion condition;
• mounting said implant on a carrier rod releasably attached to said first holder and upon which said second holder is slidably received;
• inserting said implant mounted on said carrier rod through said intravenous delivery mechanism into place at a passage to be occluded;
• driving said holders relatively toward one another;
• said members being attached to said first and second holders in a manner to thereby cause said members when being driven toward one another to execute a twisting motion relative to said axis to yield a plurality of generally radially extending loops combining to form a first fixation structure adjacent said distal face of said occluding body, and a second fixation structure of generally radially extending loops adjacent said proximal face of said occluding body, with said occluding body being thereby positioned in a final occluding condition;
• and
• permitting said members to biodegrade while in said final occluding condition and while occluding the passage to be occluded.