Intravascular radiation delivery system

• US 6,599,230 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kume, Stewart M., Hektner, Thomas R., Hastings, Roger N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/808,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20010023308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 600/1-8, 606/191, 606/194, 604/103.07, 604/103.08
• US Class Current: 600/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0177 having external means for receiving guide wires, wires or stiffening members, e.g. loops, clamps or lateral tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1047 having centering means, e.g. balloons having an appropriate shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/105 having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1095 with perfusion means for enabling blood circulation while the balloon is in an inflated state or in a deflated state, e.g. permanent by-pass within catheter shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0127 Magnetic means; Magnetic markers
• 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

An intravascular radiation delivery system including a catheter, a radiation source disposed in an open-ended lumen in the catheter and a closed-ended sheath surrounding the radiation source so as to prevent blood and other fluids from coming into contact with the radiation source. Preferably, the open-ended lumen is centered in the balloon for uniform radiation delivery. The catheter may include a blood perfusion lumen under the balloon or around the balloon. The open-ended lumen in the catheter may have a reduced diameter adjacent the distal end of the catheter to prevent the radiation source from exiting the lumen. Methods of using the radiation delivery system are also disclosed.

An alternative method of delivering radiation to a treatment site inside the vasculature of a patient using a gas-filled balloon catheter and a radiation source disposed in the balloon catheter. The treatment site is exposed to radiation, preferably beta radiation, through the gas-filled balloon.

Claims

1. An intravascular catheter system, comprising:

an elongate catheter including a distally disposed balloon, a radiation source lumen having an open distal end and a perfusion path, the balloon having a non-linear shape and the perfusion path having a linear shape; and

an elongate radiation source disposed in the radiation source lumen.

2. An intravascular catheter system as in claim 1, wherein the perfusion path is defined in part by the balloon.

3. An intravascular catheter system as in claim 1, wherein the balloon is gas-filled.

4. An intravascular catheter system as in claim 1, wherein the elongate radiation source is disposed in a sheath.

14. The intravascular catheter of claim 1, wherein the perfusion path is thin the radiation source lumen.

5. An intravascular catheter system as in claim wherein the sheath has a closed distal end.

6. An intravascular catheter system as in claim 5, wherein the sheath has a wall thickness of between 0.0002 inches and 0.005 inches.

7. An intravascular catheter system, comprising:

an elongate catheter including a distally disposed balloon, a radiation source lumen, the balloon having a non-linear shape; and

an elongate sheath disposed in the radiation source lumen, the sheath having a wall thickness of between 0.0002 inches and 0.005 inches; and

an elongate radiation source disposed in the sheath.

8. An intravascular catheter system as in claim 7, wherein the sheath has a closed distal end.

9. An intravascular catheter system as in claim 8, wherein the radiation source lumen has an open distal end.

10. An intravascular catheter system as in claim 7, wherein the catheter includes a perfusion path.

11. An intravascular catheter system as in claim 10, wherein the perfusion path has a linear shape.

12. An intravascular catheter system as in claim 11, wherein the perfusion path is defined in part by the balloon.

13. An intravascular catheter system as in claim 7, wherein the balloon is gas-filled.

15. The intravascular catheter of claim 10, wherein the perfusion path is within the radiation source lumen.