Medical irradiation assembly and method
US6368266B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/1004
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A medical irradiation assembly (2) and method provides the target tissue (34) of a vessel (36) with a controlled dose of radiation in a simple, safe and effective manner. A catheter shaft (8) has a balloon (22) at its distal end (20) and a continuous loop, circumferentially-extending radiation source (32) configured to be expansible within the balloon and to be axially translated along and in contact with the inside surface (38) of the balloon by a pull wire (16). Proximal and distal radiation shields (18, 30) are used to house the radiation source, which may be a &bgr; source, before and after use. The continuous-loop radiation source stays in contact with the inside surface of the balloon so that the radiation source remains a constant distance, typically the thickness of the balloon, from the target tissue and irradiates the target tissue uniformly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.