Radiation dose delivery catheter with reinforcing mandrel

Claim 1

An intravascular catheter for delivering and maintaining a radioactive dose in a patient's body lumen, comprising: an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends; an inflation lumen extending within the elongated catheter body to a location on a distal portion of the elongated body; an inflatable member disposed on the distal portion of the elongated catheter body and having an interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; a guidewire lumen extending through a portion of the elongated catheter body for receiving a guidewire; a first guidewire port in the distal end of the catheter body in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen and a second guidewire port in the distal portion of the catheter body which is spaced a short distance from the distal end of the catheter body and a substantial distance from the proximal end of the catheter body and which is in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen; a blind lumen extending with the elongated catheter body from the proximal end of the catheter body and terminating at a position near the distal end of the inflatable member, the blind lumen adapted to receive a radiation source wire having a radiation source associated therewith for providing a radiation dose in the body lumen; and a removable reinforcing mandrel disposed within the elongated catheter body for increasing the pushability and stiffness of the catheter body as it is tracked along a guidewire.

Claim 15

A method of maintaining the patency of a body lumen for a period of time sufficient to permit delivery of a radiation source to the body lumen, comprising: a) providing a catheter having: an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends; an inflation lumen extending within the elongated catheter body to a location on a distal portion of the elongated body; an inflatable member disposed on the distal portion of the elongated catheter body and having an interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; a guide wire lumen extending through a portion of the elongated catheter body for receiving a guide wire; a first guide wire port in the distal end of the catheter body in communication with the guide wire lumen and a second guide wire port in the distal portion of the catheter body which is spaced a short distance from the distal end of the catheter body and a substantial distance from the proximal end of the catheter body and which is in communication with the guide wire lumen; a blind lumen extending with the elongated catheter body from the proximal end of the catheter body and terminating at a position near the distal end of the inflatable member, the blind lumen adapted to receive a radiation source wire; and a reinforcing mandrel disposed within the elongated catheter body for increasing the pushability and stiffness of the catheter body as it is tracked along a guide wire; b) positioning the guide wire in the body lumen; c) advancing the catheter over the guide wire by inserting the guide wire into the first guide wire port of the catheter body and into the guide wire lumen; d) advancing the elongated catheter body over the guide wire by manipulating the reinforcing mandrel until the inflation member is positioned in the body lumen; e) expanding the inflation member into contact with the body lumen; f) centering the blind lumen in the body lumen; g) inserting a radiation source wire in the blind lumen for delivering a radiation dose to the body lumen; h) deflating the inflatable member; and i) withdrawing the catheter and the radiation source wire from the lumen.

Claim 16

A method of maintaining the patency of a body lumen for a period of time sufficient to permit delivery of a radiation source to the body lumen, comprising: a) providing a catheter having: an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal ends; an inflation lumen extending within the elongated catheter body to a location on a distal portion of the elongated body; an inflatable member disposed on the distal portion of the elongated catheter body and having an interior in fluid communication with the inflation lumen; a guide wire lumen extending through a portion of the elongated catheter body for receiving a guide wire; a first guide wire port in the distal end of the catheter body in communication with the guide wire lumen and a second guide wire port in the distal portion of the catheter body which is spaced a short distance from the distal end of the catheter body and a substantial distance from the proximal end of the catheter body and which is in communication with the guide wire lumen; a blind lumen extending with the elongated catheter body from the proximal end of the catheter body and terminating at a position near the distal end of the inflatable member, the blind lumen adapted to receive a radiation source wire; and a reinforcing mandrel disposed within the elongated catheter body for increasing the pushability and stiffness of the catheter body as it is tracked along a guide wire; b) positioning the guide wire in the body lumen; c) advancing the catheter over the guide wire by inserting the guide wire into the first guide wire port of the catheter body and into the guide wire lumen; d) advancing the elongated catheter body over the guide wire by manipulating the reinforcing mandrel until the inflation member is positioned in the body lumen; e) expanding the inflation member into contact with the body lumen; f) centering the blind lumen in the body lumen; g) inserting a radiation source wire in the blind lumen for delivering a radiation dose to the body lumen; h) deflating the inflatable member; and i) withdrawing the catheter and the radiation source wire from the lumen.