Device for treatment of blood vessels using light

Apparatus for illuminating a portion of a body lumen, comprising:

• (a) an elongate flexible body having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending along a substantial length of the elongate flexible body;
• (b) a light emitting portion extending beyond the distal end of the elongate flexible body, the light emitting portion having a reduced cross section relative to the elongate flexible body, the light source being configured to emit light having a characteristic emission waveband, wherein the characteristic emission waveband corresponds to a characteristic absorption waveband of a selected photoreactive agent;
• and
• (c) a hollow tip disposed distal of the light emitting portion, the hollow tip having a distal face including a first orifice, and a side surface including a second orifice, the first and second orifices enabling the apparatus to be advanced over a guidewire such that the light emitting portion does not include a guidewire lumen, the guidewire being thus disposed generally parallel to and external of the light emitting portion, the reduced diameter of the light emitting portion enabling the guidewire to extend beyond the elongate flexible body to the hollow tip, such that a combined cross section footprint of the guidewire, the hollow tip, and the light emitting portion is smaller than a cross sectional footprint of the elongate flexible body.

Apparatus for illuminating a portion of a body lumen, comprising:

• (a) an elongate flexible body having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen;
• (b) a light emitting portion disposed distal of the elongate flexible body, the light emitting portion comprising a light source configured to emit light having a characteristic emission waveband, wherein the characteristic emission band corresponds to a characteristic absorption waveband of a selected photoreactive agent, the light emitting portion being configured such that the light emitting portion does not include a guidewire;
• (c) an inflatable member surrounding the light source, the inflatable member being configured such that when the inflatable member is sufficiently inflated, an outer surface of the inflatable member engages a wall of the body lumen, and a portion of a guidewire proximate the light source is disposed between the wall of the body lumen and the external surface of the inflatable member, the guidewire having been used to advance the apparatus into the body lumen;
• and
• (d) a hollow tip disposed distal of the light emitting portion, the hollow tip having a distal face including a first orifice, and a side surface including a second orifice, the first and second orifices enabling the apparatus to be advanced over the guidewire without requiring the light emitting portion to include a guidewire lumen.

A method for administering light to vascular tissue, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a vascular illumination apparatus comprising a first elongate flexible body and a second elongate flexible body configured to be slideably disposed within a working lumen of the first elongate flexible body;
• (b) advancing the vascular illumination apparatus through a vascular system of a patient until a distal end of the first elongate flexible body is disposed adjacent to and proximal of a treatment site;
• (c) inflating an anchoring member disposed adjacent to the distal end of the first elongate flexible body, to secure a position of the distal end of the first elongate flexible body relative to the treatment site;
• (d) advancing the second elongate flexible body beyond the distal end of the first elongate flexible body until a light source associated with the second elongate flexible body is disposed proximate a first portion of the treatment site;
• (e) inflating an expandable member surrounding the light source to displace blood disposed between the light source and the first portion of the treatment site, the expandable member being configured to allow light from the light source to reach the treatment site;
• (f) energizing the light source to administer light to the first portion of the treatment site;
• and
• (g) if light needs to be administered to additional portions of the treatment site, then performing the following steps for each additional portion:
• (i) deflating the expandable member surrounding the light source;
• (ii) moving the second elongate flexible body to position the light source to administer light to the additional portion of the treatment site, while keeping the first elongate flexible body fixed in place;
• (iii) inflating the expandable member surrounding the light source to displace blood disposed between the light source and the additional portion of the treatment site;
• and
• (iv) energizing the light source to administer light to the additional portion of the treatment site.