What is disclosed are medical devices comprising a rounded, thin-walled, expandable
metal structure (“ballstent”) and a flexible, elongated delivery device (“delivery
catheter”) and systems and methods of use for treating saccular vascular aneurysms with the medical devices. Ballstents comprised of gold,
platinum, or silver that can be compressed, positioned in the lumen of an
aneurysm, and expanded to conform to the shape of the
aneurysm are disclosed. The external surface of ballstents can be configured to promote local
thrombosis and to promote the growth of tissue into and around the wall of the ballstent in order to seal the
aneurysm and fix the ballstent in place in the aneurysm. The wall of the ballstent can also be configured to release drugs or pharmacologically active molecules, such as those that promote
thrombosis,
cell proliferation,
extracellular matrix deposition, and tissue growth.