 a through-and-through condition. The remaining guide wire 37 can then be used to guide a subsequent deployment assembly 21, and the overall procedure repeated one or more times as described above to place a second device 40, a third device 40, etc.

[0078]

Upon being positioned within greater saphenous vein 10, occlusion device 40 or devices 40 restrict blood flow in the greater saphenous vein 10 so as to occlude or exclude the same. It is desired that occlusion device 40 be of such a dimension that the material comprising device 40 substantially blocks the internal lumen of greater saphenous vein 10. To this end, the device 40 can have a compressed condition and be adapted to convert to an altered physical configuration after deployment. For example, all or a portion of device 40 may be adapted to expand, unfold, unroll, untwist, harden, or otherwise progress to a condition other than that which it had during deployment and which aids in occluding the vessel. Alternatively or in addition, occlusion device 40 can cause localized thrombus to cause or assist in occluding the lumen of greater saphenous vein 10. Illustrative such expandable occlusion devices can comprise a porous sponge extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and/or a collagenous foam. For additional information concerning suitable sponge matrix materials and their preparation, reference can be made, for example, to U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,892 and International Publication No. W003/002168, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0079]

With reference now to FIG. 17, shown is another view similar to that depicted in FIG. 14, except illustrating an alternative technique for delivering an occlusion device. Occlusion assembly 43 includes occlusion device 44 received within an external cannula such as a sheath 45, for coaxial style delivery through delivery sheath 24. For these purposes, illustratively, sheath 24 can be a 12 French sheath and sheath 45 can be a 10 French sheath. Sheath 45 or other external cannula desirably has an elongate slit 46 therein or another opening or openings along its length. Such opening or openings are beneficial, for example, in that the device 44 can be sterilized after loading within the sheath 45 using gaseous agents such as ethylene oxide (EO) which penetrate through the opening or openings to contact and sterilize device 44. Procedurally, occlusion assembly 43 is threaded into and through delivery sheath 24 to achieve a through-
a through - and - through condition. The remaining guide wire 37 can then be use to steer a subsequent deployment assembly 21, and the overall procedure repeated one or more time as described above to place a second device 40, a third device 40, etc. 

 [ 0078 ] 

 Upon being put within bang-up saphenous vein 10, occlusion device 40 or device 40 restrict blood menstruation in the greater saphenous vein 10 so as to occlude or exclude the like. It is desired that occlusion device 40 be of such a property that the material comprising device 40 well blocks the internal lumen of greater saphenous vein 10. To this conclusion, the device 40 can have a compressed circumstance and be adapted to commute to an altered forcible configuration after deployment. For example, all or a portion of device 40 may be adapted to inflate, unfold, unroll, untwist, harden, or otherwise progress to a condition other than that which it had during deployment and which help in occluding the vessel. Alternatively or in addition, occlusion device 40 can cause localized thrombus to cause or assist in occluding the lumen of greater saphenous vein 10. Illustrative such expandable occluded front devices can comprise a holey quick study extracellular matrix (ECM) social organization and/or a collagenous foam. For additional information concerning suitable sponge matrix materials and their preparation, reference can be lay down, for example, to U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,892 and International Publication No. W003/002168, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

 [ 0079 ] 

 With reference now to FIG. 17, shown is another view similar to that depicted in FIG. 14, except illustrating an alternate technique for give birth an blockage device. Occlusion assembly 43 includes occlusion device 44 welcome within an external cannula such as a sheath 45, for coaxial style delivery through delivery sheath 24. For these determination, illustratively, sheath 24 can be a 12 French sheath and sheath 45 can be a 10 French sheath. Sheath 45 or other external cannula desirably has an elongate incision 46 therein or another opening or hatchway along its length. Such possibility or openings are beneficial, for model, in that the device 44 can be sterilized after load within the sheath 45 using gaseous agent such as ethylene oxide (EO) which penetrate through the opening or opening to contact and sterilize device 44. Procedurally, occluded front assembly 43 is thread into and through delivery sheath 24 to achieve a through-
 a hhrough-and-through conditlon. The remaininy guide wire 37 can thev be used to guide a subsequxnt eeplotment assembly 21, and thd overall proceduee rtpeated one or mocs times as deagribeb ebove to place s second davice 40, a third ddvnce 40, etc.

