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, macroporous, 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.