An embolization device for occluding a body cavity includes one or more elongated,
expansible, hydrophilic embolizing elements non-releasably carried along the length
of an elongated filamentous carrier that is preferably made of a very thin, highly
flexible filament or microcoil of nickel/titanium alloy. At least one expansile
embolizing element is non-releasably attached to the carrier. A first embodiment
includes a plurality of embolizing elements fixed to the carrier at spaced-apart
intervals along its length. In second, third and fourth embodiments, an elongate,
continuous, coaxial embolizing element is non-releasably fixed to the exterior
surface of the carrier, extending along a substantial portion of the length of
the carrier proximally from a distal tip, and optionally includes a lumenal reservoir
for delivery of therapeutic agents. Exemplary methods for making these devices
include skewering and molding the embolizing elements. In any of the embodiments,
the embolizing elements may be made of a hydrophilic, macro-porous, polymeric,
hydrogel foam material. In the second, third and fourth embodiments, the elongate
embolizing element is preferably made of a porous, environmentally-sensitive, expansile
hydrogel, which can optionally be made biodegradable and/or bioresorbable, having
a rate of expansion that changes in response to a change in an environmental parameter,
such as the pH or temperature of the environment.