Embolic particles, methods of forming non-spherical shaped particles and methods of using embolic particles to occlude a target vessel

Abstract

Embolic particles of salted thermally crosslinked gelatin provide for temporary embolization for vessels within a patient. The embolic particles may be formed by drying a gel or liquid layer of gelatin and salt to form a dry salted gelatin sheet which can then be milled and sieved to a selected particle size range. The embolic particles may be characterized as a collection of particles with a majority of the particles having a platelet shape or ellipsoidal shape with a thickness or dimension no more than about 2000 microns. Useful sieved particle sizes include from 63 microns to 250 microns, or less than 63 microns. Methods of making the embolic particles from sheets of dry salted thermally crosslinked gelatin are described, as are methods for making the sheets. Methods and medical systems for performing temporary occlusion of a blood vessel are also described.

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