Stent with expandable foam

Abstract

A stent for treating a physical anomaly. The stent includes a skeletal support structure for expanding in the physical anomaly and a shape memory material coupled to the skeletal support structure.

1 . A stent for treating a physical anomaly comprising: 
 a skeletal support structure for expanding in the a physical anomaly, and a shape memory material coupled to said skeletal support structure.    
   
   
       2 . The stent of  claim 1  wherein said shape memory material has a first shape that is skeletal and a second shape that is non-skeletal.  
   
   
       3 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein said second shape is configured to alter blood flow parameters to treat an AVM.  
   
   
       4 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein said second shape is configured to alter blood flow parameters to treat an aneurysm.  
   
   
       5 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein said second shape is configured to alter blood flow parameters to treat a necked aneurysm.  
   
   
       6 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein said second shape is configured to alter blood flow parameters to treat a wide-necked aneurysm.  
   
   
       7 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein said second shape is configured to alter blood flow parameters to treat a fusiform aneurysm.  
   
   
       8 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein said second shape is configured to extend at least in part outwardly from said skeletal support structure.  
   
   
       9 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein said skeletal support structure has openings and said second shape is configured to extend within said openings of said skeletal support structure.  
   
   
       10 . The stent of  claim 1  wherein said shape memory material includes a shape memory polymer.  
   
   
       11 . The stent of  claim 2  wherein said shape memory material is a fabricated open-cell material.  
   
   
       12 . An implant body for treating vasculature including a shape memory polymer capable of a first temporary compacted shape for endovascular introduction and a second memory expanded shape for altering blood flow parameters in a targeted region of the vasculature.  
   
   
       13 . An implant body as in  claim 12  wherein the shape memory polymer is coupled to struts of an expandable stent.  
   
   
       14 . An implant body as in  claim 12  wherein the shape memory polymer has an elongated configuration for occluding a blood vessel.  
   
   
       15 . An implant body as in  claim 12  wherein the shape memory polymer comprises a constraint for constraining an interior portion of the implant body.  
   
   
       16 . An implant body as in  claim 12  wherein the shape memory polymer is at least one of bioerodible and bioabsorbable.  
   
   
       17 . A method of treating an arteriovascular malformation (AVM) comprising introducing a stent in a collapsed shape into a blood vessel, expanding the stent in or proximate to an AVM, and altering the shape of a shape-transformable polymer structure coupled to surface portions of the stent to alter blood flow parameters in or proximate to the AVM.  
   
   
       18 . A method of treating an aneurysm comprising introducing a stent in a collapsed shape into a blood vessel, expanding the stent in or proximate to an aneurysm, and altering the shape of a shape-transformable polymer structure coupled to surface portions of the stent to alter blood flow parameters in or proximate to the aneurysm.