Methods and devices for reducing the mineral content of vascular calcified lesions
First Claim
1. A method for at least reducing the mineral content of a vascular calcified lesion, said method comprising:
- maintaining the local environment of said calcified lesion at a subphysiologic pH for a period of time sufficient for the mineral content of said calcified lesion to be reduced;
whereby the mineral content of said calcified lesion is reduced.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for at least reducing the mineral content of a vascular calcified lesion, i.e. a calcified lesion present on the vascular tissue of a host. In the subject methods, the local environment of the lesion is maintained at a subphysiologic pH for a period of time sufficient for the mineral content of the lesion to be reduced, e.g. by flushing the lesion with a fluid capable of locally increasing the proton concentration in the region of the lesion. Also provided are systems and kits for practicing the subject methods. The subject methods and devices find particular use in the treatment of vascular diseases associated with the presence of calcified lesions on vascular tissue.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for at least reducing the mineral content of a vascular calcified lesion, said method comprising:
-
maintaining the local environment of said calcified lesion at a subphysiologic pH for a period of time sufficient for the mineral content of said calcified lesion to be reduced;
whereby the mineral content of said calcified lesion is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 18)
-
-
6. A method of at least reducing the size of a vascular calcified lesion, said method comprising:
-
flushing said calcified lesion with an acidic dissolution fluid capable of locally increasing the proton concentration in the region of said calcified lesion;
wherein the size of said calcified lesion is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for treating a host suffering from a vascular disease characterized by the presence of a vascular calcified lesion, said method comprising:
-
flushing said calcified lesion with an acidic dissolution fluid capable of increasing the proton concentration in the local environment of said lesion for a sufficient period of time for the mineral content of said calcified lesion to be reduced, whereby said host is treated. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A system for flushing a vascular tissue site with a dissolution fluid, said system comprising:
-
(a) a catheter comprising an acidic dissolution fluid introduction lumen capable of delivering fluid to said vascular tissue site and a fluid removal lumen capable of removing fluid and lesion debris from said vascular tissue site, wherein said catheter is in fluid communication with an acidic dissolution fluid source;
(b) a first pumping means operatively linked to said fluid introduction lumen in a manner sufficient such that said first pumping means forces fluid out of the distal end of said fluid introduction lumen; and
(c) a second pumping means operatively linked to said fluid removal lumen in a manner sufficient such that said second pumping means sucks fluid into the distal end of said fluid removal lumen.
-
-
17. A kit for at least reducing the mineral content of a vascular calcified lesion, said kit comprising:
a fluid capable of locally increasing the proton concentration in the region of said calcified lesion.
Specification