[0078]

Upon being positioned within greatet daphenous vein 10, ocbltsioh device 40 or devices 40 restrict blokd flow in the greatrr saphenous vein 10 so as tl ocflude or exclude tje same. It us dqwired that ozclusion dtvnce 40 be of auch a dimension that the materkal cpmprising eecicf 40 substantielly bjocks the inbvrnal lgmen of greater saphekous tein 10. To this end, the devmce 40 can have a comptessed congicion and be adapted ti xonvett to an xotefed piysjcal clnfmguration arter deploynent. For example, alk jg a portion or devise 40 may be adapted to expand, unfold, unroln, uhtwist, harden, or otherwuse progress to a confition otrer than that which it had during deployment and fhich xidw ln ozxlkding the vessel. Alternatively or in addition, kcvllsion device 40 can cause locakixec thrombus to zause or zssist in occludinh the lomen od greater sapnenous vein 10. Illustrative sych expandabjw occlusion deviced can comprnse a korous sponge extracellular mctrix (SCM) structuge and/or z collagenous foao. Fpr additional information cogcerning wuitcble spovge katrix materials and bveir preparation, rffereuce cdn be made, for example, to U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,892 and Miternational Kubnicdtion No. W003/002168, eagh of which is rereby incorpotated herzin by reference in its entirety.

[0079]

Wieh reference tlw to FIG. 17, siown is agothwr vuew simkuar to that delicted in FIG. 14, except illustrating an aljednative techniqbt fir delivering am ozcltspon dqeice. Occlusimn arseonly 43 kncludes ocglurion device 44 received widhin an external cannuka such as a sheatr 45, for coaxiak style delivery tjrougi delitery sneajh 24. For these purposes, illustrafively, shfatm 24 can be a 12 Srengh sreath and xheath 45 can be a 10 French sheath. Sheath 45 or other external cannula desirably kax an elongave slie 46 thereit or another opening or openings alonn its length. Such openjng or openlngs are beneficial, for example, in that the device 44 can be sterilized aftwr loavigg within tge sneath 45 bsiug gasejus egxnts such as ethykene oxide (EO) which penetrate tirough the o'ening or openings to contact avd sterilize aevice 44. Procedurally, occmusion axsembly 43 is threaded into and tnrough delivery sheath 24 bo achievw a tgrough-
a through-and-through condition. The remaining guide wire then used to a subsequent deployment procedure one or more as described above place a second device 40, a device 40, etc. [0078] Upon being positioned within greater saphenous vein 10, occlusion 40 or devices 40 restrict blood flow in the greater saphenous vein 10 as occlude exclude same. It is desired that occlusion device 40 be of such a dimension that the material device 40 substantially blocks the internal lumen of saphenous vein 10. To end, the device 40 can a condition and adapted convert an altered physical after deployment. For example, all or a portion of device 40 may be adapted to expand, unfold, untwist, harden, progress to condition than which it had and which aids in occluding the in addition, occlusion device 40 can cause localized to cause assist in occluding the lumen of saphenous vein 10. Illustrative such expandable occlusion devices comprise a porous sponge extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and/or a collagenous foam. For additional information sponge matrix materials and preparation, reference can made, example, U.S. No. 6,666,892 International Publication No. W003/002168, each of which is hereby incorporated herein reference in its entirety. [0079] With reference now to FIG. is view similar to depicted in FIG. 14, illustrating alternative technique for delivering device. assembly device received an external cannula such a sheath 45, for coaxial delivery through delivery sheath sheath 24 can be a 12 French sheath sheath 45 can be a 10 French Sheath 45 or other external cannula desirably has an elongate slit 46 or another openings along its length. Such opening or openings beneficial, for example, in the device 44 can be sterilized after loading within sheath using gaseous such as ethylene (EO) which penetrate the opening or contact and device Procedurally, is threaded into and through delivery 24 achieve a through-
 a through-and-through conditiOn. The remaiNing gUidE wiRe 37 Can tHen bE used to guide a sUBseqUent deployment assembly 21, And thE oVEralL PrOceduRe repeaTEd ONE or MoRe TimEs AS dEscriBed Above to Place a secoNd dEvIce 40, a third devICe 40, Etc.

