The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 23, 1995
Filed:
Jan. 18, 1994
Michael J Fine, Coral Springs, FL (US);
Cordis Corporation, Miami Lakes, FL (US);
Abstract
The method and apparatus of the present invention is for treating a blood vessel stenosis region in a subject. The method comprises the steps of inserting a catheter into a subject until a balloon located at a distal end portion of the catheter is within a treatment region of a blood vessel. The catheter comprises an elongated tubular body member having first and second axially extending passages. The balloon is located at a distal end portion of the tubular body member and is in fluid communication with the first and second passages. A mechanism supplies fluid under pressure through the first passage to a first axial end portion of the balloon to inflate the balloon. A heater located within the balloon elevates the temperature of the fluid to a first temperature. The first temperature is maintained for a predetermined time interal. A thermocouple senses the temperature of the fluid within the balloon. A control establishes the temperature during a thermal treatment cycle in response to the temperature of the fluid sensed by the thermocouple. The second passage conducts the heated fluid from the balloon at a second axially opposite end portion of the balloon after the thermal treatment cycle. The heated fluid removed from the balloon is replaced with a fluid at a second temperature less than the first temperature through the first passage.