Patent ID: 7665466
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A self-expanding medical occlusion device for treating heart defects in patients, in particular closing abnormal openings in tissue, whereby the occlusion device is introduced into the body of a patient in a minimally invasive fashion using a catheter system, comprising: a braiding of thin threads; wherein said braiding exhibits a first preliminarily definable shape as the occlusion device is being inserted into the patient's body; and a second preliminarily definable shape in the implanted state of the occlusion device; and wherein the braiding of said occlusion device in the first profile form is in a collapsed state and the braiding in the second profile form is in expanded state; and wherein the threads of braiding are comprised of a shape memory polymer composite so that the braiding will deform from a temporary shape to a permanent shape by means of an external stimulus, said shape memory polymer composite comprising a linear, phase-segregated multiblock copolymer network which can exhibit at least two different phases; and wherein the temporary shape is given in a first profile form of braiding and the permanent shape is given in a second profile form of braiding.