Polymer composites for biomedical applications and methods of making
AssigneeDFine, Inc.
InventorCsaba Truckai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A biomedical polymer composite that exhibits ultra-low thermal conductivity properties. In a preferred embodiment, the biomedical polymer composite comprises a base polymer component with a dispersed thermally non-conductive filler component consisting of glass or ceramic nanospheres or microspheres that have a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W/m-K, and preferably less than 2 W/m-K. In one embodiment, the polymer composite has an electrically conductive filler and can be used in a filament for treating arteriovascular malformations. In another embodiment, the polymeric composite can be used as an energy-coupling means to apply energy to tissue.
Claims26
An apparatus for thermally treating tissue, comprising:
- a. an elongate introducer member having a proximal end, a distal end and defining a delivery lumen, the lumen containing a volume of flowable insulative material which may be controllably ejected from the introducer distal end;
- b. an electrode coupled to the distal end of the elongate introducer member;
- c. a flow actuating member configured to controllably actuate flow of the flowable insulative material;
- and
- d. an electrosurgery energy actuating member configured to controllably energize the electrode.
A method of thermally treating tissue, comprising:
- a. selecting a targeted portion of a tissue structure to be ablated using transmitted energy;
- b. identifying a nearby insulation portion of tissue to be insulated from the transmitted energy;
- c. forming an insulative layer adjacent to at least a portion of the insulation portion;
- d. transmitting energy to the targeted portion to cause ablation of at least a portion of the targeted portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.