Methods and Apparatus for Temporarily Occluding Body Openings

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for temporarily occluding a body opening. A method in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention includes introducing a tip of a catheter into the body opening, the tip including a central longitudinal axis; expelling a thermosensitive polymer from the tip of the catheter into a portion of the body opening, allowing the thermosensitive polymer to harden as it warms to body temperature to form a plug in the body lumen, and removing the plug.

1 . A method for temporarily occluding a body opening, comprising the steps of:
 introducing a tip of a catheter into the body opening, the catheter including a central longitudinal axis;   advancing a pre-mixed thermosensitive polymer through substantially the length of a single lumen of the catheter and expelling the thermosensitive polymer from the tip of the catheter into a portion of the body opening;   allowing the thermosensitive polymer to harden as it warms to body temperature to form a plug in the body opening; and   removing said plug.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein removing said plug comprises a subsequent cooling of said thermosensitive polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein a subsequent cooling comprises applying a cool material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein a subsequent cooling comprises applying a cool liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said liquid comprises water. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein applying said cool liquid comprises applying said cool liquid to an external surface of said thermosensitive polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein applying said cool liquid comprises poking an external surface of said thermosensitive polymer and applying a cool liquid within said polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said poking comprises puncturing said external surface of said thermosensitive polymer with said tip of said catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said poking comprises puncturing said external surface of said thermosensitive polymer with a tip of a guide wire, a portion of said guide wire being disposed within said catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said guide wire comprises a hollow wire. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said portion of said guide wire is disposed within said single lumen of said catheter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein removing said plug comprises applying a cold object to said thermosensitive polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said cold object is a cryoprobe. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein removing said plug comprises diluting said thermosensitive polymer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein diluting comprises applying a liquid to said thermosensitive polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein diluting comprises allowing the thermosensitive polymer to dilute with bodily fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the thermosensitive polymer comprises a mixture of Poloxamers 338, 407, 237, or 188, or some combination thereof, and water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein temporarily occluding a body opening includes temporarily occluding a body lumen. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein temporarily occluding a body opening includes temporarily filling a body cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein temporarily occluding a body opening includes temporarily occluding a hole in the body. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for temporarily occluding a body opening, comprising:
 a catheter including a tip at one end thereof, the tip being insertable into the body lumen, the catheter including a central longitudinal axis; and   mechanism connectable to the catheter and operable by a user for expelling a thermosensitive polymer through a single lumen of a catheter from the tip of the catheter into a portion of the body opening;   wherein the thermosensitive polymer capable of hardening as it warms to body temperature to form a plug in the body opening and capable of reversibly unhardening.