METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING VULNERABLE PLAQUE
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a medical device to treat an occlusive plaque within a body lumen, wherein said medical device is adapted to release a biologically active agent to treat a vulnerable plaque disposed downstream from said occlusive plaque.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method to treat vulnerable plaque. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a medical device to treat an occlusive plaque, and is also adapted to release a biologically active agent to treat vulnerable plaque located downstream from the occlusive plaque. In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus has an expandable tube attached to the inner surface of a stent, and a layer of endothelial cells seeded on the inner surface of the expandable tube. The expandable tube shields a vulnerable plaque from a body lumen.
89 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
a medical device to treat an occlusive plaque within a body lumen, wherein said medical device is adapted to release a biologically active agent to treat a vulnerable plaque disposed downstream from said occlusive plaque. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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treating an occlusive plaque in a body lumen with a medical device inserted through said body lumen; and releasing a biologically active agent from said medical device to treat a vulnerable plaque disposed downstream from said occlusive plaque. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus, comprising:
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a stent having an inner surface and an outer surface; an expandable tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said expandable tube coupled to said inner surface of said stent; and endothelial cells disposed on said inner surface of said expandable tube, wherein said expandable tube shields a vulnerable plaque from a body lumen. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for treating an occlusive plaque in a body lumen with a medical device inserted through said body lumen; and means for releasing a biologically active agent from said medical device to treat a vulnerable plaque disposed downstream from said occlusive plaque.
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38. An apparatus for treating a vulnerable plaque near a body lumen, comprising:
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means for implanting a stent graft near said vulnerable plaque region, said stent graft having an expandable tube coupled to an inner surface of said stent, a layer of endothelial cells seeded on an inner surface of said expandable tube; and means for shielding said vulnerable plaque with said stent graft, wherein said stent graft prevents said vulnerable plaque from rupturing into said body lumen.
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Specification