Method and apparatus for treating vulnerable plaque

• US 7,008,411 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Hossainy, Syed, Mandrusov, Evgenia, Kilpatrick, Deborah, Simhambhatla, Murthy
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, CATHERINE SERKE
• Application Number:
  US10/262,151
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 604/164.01, 604/117, 604/500, 604506-510, 604/93.01, 604/523, 606/167, 606/191, 606/194, 424/185.1, 424/130.1, 424/9.1, 600/549, 600/473, 600/474
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22081 Treatment of vulnerable plaque
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0026 Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0084 being one or more injection needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1006 Balloons formed between concentric tubes

Abstract

An apparatus and method to treat vulnerable plaque. In one embodiment, the apparatus has an elongated catheter body adapted for insertion in a body lumen, with a drug delivery device attached near a distal portion of the elongated body. The drug delivery device is configured to deliver a biologically active agent to stabilize a vulnerable plaque.

Claims

1. A method for stabilizing a vulnerable plaque in a lumen wall, comprising:

detecting said vulnerable plaque having a lipid core surrounded by a fibrous cap;

advancing a needle catheter near said vulnerable plaque; and

delivering a vulnerable plaque stabilizing agent with said needle catheter to said fibrous cap without penetrating said lipid core.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a penetration depth of said needle catheter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering said vulnerable plaque stabilizing drug comprises targeting said fibrous cap of said vulnerable plaque.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein targeting said fibrous cap comprises inserting said needle into said body lumen wall at a point proximal to said vulnerable plaque region, and extending said needle to said fibrous cap.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said vulnerable plaque stabilizing agent strengthens said fibrous cap.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said vulnerable plaque stabilizing agent thickens said fibrous cap.

7. An apparatus for stabilizing a vulnerable plaque in a lumen wall, comprising:

means for detecting the vulnerable plaque having a lipid core surrounded by a fibrous cap;

means for advancing a needle catheter near the vulnerable plaque; and

means for delivering a vulnerable plaque stabilizing agent with said needle catheter to the fibrous cap without penetrating said lipid core, wherein said vulnerable plaque stabilizing agent increases a thickness of the fibrous cap.