Method and apparatus for treating vulnerable plaque

• US 8,613,764 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Kilpatrick, Deborah, Simhambhatla, Murthy, Prabhu, Santosh, Quee, Shawn Chin
• Primary Examiner(s): Houston, Elizabeth
• Application Number:
  US12/023,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,154 Days
• Field of Search: 623 111- 113, 623/1.35, 623/1.36, 623 141- 148
• US Class Current: 623/1.42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22082 after introduction of a substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3808 Endothelial cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3843 Connective tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0086 the needles having bent tips, i.e. the needle distal tips are angled in relation to the longitudinal axis of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0084 being one or more injection needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

An apparatus and method to treat vulnerable plaque. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a medical device to treat an occlusive plaque, and is also adapted to release a biologically active agent to treat vulnerable plaque located downstream from the occlusive plaque. In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus has an expandable tube attached to the inner surface of a stent, and a layer of endothelial cells seeded on the inner surface of the expandable tube. The expandable tube shields a vulnerable plaque from a body lumen.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a self-expanding stent having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a non-hydrophilic expandable tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said non-hydrophilic expandable tube coupled to said inner surface of said stent, wherein said non-hydrophilic expandable tube comprises an expandable polytetrafluoroethylene material, and wherein said non-hydrophilic expandable tube shields a plaque from a body lumen;

endothelial cells at least partially embedded in said inner surface of said non-hydrophilic expandable tube; and

a lipid lowering agent coating overlying said inner surface of said non-hydrophilic expandable tube, wherein said lipid lowering agent coating is releasably coated on said inner surface to release into said body lumen when said lipid lowering agent coating becomes exposed to blood flowing in said body lumen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said self-expanding stent comprises a plurality of shape memory rings, wherein the plurality of shape memory rings are separately disposed in series, and wherein the non-hydrophilic expandable tube incorporates a material configured to generate a magnetic susceptibility artifact.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said self-expanding stent comprises a nickel-titanium alloy material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a silicon adhesive is cured within a matrix of said expandable polytetrafluoroethylene material and fastens said non-hydrophilic expandable tube to said inner surface of said self-expanding stent.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said self-expanding stent is made from a composition of oligo(e-caprolactone) dimethacrylate and n-butyl acrylate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said non-hydrophilic expandable tube comprises a polyurethane material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said non-hydrophilic expandable tube comprises an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an anti-restenotic drug coupled to said outer surface of said self-expanding stent.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an anti-thrombotic drug coupled to said outer surface of said self-expanding stent.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lipid lowering agent dispersed over said outer surface of said self-expanding stent.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said lipid lowering agent coating overlying said outer surface of said self-expanding stent is selected from the group consisting of:

hydroxyl-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HGM CoA) reductase inhibitors, niacin, bile acid resins, and fibrates.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an extracellular matrix synthesis promoter dispersed over said outer surface of said self-expanding stent.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an inhibitor of plaque inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation dispersed over said outer surface of said self-expanding stent.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lipid lowering agent coating overlying said inner surface of said non-hydrophilic expandable tube is selected from the group consisting of:

hydroxyl-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HGM CoA) reductase inhibitors, niacin, bile acid resins, and fibrates.

10. An apparatus for treating a vulnerable plaque near a body lumen, comprising:

means for implanting a stent graft near a vulnerable plaque region of a body lumen;

said stent graft comprising a non-hydrophilic expandable tube coupled to an inner surface of a stent, endothelial cells at least partially embedded in an inner surface of said non-hydrophilic expandable tube, and a lipid lowering agent coating overlying said inner surface of said non-hydrophilic expandable tube, wherein said lipid lowering agent coating is releasably coated on said inner surface to release into said body lumen when said lipid lowering agent coating becomes exposed to blood flowing in said body lumen.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the non-hydrophilic expandable tube incorporates a material configured to generate a magnetic susceptibility artifact.