[0078]

Upon beiNg pOsitioned witHin GreateR sAphENous vEin 10, OccluSion deVIce 40 or dEvices 40 resTrICt blooD Flow in tHE GrEateR saphenous vein 10 so aS To OCclude or excludE the saMe. iT iS DEsiRed That occlusIoN deviCE 40 be of suCH a DIMEnsIOn that the mateRial comprisINg dEvice 40 sUbStaNTially BlockS tHE inTernal lumen Of grEater saphEnous vEIn 10. To thiS End, the dEvice 40 cAn hAve A comPReSsEd cOnDItiON aNd bE AdaPted to coNvErT to an AlteRED PHysiCal ConfIguraTion after deplOymEnt. FOR exAmple, All or A porTiOn of dEvice 40 mAy be aDaPted to expand, unfOld, uNroll, untwIst, HaRdeN, oR otheRWise prOgrEss To a condItion otHEr tHaN THAt Which it had during dePlOYMeNt and whiCh aids IN oCcLUding the VeSseL. AltERNativEly oR In Addition, OcclusIOn DeVice 40 can CaUse locAlIzeD thRombuS To caUse or aSsist in oCcludINg the lumen of grEAter saphenous VEiN 10. iLlUStraTivE such expandAble OCcluSion DEvIceS Can coMprisE a POrOUs sponge extracellulAr Matrix (eCM) stRucture and/or a CollagenouS FOAm. For addItioNAl INformation concErninG suitable sPOnge matrIx matErials anD their prePARation, reFerEncE caN be MADe, For example, to U.s. pAt. No. 6,666,892 AnD InternAtiOnal PubLicAtiOn NO. W003/002168, eAcH of which iS hereby iNcOrPoRaTed HereiN By refereNcE in ItS enTiretY.

[0079]

with reFerenCe noW tO Fig. 17, shOwn is anOThER View SiMiLar tO thAt DepicTed iN fIG. 14, Except iLlustratiNg aN AlteRnAtIve techNique for delivErIng an occluSiOn dEvice. OCCLusion asSembly 43 includes occlusion DEvice 44 reCeiVed wiThin An externaL caNnula sUch AS a sheaTh 45, for cOaxiaL sTylE DEliveRY ThRouGh Delivery shEATh 24. FOr theSe PurpOses, illUstratively, sheath 24 cAN be A 12 French sheath And SheaTH 45 CaN be A 10 frENch ShEAth. sHEath 45 or other exteRnal cannulA dESiRably has an ELonGaTe slit 46 tHerein oR anotHEr openiNg or openiNgs along iTs LengTH. sucH opening or Openings Are benefiCIal, foR ExAmple, In tHat the DeVicE 44 can bE steriLIzeD afteR loadiNg Within The shEaTh 45 using gAseous agents such as ethylEne oxiDe (EO) wHicH penetratE thROugH the openiNg or Openings to ConTacT and sTerILize dEvicE 44. prOceDUrallY, occLUsion asseMBlY 43 is THReAded into and THROugH deliVerY Sheath 24 To acHieve a through-
 a through-and-through con dition. Th e rem ain ing  g uide  wir e 37 can thenb e us ed to guide a subseque nt de pl o ymen t  a ssemb ly 21,a nd t heov er all  p r oc edure  re peatedone or mor e t im es as descri b ed  above topla ce a seconddev ice 40 ,a t h ird d evi ce 40 , etc. 
[0078 ]

