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:
Jul. 23, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 25, 1999
Anthony J. Bradshaw, Sugar Land, TX (US);
Richard T. Thornton, League City, TX (US);
Wayne W. Snyder, Houston, TX (US);
Other;
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for treating a stenosed region of a blood vessel such as a coronary artery by use of a single catheter for balloon angioplasty followed by delivery of a controlled inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the blood vessel wall to deter restenosis at the angioplasty site. In one embodiment, an angioplasty balloon catheter is adapted to have its balloon emptied after the angioplasty and then re-filled with radioactive fluid to re-engage the blood vessel wall at the angioplasty site. Another embodiment has a conventional angioplasty balloon surrounded by a radiotherapy treatment balloon that is separately inflatable with radioactive fluid. Partly filling the angioplasty balloon during the radiation treatment minimizes the volume of radioactive fluid necessary to achieve the desired dosage. In either embodiment, an outer containment balloon may be used to capture radioactive fluid that would otherwise escape if the treatment balloon were to rupture.