Expandable implant and implant system

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention includes an expandable implant to endovascularly embolize an anatomical void or malformation, such as an aneurysm. An embodiment is comprised of a chain or linked sequence of expandable polymer foam elements. Another embodiment includes an elongated length of expandable polymer foam coupled to a backbone. Another embodiment includes a system for endovascular delivery of an expandable implant (e.g., shape memory polymer) to embolize an aneurysm. The system may include a microcatheter, a lumen-reducing collar coupled to the distal tip of the microcatheter, a flexible pushing element detachably coupled to an expandable implant, and a flexible tubular sheath inside of which the compressed implant and pushing element are pre-loaded. Other embodiments are described herein.