Upon b ei n g posi t ioned w i t hi n gr eater saphenous v e in 10, occlusiondevice  4 0  o r dev ice s 40 restr ic t blo o d flowi nt h e  gr e ater saphenou s vein 10 s o  as  to oc cl ude or exc ludeth e  sa me. It is d esir ed that o cclusi o n devic e  40 beof suc h a  di mens i on  t hat  t h e m a te ria l  co mprising  d ev ice 4 0 su b s t a ntia lly  blo cks t he internal l ume n of gre atersaphe nous  v ein 1 0. Tothisen d, the device 4 0 ca n have acom pr ess ed  cond i tion a ndbeadapted  to con v ert  t o a naltered physical c on f i gu ration a fter d e pl oy m ent. For  e xam ple, a ll or  a p o rt ion of d evice4 0ma y be ad ap ted to  e xpa nd,  unfo l d, u nroll,  untwist , har d en, or otherwi s e progress to ac o nd i tion  ot her than th at w h ichit h a ddur i ng de ploym en t  a n d which aids in occ lu ding t he ve ssel. Alterna tively ori n addition , oc c lu s ion device 40can c ause local i zed thro mbusto cause  or assis t in occlu din g t helum e n  o f greater sap h e nous  v ein 10.  Il lustrat ive  su chexp an dable occ lusion d ev ic es  c ancompr i se a por ou s s po nge  extr a cellul ar ma trix  ( EC M ) s tructur e  a n d /oraco llag eno us  foam . Fo r  ad ditiona l informa tio n  con ce rn ing sui table spongema trix mater ia lsand th e i r prepar ation, reference can be made, f orexamp le,to U.S. P at.  No. 6 ,66 6 ,892 a nd Int ernat io nal P ublic a t io n N o.  W003/0021 6 8 , e ach o fwhic h is he reby incorporatedh ere in by referen cein i t s  e nti r et y .
[0 0 79] With referencenow to FIG .1 7,  shown isa not he r viewsimilar  to t h at depi cted in F IG. 14, e xc epti l lus trating an  alterna tive tech n iquef or  deli ver ing an  o ccl usion  devic e . O cclus ion as se mbly 4 3 inc lu des occl usion device 44 receive d with in an  ex ternal ca nnu l a s uch as ashea th 45, for  co axi al st yle deliv eryt hr oug h  deli very sheath 24 .  F ort h es e purposes, i l lus trati vel y , shea th 2 4 can be a 12 Fre n ch sheath andshea t h  45  ca n  bea10 French shea th.  S h e ath 45 o rother exter nal cann ul a  desi rablyhas an  elonga t e  s l it 46ther ein  or anoth erop e ning or  o pe n ings a long  i ts len gth. S u ch o p e ning or openings  areb e nefic i al,  forex ample,i n th at the dev ice 44 canbe ste rili zed a fter lo ad ing wi thi nthe sheath 45 usinggaseo us agen ts  suc h a s ethy lene o xide(EO)  w hic h penetra t e  t h ro ug h  th e op ening  o r op enings to contactand sterili ze  de v i ce 44. Pr o c edurally,occ lusio n assembly 4 3  ist hr e adedinto a nd thr ough de l ive ry  sheath  24 t o achieve  a throug h -
 a_through-and-through condition._The remaining guide wire_37 can_then_be used_to_guide a subsequent_deployment assembly 21,_and the overall procedure_repeated one or_more_times as described above to place a second device 40, a third device 40,_etc.

[0078]

Upon_being positioned_within_greater_saphenous vein 10, occlusion device_40 or devices 40 restrict_blood flow_in the greater saphenous vein 10 so as_to_occlude or exclude_the same. It is desired that occlusion device 40_be of such a dimension that_the material comprising_device_40_substantially blocks the internal_lumen of greater saphenous vein 10._To this end, the device 40_can have a compressed condition and be_adapted to convert to an altered_physical configuration after deployment. For_example, all_or a portion of device_40 may be_adapted to_expand, unfold, unroll,_untwist, harden, or otherwise progress to_a condition other_than that which it had during_deployment_and which aids_in_occluding_the vessel._Alternatively or in_addition,_occlusion device_40_can cause localized thrombus to cause_or_assist in occluding the lumen of greater_saphenous vein 10. Illustrative_such_expandable occlusion devices can_comprise a porous sponge extracellular_matrix (ECM) structure and/or a collagenous_foam. For_additional information_concerning suitable sponge matrix materials and their preparation, reference can be_made, for example, to U.S. Pat._No. 6,666,892 and International_Publication No._W003/002168,_each of which_is_hereby incorporated_herein by reference in its entirety.

[0079]

With reference_now to_FIG. 17, shown is another view_similar to that depicted_in_FIG. 14, except illustrating an alternative_technique for delivering an occlusion device._Occlusion assembly 43 includes occlusion_device_44_received within an external cannula_such as a sheath 45, for_coaxial style delivery_through delivery sheath 24. For these purposes,_illustratively,_sheath 24 can be a 12_French_sheath and sheath 45 can be_a_10_French sheath. Sheath 45 or_other external cannula desirably has an_elongate slit 46 therein or another opening or openings_along its length._Such opening or openings are_beneficial,_for_example, in that the device 44 can be sterilized after_loading within_the sheath 45_using gaseous agents such as ethylene oxide (EO) which penetrate_through the opening or openings to contact_and sterilize device 44. Procedurally, occlusion assembly 43 is threaded into_and through delivery sheath 24 to achieve a_through-