Photodynamic therapy balloon catheter with microporous membrane

Claim 2

A photodynamic therapy balloon catheter for activating treatment fluid at a location within a living body, the catheter comprising: an elongated tubular assembly having a proximal portion which remains outside of the living body when in use, the assembly also having a distal portion which is inserted into the living body when in use; an optical fiber extending along the length of said assembly, said optical fiber having a generally distal light energy emanating section; said elongated tubular assembly having a light-passing inner tubular member cylindrically surrounding said optical fiber and extending longitudinally along the length of the light energy emanating section of said optical fiber; a light-passing inflatable porous balloon member having a plurality of holes to permit treatment fluid to pass through said balloon member and positioned at said distal portion of the assembly, said balloon member being in fluid-passing communication with said proximal portion of the assembly, said balloon member cylindrically surrounding said inner tubular member and extending longitudinally with respect to said inner tubular member; a light source communicating with said optical fiber to deliver light energy to said light energy emanating section; and a light-passing microporous membrane member having a plurality of micropores to permit treatment fluid to pass through said inner porous membrane and positioned over the outer surface of said inflatable porous balloon member; and at least one of said inner tubular member, said porous balloon member, and said microporous membrane member includes light-reflective material which upon light emanating through the light energy emanating section, reflects said light energy and activates photodynamic treatment fluid at a location within a living body.

Claim 3

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein said light-reflective material is present in a quantity so as to disperse the light energy and produce a uniform illumination of light.

Claim 4

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein said generally distal light energy emanating section extends longitudinally for a distance approximating the length of a cylindrical working surface of the balloon member.

Claim 5

The photodynamic catheter of claim 1, wherein said optical fiber is tapered such that said optical fiber decreases in thickness in the distal direction, wherein the light emanating from said light energy emanating section of said optical fiber is a uniformly illuminating light.

Claim 6

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein said inner tubular member is loaded with reflective material.

Claim 7

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein said inner tubular member is coated with reflective material.

Claim 8

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein said balloon member is loaded with said reflective material.

Claim 9

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the balloon member is coextruded with reflective material such that said reflective material is positioned between an inner layer and an outer layer of said balloon member.

Claim 10

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein said balloon member is coated with reflective material.

Claim 11

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein said light-reflective material is TiO 2 .

Claim 12

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein said microporous membrane member is coated on at least one surface thereof with said light-reflective material.

Claim 13

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein said microporous membrane member is loaded with said light-reflective material.

Claim 14

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the light-reflective material is present at from about 5 to about 40 percent by weight of the total weight of the member within which it is included.

Claim 15

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 13, wherein the light-reflective material is present at from about 10 to about 40 percent by weight.

Claim 16

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the micropores of said membrane are from about 0.4 to about 3 microns in diameter, the holes of said balloon being from about 5 to about 100 microns in diameter.

Claim 17

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the number of said micropores per square centimeter of said membrane is between about one hundred thousand and about five hundred million.

Claim 18

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the number of said pores in the inflatable balloon member is from about 20 to about 1000.

Claim 19

A photodynamic therapy balloon catheter for activating treatment fluid to a location within a living body, the catheter comprising: an elongated tubular assembly having a proximal portion which remains outside of the living body when in use, the assembly also having a distal portion which is inserted into the living body when in use; an optical fiber extending along the length of said assembly, said optical fiber having a generally distal light energy emanating section; said elongated tubular assembly having a light passing inner member cylindrically surrounding said optical fiber and extending longitudinally along the length of the light energy emanating section of said optical fiber; a light-passing inflatable porous balloon member having a plurality of holes to permit treatment fluid to pass through said balloon member and positioned at said distal portion of the assembly, said balloon member being in fluid-passing communication with said proximal portion of the assembly, and said balloon member cylindrically surrounding said inner tubular member and extending longitudinally along the length of said inner tubular member; a light-passing fluid material positioned between said inner member and said inflatable balloon member; a light source communicating with said optical fiber to deliver light energy to said light energy emanating section; a light-passing microporous membrane member having a plurality of micropores to permit treatment fluid to pass through said microporous membrane and positioned over the outer surface of said inflatable porous balloon member; and at least one of said inner member, said porous balloon member, said fluid material, and said microporous membrane member includes light-reflective material which upon light emanating through the light energy emanating section, reflects said light energy and activates photodynamic treatment fluid at a location within a living body.

