Methods and apparatus for rapid endovascular vessel occlusion and blood flow interruption

A method of occluding a lumen of a body cavity, comprising the steps of:

• providing a medical device, said device comprising:
• an expandable member having a lumen passing therethrough;
• the expandable member being expandable from a first conformation to a second conformation;
• wherein, when the expandable member is in the second conformation, the device engages a surface of the body cavity;
• and
• a flow-limiting member with first and second end portions opposite one another, the flow-limiting member being coupled to the expandable member;
• wherein the flow-limiting member comprises a valve positioned at a first end section of the expandable member;
• wherein the valve is movable between an open and a closed configuration, such that in the closed configuration, the valve substantially prevents a flow of a fluid through the lumen of the body cavity past the flow-limiting member;
• wherein the valve comprises a first leaflet and a second leaflet that are movable between the open configuration and the closed configuration, and when the first leaflet and the second leaflet are in the closed configuration, the first leaflet is in contact with the second leaflet;
• placing the device in the lumen of the body cavity;
• expanding the expandable member from the first conformation to the second conformation;
• and
• inverting the first end portion from a non-inverted configuration to an inverted configuration such that the first end portion moves toward the second end portion and such that a bias force increases a contact pressure between the first leaflet and the second leaflet, when a force directed proximally is exerted on the first end portion;
• wherein, after the first portion inverts from the non-inverted configuration to the inverted configuration, the first and second leaflets each remain substantially at a same angle, relative to a direction of the inverting, as before the inverting, and
• wherein the first leaflet extends, from a non-free end of the first leaflet to a free end of the first leaflet, in substantially the same direction before and after the inverting.

A device for occluding a lumen of a body cavity, comprising:

• means for engaging the body cavity from within the lumen of the body cavity, the means for engaging having (a) an inner surface defining a lumen through the means for engaging and (b) an outer surface configured to engage a surface of the body cavity;
• means for limiting flow, coupled to the means for engaging, effective to limit a flow of a fluid through the lumen and past the means for engaging and comprising first and second end portions opposite one another, the means for limiting flow residing within the lumen of the means for engaging;
• valve means, coupled to the means for limiting flow, and movable between an open position and a closed position such that, in the closed position the valve means substantially prevents the flow of the fluid through the lumen and past the means for engaging;
• wherein the valve means comprises a first leaflet and a second leaflet that are movable between the open position and the closed position, and when the first leaflet and the second leaflet are in the closed position, the first leaflet contacts the second leaflet;
• wherein the means for limiting flow is configured such that when a force directed proximally is exerted on the first end portion, the first end portion inverts from a non-inverted configuration to an inverted configuration such that the first end portion moves toward the second end portion and such that a bias force increases a contact pressure between the first leaflet and the second leaflet;
• wherein, after the first portion inverts from the non-inverted configuration to the inverted configuration, the first and second leaflets each remain substantially at a same angle, relative to a direction of the inverting, as before the inverting, and
• wherein the first leaflet extends, from a non-free end of the first leaflet to a free end of the first leaflet, in substantially the same direction before and after the inverting.