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.
Claims20
(canceled)
An apparatus for thermally treating tissue, comprising:
- an elongate introducer having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior passageway extending from the proximal end to an opening in the distal end;
- a flowable insulative material carried in or otherwise in fluid communication with the interior passageway;
- at least one electrode coupled to or proximate to the distal end of the introducer;
- an energy delivery actuator configured to controllably energize the at least one electrode;
- and
- a flow actuator configured to actuate a controlled flow of the flowable insulative material from the interior passageway through the distal end opening and outwardly from the distal end of the introducer;
An system for thermally treating tissue, comprising:
- an elongate introducer having a proximal end, a distal end, a first interior passageway extending from the proximal end to a first opening in the distal end, and a second interior passageway extending from the proximal end to a second opening in the distal end proximate the first opening,
- a flowable insulative material carried in or otherwise in fluid communication with the first interior passageway;
- a flowable conductive material carried in or otherwise in fluid communication with the second interior passageway;
- one or more actuation mechanisms configured to simultaneously actuate a controlled flow of the flowable insulative material out the first distal end opening, and a controlled flow of the flowable conductive material out the second distal end opening;
- and
- at least one electrode coupled to or proximate to the distal end of the introducer;
- and
- an energy delivery actuator configured to controllably energize the at least one electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.