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:
Apr. 24, 2001
Filed:
May. 06, 1997
Mitchell Dann, Jackson, WY (US);
Scott P. Thome, Waite Park, MN (US);
Jonathan R. McGrath, Chanhassen, MN (US);
Eric N. Rudie, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Jonathan L. Flachman, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Teruo T. Hirose, Bronx, NY (US);
Urologix, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reducing restenosis of a stenotic region of a blood vessel after performing a dilatation angioplasty treatment is disclosed. The method includes radiating microwave energy from a microwave antenna to kill a medial tissue layer of the blood vessel in the stenotic region. The radiation is applied during or after inflation of dilatation balloon to permanently dilate the stenotic region. When radiation is applied during dilatation of the stenotic region, the dilatation balloon forms a seal against the inner wall surface of the blood vessel to exclude blood in the vessel from contacting the stenotic region. The method preferably further includes cooling the blood circulating in the blood vessel about a shaft of the catheter with cooling fluid circulating within cooling lumens of the catheter and cooling an inner wall surface of the blood vessel in the stenotic region during the application of radiation to the medial cell layer. Finally, the method also preferably includes perfusing blood in the vessel through the catheter across the stenotic region during dilatation of the stenotic region to maintain circulation of blood through the blood vessel during the dilatation of the stenotic region.