# US 6,719,778 B1 · Methods for treatment of aneurysms > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,719,778 B1 - Document ID: US6719778B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/534,786 - Filed: 2000-03-24 - Granted: 2004-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 2000-03-24 - Assignees: Endovascular Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Robert A. Van Tassel; Michael Kasinkas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6719778B1 ## CPC - A61N 5/062: {Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent} - A61N 5/0601: {Apparatus for use inside the body} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Fibrosis, in at least one layer of a vessel wall, can be used to strengthen a vessel wall. Fibrosis can be induced by irradiating a vessel wall with an energy source, or by inducing injury to the vessel wall. In addition to an energy source, photoactivatable agents can also be used such that the energy activates the photoactivatable agent to cause a thickening of the vessel wall. For example, ultra-violet radiation can be used alone or in conjunction with a photoactivatable agent, such as a psoralen compound, to increase the adventitial volume of a blood vessel. Upon exposure to radiation, preferably ultra-violet A radiation, the photoactivatable agent becomes activated and causes compositional and/or structural changes in the adventitia. The invention provides a method of treating aneurysms by thickening the adventitial layer of the vessel wall at the site of the aneurysm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for strengthening a vessel wall in an area of an aneurysm of a subject comprising: identifying a region of weakness in a vessel wall of an aneurysm, the region of weakness comprising at least one target layer; applying an agent in combination with energy to the region of weakness; and inducing fibrosis in a target layer, to thereby strengthen the vessel wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the region of weakness comprises using ultrasound analysis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the region of weakness comprises using X-ray analysis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying energy to the region of weakness comprises irradiating the region of weakness with X-ray irradiation in an amount effective to induce fibrosis in a target layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying energy to the region of weakness comprises irradiating the region of weakness with UV irradiation in an amount effective to induce fibrosis in a target layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying energy to the region of weakness comprises irradiating the region of weakness with IR irradiation in an amount effective to induce fibrosis in a target layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying energy to the region of weakness comprises irradiating the region of weakness with microwave irradiation in an amount effective to induce fibrosis in a target layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying energy to the region of weakness comprises irradiating the region of weakness with heat irradiation in an amount effective to induce fibrosis in a target layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying energy to the region of weakness comprises irradiating the region of weakness with RF irradiation in an amount effective to induce fibrosis in a target layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises, administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent to a subject, such that the agent is taken up by at least one target layer of the vessel wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises, administering a therapeutically effective amount of photoactivatable agent, such that the photoactivatable agent is activated upon irradiation to induce fibrosis in a target layer. ### Claim 12 A method of strengthening a vessel wall having an adventitial area in an area of an aneurysm of a subject comprising: administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photoactivatable agent to a subject, such that the agent is taken up by at least one layer of the vessel wall of the aneurysm; applying energy to a target region of the vessel wall in an area of the aneurysm, such that the photoactivatable agent is activated to strengthen the vessel wall; and increasing an adventitial area of the vessel wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photoactivatable agent further comprises systemically administering the photoactivatable agent. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photoactivatable agent further comprises locally administering the photoactivatable agent. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photoactivatable agent further comprises administering a psoralen agent or derivatives thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the step of applying energy to a target region further comprises irradiating the target region internally using a light delivery catheter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the step of applying energy to a target region further comprises irradiating the target region using a light delivery catheter without occluding fluid flow. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the step of applying energy to a target region further comprises irradiating the target region externally using an external light delivery source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the step of applying energy to a target region further comprises irradiating the target region with UV irradiation. ### Claim 20 A method for increasing an adventitial area of a blood vessel wall in an area of an aneurysm comprising: recognizing that increasing an adventitial area of a blood vessel strengthens the blood vessel; administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photoactivatable agent to a subject, such that the agent is taken up by the adventitial area of the vessel in an area of the aneurysm; applying energy to a target region of the blood vessel wall so that the photoactivatable agent is activated; and increasing the adventitial area of the vessel in an area of the aneurysm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photoactivatable agent further comprises systemically administering the photoactivatable agent. