Polymer composites for biomedical applications and methods of making

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A method of thermally treating tissue in a body, comprising:
selecting a targeted portion of a tissue structure to be ablated using transmitted energy; identifying a nearby insulation portion of tissue to be insulated from the transmitted energy; introducing a flowable material into a delivery lumen of an elongate introducer, such that the flowable material flows through the delivery lumen, exits out a distal opening of the elongate introducer, and is deposited onto the insulation portion of tissue, thereby forming an insulative layer on the insulation portion of tissue; electrically coupling a radiofrequency (RF) energy source to a conductive liquid or gel electrode contacting the targeted portion of the tissue structure; transmitting RF energy from the RF energy source to the targeted portion of the tissue structure via the conductive liquid or gel electrode to thereby treat at least a portion of the targeted portion of the tissue structure.