US 5,961,439 AGranted

Device and method for radiation therapy

AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation

InventorsAry S. Chernomorsky, Robert L. Schmidlen, Jerome Jackson

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Abstract

There is provided a device and a method for irradiating vascular tissues. The device generally includes a transfer device having a first chamber and a second chamber and a piston slidably disposed between the chambers. A balloon catheter is provided for positioning within the vascular system and is connected to the transfer device such that an inflation lumen of the balloon catheter is in fluid communication with the second chamber. A proximal end of the balloon catheter is affixed to a mounting block which is configured to receive the transfer device. An inflation device is provided to force fluid into the first chamber such that the piston is driven to force a radioactive fluid contained in the second chamber into the balloon.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A device for radiation therapy of a vascular system comprising:

a transfer device defining a first chamber at a first end thereof and a second chamber adjacent the first chamber, the transfer device having a piston movably mounted therein and separating the first and second chambers;
an inflation device removably engagable with the first end of the transfer device, the inflation device containing a first fluid transferable to the first chamber of the transfer device;
a catheter having an inflatable balloon adjacent a distal end of the catheter and defining an inflation lumen extending from the balloon to a location adjacent a proximal end of the catheter;
mounting structure removably associated with the balloon catheter and having a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the mounting structure being removably engagable with a second end of the transfer device such that the fluid chamber of the mounting structure is in fluid communication with the second chamber of the transfer device;
and
a radioactive fluid located in the second chamber of the transfer device and movable between the second chamber and the balloon in response to movement of the piston.

3 more elements

A method of irradiating vascular tissue comprising the steps of:

providing a balloon catheter, an inflation device and a transfer device, the transfer device having a first chamber and a second chamber and a piston or membrane movably mounted between the first and second chambers;
drawing a radioactive fluid into the second chamber of the transfer device;
inserting the balloon catheter into a vascular system such that a balloon associated with the catheter is positioned at stenotic site;
attaching the balloon catheter to the transfer device such that an inflation lumen of the catheter is in fluid communication with the second chamber of the transfer device;
connecting the inflation device to the transfer device such that the inflation device is in fluid communication with the first chamber of the transfer device;
injecting fluid from the inflation device into the first chamber of the transfer device to move the piston or membrane within the transfer device thereby moving the piston or membrane within the second chamber to force the radioactive fluid out of the second chamber and into the inflation lumen to inflate the balloon.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/073,932Filed 6 May 1998
Granted: 5 Oct 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

A61M 25/10184
Balloon inflating or inflation-control devices: means for controlling or monitoring inflation or deflation
A61M 25/104
Balloon catheters: used for angioplasty
A61N 5/1007
Using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy: arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body
A61M 25/10187
Means for controlling or monitoring inflation or deflation: indicators for the level of inflation or deflation