Method and apparatus for treating vulnerable plaque
OwnerEvgenia Mandrusov, Deborah Kilpatrick +2inventors
InventorsEvgenia Mandrusov, Deborah Kilpatrick, Murthy Simhambhatla, Syed Hossainy
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Abstract
An apparatus and method to treat vulnerable plaque. In one embodiment, the apparatus has an elongated catheter body adapted for insertion in a body lumen, with a drug delivery device attached near a distal portion of the elongated body. The drug delivery device is configured to deliver a biologically active agent to stabilize a vulnerable plaque.
Claims41
An apparatus, comprising:
- an elongated catheter body adapted for insertion in a body lumen;
- and
- a drug delivery device coupled near a distal portion of said elongated body, said drug delivery device configured to deliver a biologically active agent to stabilize a vulnerable plaque.
A method for stabilizing a vulnerable plaque in a lumen wall, comprising:
- detecting said vulnerable plaque;
- advancing a needle catheter near said vulnerable plaque;
- and
- delivering a vulnerable plaque stabilizing agent with said needle catheter near said vulnerable plaque.
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A method for treating a vulnerable plaque, comprising:
- advancing a medical device within a body lumen;
- and
- delivering a biologically active agent from said medical device, wherein said biologically active agent induces a therapeutic angiogensesis growth away from said vulnerable plaque to maintain a blood perfusion in the event of an occlusive thrombosis from a rupturing of said vulnerable plaque.
An apparatus for stabilizing a vulnerable plaque in a lumen wall, comprising:
- means for detecting said vulnerable plaque;
- means for advancing a needle catheter near said vulnerable plaque;
- and
- means for delivering a vulnerable plaque stabilizing agent with said needle catheter near said vulnerable plaque, wherein said vulnerable plaque stabilizing agent increases a thickness of a fibrous cap.
An apparatus for treating a vulnerable plaque, comprising:
- means for advancing a medical device within a body lumen;
- and
- means for delivering a biologically active agent from said medical device, wherein said biologically active agent induces a therapeutic angiogenesis growth away from said vulnerable plaque to maintain a blood perfusion in the event of an occlusive thrombosis from a rupturing of said vulnerable plaque.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.