Methods and devices for reducing the mineral content of a region of non-intimal vascular tissue

• US 20050059954A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Constantz, Brent R.
• Application Number:
  US10/850,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20050059954A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00778 Operations on blood vessels A61B2017/22097, A61B2017/320741 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

Methods and devices for reducing the mineral content of a region of non-intimal vascular tissue are provided. In the subject methods, an isolated local environment that includes the region to be demineralized is produced. The pH of the local environment is then reduced to a subphysiologic level, e.g. by flushing with an acidic dissolution fluid, for a period of time sufficient for the mineral content of the region to be reduced. The devices of the subject invention are characterized by comprising a means for producing an isolated local environment that includes a non-intimal region of vascular tissue. Also provided are kits for practicing the subject methods.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A device for use in reducing the mineral content of a region of non-intimal vascular tissue, said device comprising:

a means for producing an isolated local environment in situ comprising a region of non-intimal vascular tissue.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the volume of said local environment ranges from about 1 to 100 ml.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein said means comprises a cup shaped element.

20. The device according to claim 17, wherein said means is capable of enclosing a region of a vessel.

21. The device according to claim 17, wherein said device further comprises a means for flushing said local environment with an acidic dissolution fluid.

22. A system for flushing a non-intimal region of vascular tissue with an acidic dissolution fluid, said system comprising:

(a) a means for producing a local environment comprising said region, wherein said means includes a means for flushing said local environment with said acidic dissolution fluid;

(b) a source of acidic dissolution fluid in fluid communication with said means for producing a local environment comprising said region.