Light delivery catheter and PDT treatment method
US6096030A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/2261
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A light delivery catheter (2), for use in PDT treatments, includes a hollow sheath (4) with a balloon (24) at its distal end. Target tissue (33) at a target site on a hollow body organ, such as a blood vessel, is inoculated with an appropriate photosensitizing agent. A light guide (14) extends along the sheath and has a light-radiating portion or light source (20) at its end within the balloon. The balloon is positioned at the target site and target tissue is irradiated causing destruction of the target tissue. The balloon defines perfusion channels (30) when the balloon is inflated so that during use fluid can continue passing through the blood vessel. The light irradiating the vessel wall is preferably of generally equal intensity. This can be achieved in whole or in part in several different ways.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.