Systems and methods for occluding one or more blood vessels in a patient using variable
viscosity fluids. The variable
viscosity fluids are delivered in a liquefied state to the vasculature of the patient using a
catheter or a micro-
catheter. The blood vessels intended to be occluded may be any
blood vessel within the vasculature of the patient, including capillary blood vessels in a capillary
bed of the patient. The variable
viscosity fluids may be an electro-rheologic fluid responsive to an
electric current provided by an
electric current generator, or may be a
magneto-rheologic fluid responsive to a
magnetic field provided by a
magnetic field generator. The
electric current generator is a power source that provides current to create a
potential difference between electrodes placed about the blood vessels intended to be occluded. The
potential difference between the electrodes changes the electro-rheologic fluid from the liquefied to a solidified state. Alternatively, a
magnetic field generator provides a magnetic field that, when present, changes the
magneto-rheologic fluid from the liquefied to a solidified state. When solidified, the variable viscosity fluids provide the desired
occlusion of the intended
blood vessel or vessels and restricts flow therethrough the blood vessels. When liquefied, the variable viscosity fluids permit flow therethrough the blood vessels. The duration of the
occlusion depends on the presence of the electric current in the case of an electro-rheologic fluid, or on the presence of the magnetic field in the case of a
magneto-rheologic fluid.