EP0567788A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for intravascular drug delivery
Assignee: Indiana University Foundation Inc
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Filing: 1993-03-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A drug delivery catheter assembly, including an expandable, porous outer membrane (46) that is insertable into a blood vessel (26) and positioned adjacent a stenotic atherosclerotic lesion (28) on the interior wall of the blood vessel. The membrane is expanded into contact with the lesion, either mechanically or hydraulically. After the membrane is expanded, a drug-containing liquid is caused to flow into the membrane and through the pores (48) in the membrane (46) into contact with the lesion.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith L. March
- 👤 David R. Hathaway
- 👤 Robert L. Wilensky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0434; A61M16/0445; A61M16/0475; A61M16/0477; A61M16/0481; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/105; A61M2025/1086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of applying a drug to a localized area on the inner wall of a tubular body vessel (26) characterized by: providing an expandable, porous outer membrane (46); inserting the membrane into the vessel adjacent the localized area; expanding the membrane into contact with the localized area of the vessel; and then causing a drug-containing liquid to flow under pressure through pores (48) in the membrane into contact with the localized area of the vessel, the expansion of the membrane into contact with the localized area of the vessel occurring prior to the drug-containing liquid flowing through the porous membrane (46).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, characterized in that the membrane (46) is expanded independently of the flow of the drug-containing liquid through the membrane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 or 2, characterized by the step of pumping the drug-containing liquid through a tube (22) and to the expanded membrane (46) to thereby pressurize the membrane with the liquid and cause the liquid to flow through the pores (48) of the membrane.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
41 words
The method of any of the preceding claims characterized in that the step of expanding the membrane (46) is accomplished by expanding an endoskeletal frame (54) within the membrane, the frame exerting mechanical force on the membrane to expand the membrane.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
31 words
The method of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the step of expansion comprises pressurizing the membrane (46) with a working fluid that is segregated from the drug-containing liquid.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of applying a drug to a localized area on the inner wall of a tubular body vessel (26) characterized by the steps of: providing an expandable, porous outer membrane (46); inserting the membrane into the vessel adjacent the localized area; expanding the membrane (46) into contact with the localized area of the vessel; and causing a drug-containing liquid to flow under pressure into the membrane and through the pores (48) in the membrane into contact with the localized area of the vessel; the step of expanding the membrane occurring independently of the flow of pressurized drug-containing liquid into the membrane and through the pores (48) in the membrane.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
34 words
The method of any of the preceding claims characterized in that the vessel is a blood vessel and the membrane (46) is expanded against an atherosclerotic lesion on the interior wall of the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for applying a drug to a localized area of a tubular body vessel characterized by: an expandable, porous outer membrane (46); an elongate flexible tube (22) connected to said membrane; means (20) for pumping a drug-containing liquid through said tube into said membrane and through pores (48) in said membrane; and means (54) for mechanically expanding the membrane into contact with the vessel independently of the pumping of the liquid into and through said membrane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for expanding is characterized by an endoskeletal frame (54) within said membrane and means for expanding said frame to exert mechanical force on said membrane to thereby expand said membrane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 9, characterized in that said endoskeletal frame comprises a wire mesh cage (54), and said means for expanding comprises a retractable wire (30) connected to said mesh cage to expand the mesh cage when the wire is retracted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 9, characterized in that said endoskeletal frame comprises a tubular frame member (62) having a plurality of slots (64) therein forming a plurality of ribs (65), and said means for expanding comprises a retractable wire (30) connected to the tubular frame member for causing said ribs to expand radially when the wire is retracted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 11 characterized in that said tubular frame member (62) includes a second plurality of slots (72) to form a second plurality of ribs (73) spaced axially from the first mentioned plurality of ribs (75), wherein said wire (30) expands said second plurality of ribs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 9 characterized in that said membrane (46) is pleated and said means for expanding comprises means (30) for contracting said membrane axially to thereby cause the pleated membrane to expand radially.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 8 characterized by including ducts (92) within said membrane (46) connected to said pores (48), said ducts being in communication with said means for pumping (20), and wherein said means for expanding comprises a second flexible tube (22) coextensive with said first mentioned flexible tube (90) and being in communication with said membrane, and means for pumping fluid through said second tube into said membrane to expand said membrane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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