Methods and apparatuses for radiation treatment

• US 6,582,417 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Thornton, Richard T., Henckel, J. Eric, Ledesma, Michelle N., Bradshaw, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US09/505,367
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 604/529, 600/3, 600/4
• US Class Current: 604/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1047 having centering means, e.g. balloons having an appropriate shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1003 having means for centering a radioactive source within the lumen, e.g. balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1002 Intraluminal radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for positioning a radiation source in vivo relative to radio-opaque markers on a catheter that delineate a therapeutic treatment length so that a therapeutic dose of radiation is delivered along the therapeutic treatment length.

Claims

1. A radiation delivery catheter comprising:

an elongate, tubular member having a lumen for receiving a radiation source;

a helical balloon disposed around said elongate, tubular member; and

proximal and distal markers attached to said elongate, tubular member,

wherein said proximal and distal markers are spaced apart along said elongate, tubular member so as to define a therapeutic treatment length.

2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said elongate, tubular member substantially radially centers said therapeutic treatment length within a vessel lumen.

3. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said helical balloon substantially radially centers said therapeutic treatment length within a vessel lumen.

4. The catheter of claim 1 further comprising a centering balloon that substantially radially centers said therapeutic treatment length within a vessel lumen.

5. The catheter of claim 1 wherein said therapeutic treatment length is the region in which a therapeutic dose of radiation is delivered.

6. The catheter of claim 5 wherein a therapeutic dose of radiation is at least the minimum amount of radiation that will effectively reduce restenosis when delivered to a prescribed location of vessel.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said distal marker is spaced a distance proximal to a position of said lumen, said distance being at least a distal length of said radiation source in which a sub-therapeutic dose of radiation is delivered.

8. A radiation delivery catheter comprising:

an elongate, tubular member having a dead-end lumen for receiving a radiation source;

a proximal marker and a distal marker attached to said elongate, tubular member, wherein said proximal and distal markers are spaced apart along said elongate, tubular member so as to define a therapeutic treatment length, said distal marker being spaced a distance proximal to said dead-end lumen, said distance being at least the distal length of the radiation source in which a sub-therapeutic dose of radiation is delivered.

9. The catheter of claim 8 wherein said distance further includes a length defined by one or more positioning tolerances.

10. The catheter of claim 8 wherein said elongate, tubular member substantially radially centers said therapeutic treatment length within a vessel lumen.

11. The catheter of claim 8 further comprising a centering mechanism that substantially radially centers said therapeutic treatment length within a vessel lumen.

12. The catheter of claim 8 further comprising a centering balloon that substantially radially centers said therapeutic treatment length within a vessel lumen.