Claim 20

A photodynamic therapy balloon catheter for activating treatment fluid to a location within a living body, the catheter comprising: an elongated tubular assembly having a proximal portion which remains outside of the living body when in use, the assembly also having a distal portion which is inserted into the living body when in use; an optical fiber extending along the length of said assembly, said optical fiber having a generally distal light energy emanating section; said elongated tubular assembly having a light passing inner member cylindrically surrounding said optical fiber and extending longitudinally along the length of the light energy emanating section of said optical fiber; a light-passing inflatable porous balloon member having a plurality of holes to permit treatment fluid to pass through said balloon member and positioned at said distal portion of the assembly, said balloon member being in fluid-passing communication with said proximal portion of the assembly, and said balloon member cylindrically surrounding said inner tubular member and extending longitudinally along the length of said inner tubular member; a light-passing fluid material positioned between said inner member and said inflatable balloon member; a light source communicating with said optical fiber to deliver light energy to said light energy emanating section; a light-passing microporous membrane member having a plurality of micropores to permit treatment fluid to pass through said microporous membrane and positioned over the outer surface of said inflatable porous balloon member; and at least one of said inner member, said porous balloon member, said fluid material, and said microporous membrane member includes light-reflective material which upon light emanating through the light energy emanating section, reflects said light energy and activates photodynamic treatment fluid at a location within a living body.

Claim 21

The photodynamic catheter of claim 18, wherein said light-reflective material is present in a quantity so as to disperse the light energy and produce a uniform illumination of light.

Claim 22

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 18, wherein said generally distal light energy emanating section extends longitudinally for a distance approximating the length of a cylindrical working surface of the balloon member.

Claim 23

The photodynamic catheter of claim 18, wherein said optical fiber is tapered such that said optical fiber decreases in thickness in the distal direction, wherein the light emanating from said light energy emanating section of said optical fiber is a uniformly illuminating light.

Claim 24

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 18, wherein said inner member is loaded with reflective material.

Claim 25

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 18, wherein said inner member is coated with reflective material.

Claim 26

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 18, wherein said balloon member is loaded with reflective material.

Claim 27

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 18, wherein the balloon member is coextruded with reflective material such that said reflective material is positioned between an inner layer and an outer layer of said balloon member.

Claim 28

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 18, wherein said balloon member is coated with reflective material.

Claim 29

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 18, wherein said light-reflective material is TiO 2 .

Claim 30

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 18, wherein said microporous membrane is coated on at least one surface thereof with said light-reflective material.

Claim 31

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 18, wherein said microporous membrane is loaded with said light-reflective material.

Claim 32

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 18, wherein the light-reflective material is present at from about 5 to about 40 percent by weight of the total weight of the member within which it is included.

Claim 33

The photodynamic therapy balloon catheter of claim 18 wherein the micropores of said membrane are from about 0.4 to about 3 microns in diameter, the holes of said balloon being essentially from about 5 to about 100 microns in diameter, the number of said micropores per square centimeter of said membrane is between about one hundred thousand and about five hundred million, and the number of said holes in the inflatable balloon member is essentially from about 20 to about 1000.

Claim 36

The method of claim 32, wherein the activating step further includes the step of uniformly dispersing the light.

Claim 37

The method of claim 33, wherein the step of uniformly dispersing the light further includes the step of reflecting said light from the reflective material added to said inner member.

Claim 38

The method of claim 33, wherein the step of uniformly dispersing the light further includes the step of reflecting said light from the reflective material added to said balloon member.

Claim 39

The method of claim 33, whereon the step of uniformly dispersing the light further includes the step of reflecting said light from the reflective material added to said microporous membrane.

Claim 40

The method of claim 32, wherein said treatment fluid is a photodynamic medicament.

Claim 41

The method of claim 32, further including the step of inflating the porous balloon member so as to contact the location within the living body.

Claim 42

The method of claim 38, wherein said step of inflating takes place after the step of introducing a treatment fluid and before the step of transmitting light energy.

Claim 45

The method of claim 40, wherein said providing step further includes adding a supply of light-reflective material to at least one of said inner member, said porous balloon member, and said microporous membrane.

Claim 46

The method of claim 41, wherein the activating step further includes the step of uniformly dispersing the light.

Claim 47

The method of claim 42, wherein the step of uniformly dispersing the light further includes the step of reflecting said light from the reflective material added to at least one of said inner member, said porous balloon member, and said microporous membrane.

Claim 48

The method of claim 42, wherein the step of uniformly dispersing the light further includes the step of reflecting said light from the reflective material added to said fluid material.