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photoactivatable agent further comprises locally administering the photoactivatable agent. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photoactivatable agent further comprises administering a psoralen agent or derivatives thereof. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the step of applying energy to a target region further comprises irradiating the target region internally using a light delivery catheter. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the step of applying energy to a target region further comprises irradiating the target region using a light delivery catheter without occluding fluid flow. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the step of applying energy to a target region further comprises irradiating the target region externally using an external light delivery source. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the step of applying energy to a target region further comprises irradiating the target region with UV irradiation. ### Claim 28 A method for treating an aneurysm by increasing an adventitial area of a blood vessel in an area of an aneurysm comprising: administering a therapeutically effective amount of a photoactivatable agent to a subject, such that the agent is taken up by an adventitial area of the blood vessel in an area of the aneurysm; applying energy to the site of the aneurysm to react within the photoactivatable agent; and increasing an adventitial area in the area of the aneurysm. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of photoactivatable agent further comprises systemically administering the photoactivatable agent. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of photoactivatable agent further comprises locally administering the photoactivatable agent. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of photoactivatable agent further comprises administering a psoralen agent or derivatives thereof. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the step of applying energy to the site of the aneurysm further comprises irradiating the site of the aneurysm internally using a light delivery catheter. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the step of applying energy to the site of the aneurysm further comprises irradiating the site of the aneurysm internally using a light delivery catheter without occluding fluid flow. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the step of applying energy to the site of the aneurysm further comprises irradiating the site of the aneurysm externally using an external light delivery source. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the step of applying energy to the site of the aneurysm further comprises irradiating the site of the aneurysm with UV irradiation. ### Claim 36 A method for strengthening a vessel wall in an area of an aneurysm of a subject comprising, irradiating a target region with UVC irradiation; and inducing fibrosis in at least one layer of the vessel wall in the area of the aneurysm. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The method of claim 36, wherein the step of irradiating the target region further comprises irradiating the target region internally using a light delivery catheter. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the step of irradiating the target region further comprises irradiating the target region internally using a light delivery catheter without occluding fluid flow. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The method of claim 36, wherein the step of irradiating the target region further comprises irradiating the target region externally using an external light delivery source. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The method of claim 36, wherein the step of irradiating the target region further comprises irradiating the target region with UVC irradiation having a wavelength of about 240 to 370 nanometers. ### Claim 41 A method for increasing an adventitial area of a blood vessel wall in an area of an aneurysm comprising, irradiating the target region with UVC irradiation; and increasing an adventitial area of the blood vessel wall in the area of the aneurysm. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the step of irradiating the target region further comprises irradiating the target region internally using a light delivery catheter. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method of claim 42, wherein the step of irradiating the target region further comprises irradiating the target region internally using a light delivery catheter without occluding fluid flow. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the step of irradiating the target region further comprises irradiating the target region externally using an external light delivery source. ### Claim 45 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the step of irradiating the target region further comprises irradiating the target region with UVC irradiation having a wavelength of about 240 to 370 nanometers. ### Claim 46 A method for treating an aneurysm by increasing an adventitial area of a blood vessel in an area of an aneurysm comprising, irradiating the site of the aneurysm with UVC irradiation; and increasing an adventitial area in the area of the aneurysm. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The method of claim 46, wherein the step of irradiating the site of the aneurysm further comprises irradiating the site of the aneurysm internally using a light delivery catheter. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of claim 47, wherein the step of irradiating the site of the aneurysm further comprises irradiating the site of the aneurysm internally using a light delivery catheter without occluding the fluid flow. ### Claim 49 (depends on 46) The method of claim 46, wherein the step of irradiating the site of the aneurysm further comprises irradiating the site of the aneurysm externally using an external light delivery source. ### Claim 50 (depends on 46) The method of claim 46, wherein the step of irradiating the site of the aneurysm further comprises irradiating the site of the aneurysm with UVC irradiation having a wavelength of about 240 to 370 nanometers.