Radiation centering catheters
US6224535A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/1003
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention is directed to a radiation delivery catheter assembly for maintaining patency of a body lumen for a period of time sufficient to allow delivery of a radiation source to the body lumen. The catheter utilizes an inflatable region which maintains and centers the catheter in the body lumen. The catheter may include a perfusion lumen for supplying oxygenated blood to tissue located downstream from the catheter when the inflatable region is expanded in the body lumen. The inflatable region can be made up of a plurality of balloon segments which help center the radiation source, even if placed on a curved section of the body lumen. Embodiments of the invention include a catheter design which utilizes "rapid exchange" features and a dual therapeutic catheter which is capable of dilating a stenosed region of the body lumen prior to the administration of the radiation treatment. A two-piece protective sheath is used to protect the radiation source from bodily fluids.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.