Controllable pressure cryogenic balloon treatment system and method
First Claim
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1. A method for treating a region of a blood vessel, the method comprising:
- positioning a balloon within the blood vessel and adjacent the region while the balloon is in a first configuration;
inflating the balloon from the first configuration to the second configuration by cycling delivery valve and a vent valve, the vent valve disposed along a cooling fluid path upstream of the balloon, the inflating between the first configuration and the second configuration extending over a period of time from about 0.25 seconds to 10 seconds; and
cooling the region to a treatment temperature with the balloon in a second configuration at a treatment pressure by changing a cooling fluid from a liquid phase to a gas phase within the balloon so as to urge the balloon radially outwardly and treat the vessel.
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Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods controllably cool blood vessels and other body lumens. The blood vessel will often be treated for atherosclerotic or other diseases by inflating a balloon so as to engage the surrounding luminal wall. Controlled cooling of the balloon effected by a change in phase of a cryogenic fluid within the balloon typically a change from a liquid phase to a gas phase can be provided with a controlled, gradual inflation of the balloon. A single control system can be used for any of a variety of alternative selectable balloon catheters having significantly differing cooling fluid flow characteristics.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for treating a region of a blood vessel, the method comprising:
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positioning a balloon within the blood vessel and adjacent the region while the balloon is in a first configuration; inflating the balloon from the first configuration to the second configuration by cycling delivery valve and a vent valve, the vent valve disposed along a cooling fluid path upstream of the balloon, the inflating between the first configuration and the second configuration extending over a period of time from about 0.25 seconds to 10 seconds; and cooling the region to a treatment temperature with the balloon in a second configuration at a treatment pressure by changing a cooling fluid from a liquid phase to a gas phase within the balloon so as to urge the balloon radially outwardly and treat the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A catheter system for cooling a region of a blood vessel, the system comprising:
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a balloon catheter having a catheter body with a proximal end, a distal end, and a balloon disposed near the distal end, the catheter body having a supply lumen and an exhaust lumen in fluid communication with the balloon; a fluid supply coupleable to the proximal end of the catheter body so as to define a cooling fluid path extending distally along the supply lumen, through the balloon, and returning proximally along the exhaust lumen, the fluid supply having a cooling fluid which changes phase from a liquid to a gas so as to effect cooling; a vent valve disposed along the cooling fluid path upstream of the balloon; a delivery valve disposed between the fluid supply and the vent valve; and a cooling fluid control system coupled to the fluid path, the fluid control system having at least one of controller software or controller hardware configured to implement a first configuration in which the balloon is uninflated, a second configuration in which the balloon is inflated to a treatment pressure and cools the region to a treatment temperature, and an inflation of the balloon from the first configuration to the second configuration over a period of time lasting about 0.25 seconds to 10 seconds, wherein the controller software or controller hardware is further configured to actuate the vent valve and delivery valve. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification