Irradiation catheter and method of use

• US 6,585,715 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr. Paul Teirstein
• Original Assignee: Dr. Paul Teirstein
• Inventors: Teirstein, Paul S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bianco, Patricia
• Application Number:
  US09/627,920
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 604/52-53, 604/96.01, 604/101-105, 604/171, 604/500, 604/507-509, 606/192, 606/194, 606/2, 606/7, 606/13-14, 606/32-34, 600/3, 600/7, 600/8
• US Class Current: 604/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1047 having centering means, e.g. balloons having an appropriate shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• 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

Abstract

A catheter for use with a radioactive source within the catheter to irradiate a selected area of a blood vessel in combination with angioplasty procedures, to prevent restenosis of that area of the blood vessel. The catheter has a guidewire channel formed near its distal end to facilitate use of the catheter as a rapid exchange catheter, allowing insertion of the catheter over a guidewire also used in performance of an angioplasty procedure. The catheter also has a radiation lumen with a sealed end to retain the radioactive source within the catheter. The radiation lumen is sufficiently longer than the guidewire channel to extend into a non-sterile field, keeping the radiation source segregated from the blood, allowing the use of a non-sterile radiation source. The catheter can also be provided with a centering balloon or a set of centering wire loops to center the radioactive source radially within the blood vessel.

Claims

1. A method for irradiating a stenotic segment of a blood vessel having a guidewire disposed therein, said method comprising:

providing an irradiation catheter having a radiation lumen with a closed distal end and having a guidewire channel formed adjacent said distal end of said radiation lumen;

providing an irradiation source;

inserting a proximal end of the guidewire through said guidewire channel;

inserting said irradiation catheter into the blood vessel over the guidewire, until said distal end of said radiation lumen is located within said stenotic segment;

retaining said guidewire channel entirely within a sterile field;

placing a proximal end of said radiation lumen within a non-sterile field;

inserting said irradiation source into said proximal end of said radiation lumen, until said irradiation source is located within said stenotic segment.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing said guidewire channel entirely distal of said distal end of said radiation lumen; and

inserting said irradiation catheter into the blood vessel until said guidewire channel is located distal of said stenotic segment.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing said guidewire channel alongside a distal portion of said radiation lumen; and

inserting said irradiation catheter into the blood vessel until a portion of said guidewire channel is located within a guide catheter.