Balloon catheter method for reducing restenosis via irreversible electroporation

US10668208B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The Regents of the University of California · US
• AngioDynamics, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Boris Rubinsky · Givatayim, IL
• Elad Maor · Berkeley, US
• Antoni Ivorra · Berkeley, US
• James J. Mitchell · Cambridge, US
• William C. Hamilton, JR. · Queensbury, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 24, 2018
• Grant date: Jun 2, 2020
• Expiry date: May 24, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2018/1435
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Restenosis or neointimal formation may occur following angioplasty or other trauma to an artery such as by-pass surgery. This presents a major clinical problem which narrows the artery. The invention provides a balloon catheter with a particular electrode configuration. Also provided is a method whereby vascular cells in the area of the artery subjected to the trauma are subjected to irreversible electroporation which is a non-thermal, non-pharmaceutical method of applying electrical pulses to the cells so that substantially all of the cells in the area are ablated while leaving the structure of the vessel in place and substantially unharmed due to the non-thermal nature of the procedure.