Radiation delivery catheter
AssigneeRadiance Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorGerard von Hoffmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a delivery catheter adapted for delivery of a dose of radiation to a vessel wall. A radiation source is enlargeable from a first, reduced cross-sectional profile to a second, enlarged cross-sectional profile by unwinding around a central core. Following delivery of a radiation dose to the vessel wall, the source is reduced in profile by wrapping around the core and removed from the treatment site.
Claims34
A radiation delivery catheter for temporarily placing a radioactive source adjacent a vessel wall, comprising:
- an elongate, flexible tubular body, having a proximal end and a distal end;
- an axially moveable core, having proximal and distal ends, extending through the tubular body;
- and
- at least one radioactive source in the form of a flexible radioactive sheet on the distal end of the core;
- wherein the radioactive sheet is moveable between a first position within the tubular body and a second position outside of the tubular body.
A radiation delivery catheter, comprising:
- a first elongate element, having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a second elongate element moveable with respect to the first element;
- and
- a radiation source attached to the second element, said radiation source having first and second ends;
- wherein rotation of the first end of the radiation source with respect to the second end causes the source to change from a reduced cross-sectional area to an enlarged cross-sectional area.
A radiation delivery catheter, comprising:
- an elongate, flexible tubular body, having a proximal end and a distal end;
- and
- a self expandable circumferentially rolled radiation delivery source on the distal end of the delivery catheter.
A method of delivering a dose of radiation to a site in a vessel, comprising the steps of:
- providing a radiation delivery catheter having a self expandable radiation source on a distal end thereof,
- positioning the radiation source at the site;
- and
- permitting the radiation source to self expand at the site;
- radially reducing the radiation source, and withdrawing the radiation source from the site;
- wherein the permitting the radiation source to expand step comprises permitting at least one rolled flexible metal element to partially unroll from a reduced cross sectional area for positioning at the site to an enlarged cross sectional area for treating the site.
A method of delivering a dose of radiation to a site in a vessel, comprising the steps of:
- providing a radiation delivery catheter having a thin sheet radiation source on a distal end thereof,
- positioning the radiation source at the site;
- expanding the radiation source at the site;
- radially reducing the radiation source, and withdrawing the radiation source from the site;
- wherein the expanding the radiation source step comprises at least partially unrolling at least one rolled flexible sheet from a reduced cross sectional area for positioning at the site to an enlarged cross sectional area for treating the site.
A method of delivering radiation to a site in a vessel, comprising the steps of:
- providing a radiation delivery source in the form of a thin sheet having a radioactive isotope thereon;
- positioning the radiation delivery source at the site;
- and
- expanding the radiation delivery source at the site to bring the sheet into contact with the vessel wall;
- wherein the expanding the radiation delivery source step comprises at least partially unrolling the sheet from a tubular roll having a reduced cross sectional area for positioning at the site to an enlarged cross sectional area for treating the site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.