Radiation delivery catheters and dosimetry methods
OwnerBrett Trauthen, Lisa Tam +4inventors
InventorsBrett Trauthen, Lisa Tam, Robert Fazio, Michael Crocker, Edward F. Smith, Gary Strathern
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Abstract
Disclosed are sources and methods for delivering a radioactive dose to a site in a body lumen. The sources are preferably mounted on a balloon or other expandable or deployable mechanical structure. The source and methods enable delivery of a clinically significant dose of radiation into a vessel wall in a relatively short time while using a relatively low activity. The sources also enable delivery of a substantially uniform dose into the vessel wall, whether or not such delivery is through the wall of a stent.
Claims48
A method of optimizing an in stent radiation delivery profile, comprising the steps of:
- identifying a stent positioned against the wall of a vessel;
- positioning a radiation source within the stent;
- and
- exposing the vessel to radiation through the stent such that variations in the dose delivered to a reference depth of at least about 1 mm in the wall of the vessel along the length of the source do not exceed about 20%.
A radiation delivery catheter for in stent delivery of a substantially uniform dose of radiation, comprising:
- an elongate, flexible, tubular body, having a proximal end and a distal end;
- and
- a radiation source near the distal end;
- wherein the source is capable of a substantially uniform delivery of radiation at a reference depth of at least about 1 mm in tissue behind the stent along a length of at least about 30% of the length of the source.
A method of treating a coronary vessel to inhibit restenosis, comprising delivering radiation at a dose of at least about 8 Gy, at a depth of 1 mm into the vessel wall, over a time of less than about 15 minutes.
A method of treating a peripheral vessel to inhibit restenosis, comprising delivering radiation at a dose of at least about 6 Gy, at a depth of 2 mm into the vessel wall, over a time of less than about 40 minutes.
A radiation delivery catheter, for delivering a dose of radiation within a vessel, comprising:
- an elongate flexible body, having a proximal end and a distal end;
- and
- a radiation source carried by the body near the distal end thereof;
- wherein the source is configured to deliver a dose in excess of about 8 Gy at a depth of 1 mm into the vessel wall over a time period of no more than about 15 minutes.
A radiation delivery catheter, for delivering a dose of radiation within a peripheral vessel, comprising:
- an elongate flexible body, having a proximal end and a distal end;
- and
- a radiation source carried by the body near the distal end thereof;
- wherein the source is configured to deliver a dose in excess of about 6 Gy at a depth of 2 mm into the vessel wall over a time period of no more than about 40 minutes.
A method of optimizing radiation dose uniformity in a vessel wall behind a stent, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a radiation delivery catheter within a stent in a body vessel;
- delivering a first dose of beta radiation along a first axis past a first side of a stent strut and into the vessel wall;
- and
- delivering a second dose of beta radiation along a second axis past a second side of the strut and into the vessel wall;
- wherein the first axis and the second axis converge behind the strut.
A method of optimizing an intraluminal radiation delivery profile, comprising the steps of:
- identifying a treatment site in the wall of a vessel;
- positioning a radiation source against the wall;
- and
- exposing the vessel to radiation such that variations in the dose delivered to a reference depth of at least about 1 mm in the wall of the vessel along the length of the source do not exceed about 20%.
A radiation delivery catheter for delivering a substantially uniform dose of radiation, comprising:
- an elongate, flexible, tubular body, having a proximal end and a distal end;
- and
- a radiation source near the distal end;
- wherein the source is capable of a substantially uniform delivery of radiation at a reference depth of at least about 1 mm into the wall of the vessel along a length of at least about 30% of the length of the source.
A method of treating a site in a vessel, comprising delivering radiation at a dose of at least about 8 Gy, at a depth of 1 mm into the vessel wall, over a time of no more than about 15 minutes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.