Cryoplasty device and method
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorDaniel M. Lafontaine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cryoplasty catheter and method for preventing or slowing reclosure of a lesion following angioplasty. The cryoplasty catheter includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a dilatation balloon disposed at the distal end. An intake lumen and exhaust lumen are defined by the shaft to deliver coolant to the balloon and to exhaust or drain coolant from the balloon. The method in accordance with the present invention includes cooling a lesion to aid in remodeling the lesion through dilatation and/or freezing a portion of the lesion adjacent the dilatation balloon to kill cells within the lesion to prevent or retard restenosis.
Claims17
A method of performing cryoplasty, comprising the steps of:
- advancing across a lesion a dilatation balloon catheter including a shaft having a proximal end and distal end, the shaft defining a coolant intake lumen, the catheter having a dilatation balloon disposed at its distal end wherein at least a portion of the internal balloon volume is in fluid communication with the coolant inlet lumen;
- inflating the balloon to dilate the lesion;
- and
- delivering coolant to the balloon to cool the lesion to aid in mechanical remodeling of the lesion by dilatation.
A method of performing cryoplasty, comprising the steps of:
- advancing across a lesion a dilatation balloon catheter including a shaft having a proximal end and distal end, the shaft defining a coolant intake lumen, the catheter having a dilatation balloon disposed at its distal end wherein at least a portion of the internal balloon volume is in fluid communication with the coolant inlet lumen;
- inflating the balloon to dilate the lesion;
- and
- delivering coolant to the balloon to freeze a portion of the lesion adjacent to the balloon to kill cells within the lesion.
A method of causing cold-induced necrosis, comprising the steps of:
- advancing across a target site a balloon catheter comprising a shaft having a proximal and distal end, the shaft defining an inflation lumen and a drain lumen therethrough, each lumen having a proximal and distal end proximate the prosimal and distal ends of the shaft respectively;
- inflating the balloon;
- delivering coolant through the inflation lumen into the balloon;
- allowing coolant to undergo a phase change within the balloon;
- killing cells within a target site;
- and
- removing coolant from the balloon the drain lumen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.