Temporary radioisotope stent
First Claim
1. A temporary radioisotope stent catheter system for applying radiation at the site of a dilated stenosis within a vessel of the human body, the catheter system comprising:
- an elongated, cylindrical, inner shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
an elongated, cylindrical, thin-walled outer shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the outer shaft being situated coaxially around the inner shaft and being adapted to move slideably relative to the inner shaft;
a temporary radioisotope stent having a multiplicity of longitudinal struts, each longitudinal strut including a radioactive source, the radioactive source having the capability for irradiating the tissue of the dilated stenosis when the longitudinal struts are deployed radially outward so that at least one of the struts is in contact with the inner surface of the dilated stenosis, the temporary radioisotope stent also having a proximal end that is fixedly attached to the distal end of the outer shaft and a distal end that is fixedly attached to the distal end of the inner shaft; and
a temporary radioisotope stent operating means that is adapted to move the inner shaft in a longitudinal direction relative to the outer shaft, the temporary radioisotope stent being deployed radially outward when the inner shaft is moved in a proximal direction relative to the outer shaft and the temporary radioisotope stent being retracted radially inward when the inner shaft is moved in a distal direction relative to the outer shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The temporary radioisotope stent catheter system of the present invention includes a temporary radioisotope stent that is situated at a distal portion of two, co-axially situated, thin-walled tubes. The catheter system can be delivered into a vessel of a human body either as a stand-alone device or it can be used in conjunction with an elongated cylindrical sheath which is a form of delivery catheter. If used as a stand-alone device, the temporary radioisotope stent is first percutaneously advanced through a guiding catheter and is then placed at the site of a stenotic dilatation. An operating means located at a proximal portion of the catheter system is then used to increase the diameter of the temporary radioisotope stent to be approximately equal to the inside diameter of the dilated stenosis. The temporary radioisotope stent is then retained at that position for an irradiation time period that is determined by the level of radioactivity of the stent, by the diameter of the dilated stenosis, and by the dose of radiation that is prescribed for application to that portion of the artery. At the conclusion of the irradiation time period, the operating means at the proximal portion of the catheter system is used to decrease the diameter of the temporary radioisotope stent to its minimum value, and then the catheter system is removed from the patient'"'"'s body.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A temporary radioisotope stent catheter system for applying radiation at the site of a dilated stenosis within a vessel of the human body, the catheter system comprising:
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an elongated, cylindrical, inner shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an elongated, cylindrical, thin-walled outer shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the outer shaft being situated coaxially around the inner shaft and being adapted to move slideably relative to the inner shaft; a temporary radioisotope stent having a multiplicity of longitudinal struts, each longitudinal strut including a radioactive source, the radioactive source having the capability for irradiating the tissue of the dilated stenosis when the longitudinal struts are deployed radially outward so that at least one of the struts is in contact with the inner surface of the dilated stenosis, the temporary radioisotope stent also having a proximal end that is fixedly attached to the distal end of the outer shaft and a distal end that is fixedly attached to the distal end of the inner shaft; and a temporary radioisotope stent operating means that is adapted to move the inner shaft in a longitudinal direction relative to the outer shaft, the temporary radioisotope stent being deployed radially outward when the inner shaft is moved in a proximal direction relative to the outer shaft and the temporary radioisotope stent being retracted radially inward when the inner shaft is moved in a distal direction relative to the outer shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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- 28. A temporary radioisotope stent catheter system for the treatment of a dilated stenosis in a vessel of a human body, the catheter system having a proximal portion that is adapted to be placed external to the human body and a distal portion that is adapted to be placed within the vessel of the human body at the site of the dilated stenosis, the distal portion of the catheter system including a radioactive, radially expandable, temporary radioisotope stent, the proximal portion of the catheter system having an operating means adapted to radially expand the temporary radioisotope stent, the operating means including a stent diameter indicator scale that indicates the diameter to which the operating means has expanded the temporary radioisotope stent.
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36. A temporary radioisotope stent catheter system for the irradiation of a dilated stenosis in a vessel of a human body, the catheter system comprising:
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a flexible guide wire; a sheath in the form of an elongated, cylindrical, hollow, elastomer tube; and a temporary radioisotope stent catheter system having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being adapted to remain exterior to the human body and the distal portion being adapted to be placed through the sheath and into the vessel of the human body, the catheter system having a radioactive temporary radioisotope stent located at the distal portion of the catheter system, the temporary radioisotope stent being adapted to be advanced through the sheath and into the vessel of the human body, the catheter system also being adapted to place the temporary radioisotope stent at the site of the dilated stenosis within the vessel, the proximal portion of the catheter system having an operating means that is adapted to cause the radial expansion of the temporary radioisotope stent to a specific, pre-determined diameter that is approximately equal to the inside diameter of the dilated stenosis.
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37. A method for irradiating a dilated stenosis in a vessel of a human body, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) advancing a temporary radioisotope stent that is located at a distal portion of a catheter system until the temporary radioisotope stent is situated at the site of the dilated stenosis in the vessel of the human body, the position of the temporary radioisotope stent being determined from one radiopaque marker band located proximal to the temporary radioisotope stent and one radiopaque marker band located just distal to the temporary radioisotope stent; (b) actuating an operating means located at the proximal portion of the catheter system so as to expand the temporary radioisotope stent radially outward until the inside diameter of the temporary radioisotope stent is approximately equal to the diameter of the dilated stenosis; (c) allowing a radioactive source which is formed as part of the temporary radioisotope stent to remain situated at the site of the dilated stenosis until a predetermined radiation dose has been received by the tissue of the dilated stenosis; (d) adjusting the operating means at the proximal portion of the catheter system so as to cause the temporary radioisotope stent to be radially contracted; and (e) removing the catheter system from the vessel of the human body.
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38. A temporary radioisotope stent catheter system for applying radiation at the site of a dilated stenosis within a vessel of the human body, the catheter system comprising:
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an elongated catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion and having a radially expandable temporary radioisotope stent situated at the distal portion of the catheter and a temporary radioisotope stent operating means situated at the proximal portion of the catheter, the operating means being adapted to radially increase and radially decrease the diameter of the temporary radioisotope stent; and an elongated perfusion sheath situated co-axially around the elongated catheter, the sheath having a proximal portion and a distal portion and also having an expandable section located at the distal portion of the sheath, the expandable section of the sheath having a pre-expanded state and an expanded state, the expandable section when in its expanded state being adapted to allow blood flow through the vessel at the site of the expandable section of the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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- 42. A radioisotope stent in the form of a thin-walled cylindrical structure, the radioisotope stent being adapted to irradiate a dilated stenosis in a vessel of a human body, the dilated stenosis having an interior, generally cylindrical surface, the radioisotope stent consisting of a multiplicity of metal struts that are placed in close proximity to the inner surface of the dilated stenosis, the struts including a radioactive source which radioactive source does not come in direct contact with the inner surface of the dilated stenosis.
Specification