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:
Oct. 23, 2001
Filed:
May. 04, 1999
Ron Waksman, Rockville, MD (US);
Thomas D. Weldon, Gainesville, GA (US);
Raphael F. Meloul, Atlanta, GA (US);
Richard A. Hillstead, Duluth, GA (US);
Jonathan J. Rosen, Alpharetta, GA (US);
George K. Bonnoitt, Jr., Decatur, GA (US);
David S. Halpern, Alpharetta, GA (US);
Charles E. Larsen, Cumming, GA (US);
Ian R. Crocker, Stone Mountain, GA (US);
Other;
Abstract
Apparatus and method are described for delivery of a treating element, such as a radiation source, through a catheter to a desired site in the intraluminal passageways of a patient, such as a coronary artery, for inhibiting the formation of scar tissue such as may occur in restenosis following balloon angioplasty. The apparatus includes an elongated flexible catheter tube having proximal and distal end portions, with a lumen extending therebetween, and a diameter sufficiently small for insertion in to a patient's intraluminal passageways. One or more treating elements, such as a capsule or pellet containing radioactive material, is positionable within the lumen and movable between the proximal and distal end portions under the force of liquid flowing through the lumen. A method for using such apparatus, including a method for using such apparatus simultaneously with a balloon angioplasty procedure, is disclosed.