Patent ID: 7029487

Claim:
A method of embolizing a vascular site, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a vascular implant comprising a macroporous hydrogel foam material and having an initial compressed configuration from which it is expansible volumetrically into an expanded configuration substantially conforming to the shape and size of the vascular site; (b) passing a microcatheter intravascularly until its distal end is situated within the vascular site; (c) attaching the implant to the distal end of a retention wire; (d) passing the implant and the retention wire through the micracatheter, while the implant is in its initial configuration, until the implant emerges from the distal end of the microcatheter into the vascular site; (e) controllably detaching the implant from the retention wire; and (f) volumetrically expanding the implant in situ by hydrophilic hydration substantially to fill the vascular site.