Method for delivering a liquid solution to the interior wall surface of a vessel

• US 5,902,266 A
• Filed: 06/01/1998
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leone, James E., Rowland, Stephen M., Hennemann, Willard W. III
• Primary Examiner(s): STRIGHT, RONALD K
• Application Number:
  US09/087,873
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 604/8, 604/891.1, 604/890.1, 604/280, 604/281, 604/283, 604/264, 604/104, 604/96, 604/93, 604/49, 604/51, 604/52, 604/53, 604/265, 604/266, 606/191-198, 606/108, 128/898, 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 623/66
• US Class Current: 604/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/885 comprising a coil including a plurality of spiral or helical sections with alternate directions around a central axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0068 the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir

Abstract

The drug delivery stent assembly includes a hollow tubular wire stent which extends in a path defining a generally cylindrical envelope and which has side walls facing outwardly of the cylindrical envelope with holes therein for delivery of liquid to a site in a vessel where the stent is placed. The method for delivering a liquid solution to the interior wall surface of a vessel using the hollow tubular wire stent comprises: placing the stent on a balloon of a balloon on a wire guidewire or on a balloon catheter; inserting the stent on the balloon assembly at a desired site in a vessel; causing the balloon to expand the stent to a larger cylindrical shape; supplying liquid with a liquid supply source to the stent prior to or after placement of the stent so that liquid can be delivered from the outer holes in the stent to the site of placement of the stent in a vessel; disengaging the liquid supply source from the stent prior to or after placement of the stent in a vessel; and allowing the liquid solution to leak from the stent through the outwardly facing holes in the stent.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a liquid solution to the interior wall surface of a blood vessel comprising:

providing a hollow tubular wire stent which extends in a path defining a generally cylindrical envelope and which has side walls facing outwardly of the cylindrical envelope with holes therein for delivery of liquid to a site of placement in a blood vessel where the stent is placed on a balloon of a balloon on a wire guidewire or a balloon catheter;

placing the stent on a balloon of a balloon on a wire guidewire or a balloon catheter;

inserting the stent on said balloon to a desired site in a blood vessel;

causing the balloon to expand the stent to a larger cylindrical shape; and

,

supplying liquid with a liquid supply means to the stent prior to or after inserting the stent so that liquid can be delivered from the outer holes in the stent to the site of the stent in the blood vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said stent is a coiled spring type stent and said liquid supply means is a liquid delivery tubing coupled to a proximal end of the stent, said method further including the steps of:

using the liquid delivery tubing as a tether;

pulling the liquid delivery tubing to stretch the coiled spring stent thereby reducing its diameter and loosening it from its place of implantation; and

, withdrawing the stent from the blood vessel.

3. The method of claim 2 including the step of placing a sheath in the blood vessel adjacent the location of the implanted stent followed by the steps of pushing the stent into the sheath.

4. The method of claim 3 including the step of inserting a partially inflated balloon in the sheath near the distal end thereof and placing the partially inflated balloon in the cylindrical envelope of the stent before, as it is being pushed, or after it is pushed into the sheath;

inflating the balloon to the inner diameter of the stretched coiled spring stent; and

, withdrawing the stent balloon and sheath from the blood vessel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid supply means includes a liquid delivery tubing and a proximal end of the stent is coupled to a distal end portion of the liquid delivery tubing and said liquid supplying step includes supplying liquid to the stent prior to the insertion of the stent into the blood vessel.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said supplying of liquid is effected with a hypodermic needle which is injected into the distal end portion of the liquid delivery tubing.

7. The method of claim 1 including the step of disengaging the liquid supply means from the stent prior to or after inserting the stent in the blood vessel.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein liquid solution is supplied to the stent after insertion of the stent in the blood vessel through the liquid delivery tubing and said method includes the further step of, after a sufficient amount of liquid has been supplied through the drug delivery tubing, supplying a heated liquid or a human body compatible solvent to the distal end portion of the liquid delivery tubing to dissolve same whereby the liquid delivery tubing can be safely removed from the blood vessel.

9. The method of claim 1 including the further steps of after the liquid solution has been allowed to be delivered from the stent through the outwardly facing holes in the stent, removing the stent from the blood vessel.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said liquid supplied to the stent includes a plaque dissolving liquid.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid supplied to the stent includes an anti-platelet forming or platelet inhibiting liquid.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid supplied to the stent includes an anti-thrombotic drug.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid supplied to the stent is selected from the group consisting essentially of anti-proliferative agents, anti-thrombotic agents, anti-sense agents, anti-bodies, anti-clotting agents and any other agents which serve to prevent stenosis in a blood vessel.