Self-expanding medical device for centering radioactive treatment sources in body vessels
First Claim
1. A centering catheter for centering a radiation source in a vascular lumen, comprising:
- an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and
an expandable braid support structure connected to the distal end of the elongate shaft for centering the radioactive source within the vascular lumen, the braid structure defining a plurality of constriction regions upon expansion, the braid comprising a plurality of interwoven radio-transparent fibers.
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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.
353 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A centering catheter for centering a radiation source in a vascular lumen, comprising:
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an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and
an expandable braid support structure connected to the distal end of the elongate shaft for centering the radioactive source within the vascular lumen, the braid structure defining a plurality of constriction regions upon expansion, the braid comprising a plurality of interwoven radio-transparent fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A medical system for treating a vascular site with ionizing radiation via a vascular lumen, comprising:
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an elongate radiation source; and
a centering catheter for centering the radiation source in the vascular lumen, the centering catheter including an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a source lumen extending therethrough which is adapted to accommodate the radioactive source therein, an expandable braid support structure connected to the distal end of the elongate shaft for centering the radioactive source within the vascular lumen, the braid structure defining a plurality of constriction regions upon expansion, the braid comprising a plurality of interwoven radio-transparent fibers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A centering catheter for centering a radiation source in a vascular lumen, comprising:
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an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end a source lumen extending therethrough which is adapted to accommodate the radioactive source therein;
an expandable braid support structure connected to the distal end of the elongate shaft for centering the source lumen and radioactive source within the vascular lumen, the braid comprising a plurality of interwoven radio-transparent polymer fibers; and
a plurality of spaced apart constriction members disposed on the braid support structure for defining a plurality of constricted regions along the braid support structure when the braid is expanded.- View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification