Self-expanding medical device for centering radioactive treatment sources in body vessels
First Claim
1. A medical device for treating a body vessel with a radioactive source, including:
- an axially flexible support structure formed from a plurality of radiotransparent polymer filaments which are helically wound and interwoven in a braided configuration, the support structure including;
a plurality of spaced unconstricted regions which are radially compressible and self-expandable from a positioning diameter when the device is in a positioning state to a vessel-engaging, treatment diameter which is greater than the positioning diameter when the device is in a treatment state; and
a plurality of spaced constricted regions which are concentric with the unconstricted regions and have a treatment diameter which is less than the treatment diameter of the unconstricted regions when the device is in the treatment state; and
a radioactive source supported within the constricted regions of the support structure when the device is in the treatment state, wherein the device causes the radioactive source to be substantially radially centered within a vessel when in the treatment state.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device for treating a body vessel with a radioactive source includes an elongated tubular catheter and an axially flexible support structure on a distal end of the catheter. The catheter has proximal and distal ends, and a lumen for receiving a radioactive source. The support structure is formed from a plurality of filaments which are helically wound and interwoven in a braided configuration and has a plurality of alternately spaced unconstricted and constricted regions. The unconstricted regions are radially compressible and self-expandable from a positioning diameter when the device is in a positioning state to a vessel-engaging, treatment diameter which is greater than the positioning diameter when the device is in the treatment state. The constricted regions are engaged with the catheter and concentric with the unconstricted regions. When in the treatment state the support structure causes the catheter to be substantially radially centered within a vessel so radiation is uniformly applied to the vessel during treatment.
252 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A medical device for treating a body vessel with a radioactive source, including:
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an axially flexible support structure formed from a plurality of radiotransparent polymer filaments which are helically wound and interwoven in a braided configuration, the support structure including; a plurality of spaced unconstricted regions which are radially compressible and self-expandable from a positioning diameter when the device is in a positioning state to a vessel-engaging, treatment diameter which is greater than the positioning diameter when the device is in a treatment state; and a plurality of spaced constricted regions which are concentric with the unconstricted regions and have a treatment diameter which is less than the treatment diameter of the unconstricted regions when the device is in the treatment state; and a radioactive source supported within the constricted regions of the support structure when the device is in the treatment state, wherein the device causes the radioactive source to be substantially radially centered within a vessel when in the treatment state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13)
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12. A medical device for treating a body vessel with a radioactive source, including:
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an elongated tubular catheter having proximal and distal ends, and a lumen for receiving a radioactive source; and an axially flexible support structure on a distal end of the catheter and formed from a plurality of radiotransparent polymer filaments which are helically wound and interwoven in a braided configuration, the support structure including; a plurality of spaced unconstricted regions which are radially compressible and self-expandable from a positioning diameter when the device is in a positioning state to a vessel-engaging, treatment diameter which is greater than the positioning diameter when the device is in a treatment state; and a plurality of spaced constricted regions which are engaged with the catheter and concentric with the unconstricted regions, wherein the support structure causes the catheter to be substantially radially centered within a vessel when in the treatment state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification