Intravascular radiotherapy employing a liquid-suspended source

Abstract

Abstract Apparatus and methods are provided for delivering an easily controllable inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the walls of a blood vessel for preventing restenosis after angioplasty. The apparatus comprises a catheter (10) having a balloon tip (32) which is inflatable with a liquid containing a suspended radioactive material such a I125 or P32. The catheter (10) is advanced through the patient until this treatment balloon (32) is disposed in the stenosed region of the blood vessel. The balloon (32) is filled with the radioactive fluid which simultaneously expands and relieves the stenosis while irradiating the tissue, or if the stenosis has previously been relieved, the target tissue is irradiated by filling the treatment balloon (32) with the radioactive fluid until the outer wall of the balloon engages, without substantially expanding, the inner wall of the blood vessel.

Inventors

• 👤 Richard T. Thornton
• 👤 Anthony J. Bradshaw
• 👤 Wayne W. Snyder

Bibliographic Details