Method and apparatus for treating a desired area in the vascular system of a patient

Apparatus for intraluminal treatment of a selected area of a human body, comprising:

• (a) an elongated tube that is of sufficient flexibility to be advanced through a tortuous lumen to a selected area of the body including:
• (i) a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
• and
• (ii) first and second parallel lumens extending between said proximal and distal end portions, said first lumen being formed within said elongated tube and said second lumen being formed between said first lumen and said elongated tube, said first and second lumens being in fluid communication with one another at said distal end portion and being otherwise closed to the exterior at said distal end portion to form a closed fluid-tight path;
• and
• (b) a loading body at the proximal end of said tube, said loading body including:
• (i) a treating element passageway including an inlet for communicating with a source of liquid fluid and including an outlet communicating with said first lumen;
• (ii) at least one treating element slidably disposed in said treating element passageway, said at least one treating element comprising a hollow cylinder encapsulating a radioactive material;
• and
• (iii) a gate moveable between a first position blocking movement of said treating element between said treating element passageway and said first lumen and a second position allowing such movement;
• and
• (c) said first lumen having a diameter sufficiently large between said proximal and distal end portions to permit the slidable passage of said at least one treating element between said proximal and distal end portions, whereby said at least one treating element may be moved between said proximal to distal end portions, of said first lumen under the force of fluid flowing through said first and second lumens.

Apparatus for intraluminal treatment of a selected area of a human body comprising:

• (a) an elongated tube of sufficiently small diameter for advancing though a selected lumen to the selected area, said tube including:
• (i) a proximal end portion for remaining outside the vessel and a distal end portion for positioning at the selected area in the vessel;
• and
• (ii) first and second parallel lumens extending substantially co-extensively through said tube between said proximal and distal end portions, said first lumen being located inside said second lumen and said first and second lumens being in fluid communication with one another at said distal end portion and being otherwise closed to the exterior at said distal end portion to form a closed fluid-tight path;
• (b) a loading body at the proximal end of said tube, said loading body including:
• (i) a treating element passageway including an inlet for communicating with a source of fluid and including an outlet communicating with said first lumen;
• (ii) at least one treating element slidably disposed in said treating element passageway, said at least one treating element comprising a hollow cylinder encapsulating a radioactive material;
• and
• (iii) a gate movable between a first position blocking movement of treating elements between said treating element passageway and said first lumen and a second position allowing such movement;
• (c) said first lumen having a diameter sufficiently large between said proximal and distal end portions to permit the slidable passage of said at least one treating element between said proximal and distal end portions, whereby said at least one treating element may be moved between said proximal and distal end portions of said first lumen under the force of fluid flowing through said first and second lumens, and
• (d) a radiopage marker on said distal end portion of said flexible plastic tube marking the general location of said at least one treating element when advanced to said distal end portion.