Apparatus and methods for scaffolding

A method of tissue scaffolding in a blood vessel of a subject, the method comprising:

• providing a catheter into the blood vessel, the catheter comprising:
• a catheter shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal tip;
• a distal balloon positioned on the catheter shaft proximal to the distal tip;
• a proximal balloon positioned on the catheter shaft proximal to the distal balloon, the proximal balloon in fluid communication with the distal balloon;
• an intermediate balloon positioned on a distal segment of the catheter shaft proximal to the distal balloon and distal to the proximal balloon, the intermediate balloon and the distal segment each comprising a translucent material;
• a light fiber positioned in the catheter shaft and extending through the distal segment;
• a first lumen and a second lumen coaxially arranged in the catheter shaft, the first lumen comprising an first port located between the distal balloon and the intermediate balloon, and the second lumen comprising a second port located between the intermediate balloon and the proximal balloon;
• and
• a pressure sensor positioned in one of the first or second lumen not coincident with either the first or second;
• expanding the distal balloon and the proximal balloon into contact with the blood vessel thereby occluding the blood vessel;
• supplying a drug from a drug source through at least one of the first and second ports into a blood vessel of a subject;
• expanding the intermediate balloon into contact with the blood vessel, the expanding of the intermediate balloon supports a wall of the blood vessel;
• activating the light fiber thereby providing light transmission through the distal segment and the intermediate balloon to activate the drug in the blood vessel.

An apparatus comprising

• a catheter shaft positioned in a blood vessel of a subject, the catheter shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal tip;
• a distal balloon positioned on the catheter shaft proximal to the distal tip;
• a proximal balloon positioned on the catheter shaft proximal to the distal balloon, the proximal balloon in fluid communication with the distal balloon, the distal balloon and the proximal balloon are configured to expand into contact with the blood vessel thereby occluding the blood vessel;
• an intermediate balloon positioned on a distal segment of the catheter shaft proximal to the distal balloon and distal to the proximal balloon, the intermediate balloon and the distal segment each comprising a transparent material, the intermediate balloon configured to expand into contact with the blood vessel;
• a light fiber positioned in the catheter shaft and extending through the distal segment, the light fiber configured to provide light transmission through the distal segment and the intermediate balloon;
• a first lumen and a second lumen coaxially arranged in the catheter shaft, the first lumen comprising a first port located between the distal balloon and the intermediate balloon, and the second lumen comprising a second port located between the intermediate balloon and the proximal balloon;
• a pressure sensor positioned in the infusion lumen not coincident with both the infusion port and the aspiration port;
• and
• a drug source configured to supply a drug through the infusion port into the blood vessel.