Method and apparatus for delivery of therapeutic agent

• US 6,616,650 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2000
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rowe, Stanton J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US09/609,633
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604/507-510, 604/96.01, 604/101.04, 604/103.02, 604/103.01, 604/103-5-1, 604/103-1-1, 604/104, 604/265, 604/266, 604/523, 606/192, 606/194, 623/1.1, 623/1.11, 623/1.15, 623/1.41, 623/1-2-, 623/1.46, 623/1.5, 623/1.51, 623/1.53
• US Class Current: 604/509
• 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 25/104 used for angioplasty
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/906 Drug delivery

Abstract

A therapeutic agent is applied to an internal tissue site of a patient by advancing typically a catheter into the patient to cause a portion of the catheter, typically a catheter balloon, to occupy the internal site. The balloon portion of the catheter carries the therapeutic agent, usually mixed with a controlled release carrier for the agent, typically on an outer surface of the section, to permit release thereof from the catheter balloon at the internal tissue site so that the therapeutic agent is locally applied to the internal tissue site.

Claims

1. A method for inhibiting restenosis in a balloon angioplasty procedure in a human body lumen, comprising the steps of:

providing a balloon angioplasty catheter having a dilatation balloon carrying, on the exterior of the balloon, a drug for suppressing the growth of cells which form a stenosis, for affecting the interior of a human body lumen to inhibiting restenosis when the catheter is positioned and inflated therewithin;

providing a mesh expandable stent defining openings carried on the exterior of said balloon, said stent being positioned on said balloon over said drug;

inserting said balloon angioplasty catheter into a lumen at a stenosis where treatment is desired;

expanding said balloon and stent against the walls of the lumen forcing the drug outwardly between said openings into the stenosis without requiring heating of the drug; and

removing said balloon angioplasty catheter with the expanded stent being in place within the body lumen and with the drug being applied to the body lumen in order to inhibit restenosis.

2. A method for inhibiting restenosis in a balloon angioplasty procedure in a human body lumen, comprising the steps of:

providing a balloon angioplasty catheter having a dilatation balloon carrying a controlled release carrier on the exterior of said balloon, said controlled release carrier carrying a drug or combination of drugs for suppressing the growth of cells which form a stenosis for affecting the interior of a human body lumen to inhibit restenosis when the catheter is positioned and inflated therewithin;

providing a mesh expandable stent defining openings carried on the exterior of said balloon, said stent being positioned on said balloon over said controlled release carrier;

inserting said balloon angioplasty catheter into a lumen at a stenosis where treatment is desired;

expanding said balloon and stent against the walls of the lumen, forcing the drug or combination of drugs outwardly between said openings into a stenosis without requiring heating of the drug; and

removing said balloon angioplasty catheter with the expanded stent being in place within the body lumen and with the drug or combination of drugs being applied to the body lumen in order to inhibiting restenosis.