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:
Sep. 17, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 28, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Morteza Naghavi, Houston, TX (US);
Bujin Guo, Houston, TX (US);
Birendra Lal, Houston, TX (US);
S. Ward Casscells, III, Houston, TX (US);
James T. Willerson, Houston, TX (US);
Assignee:
Other;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61N 1/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
A61N 1/00 ;
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods for treating inflammation in body tissues. More specifically, certain disclosed methods relate to selectively inducing apoptosis in inflammatory immune cells by heating cells for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to induce programmed cell death. The disclosed stents can be placed in contact with the inflammatory cells and heated under controlled conditions. The disclosed apparatus and methods are particularly suitable for treating athersclerotic plaques.