Multiple hole drug delivery balloon

Claim 2

A medical device for intravascular delivery of medications, said device comprising: (A) an inflatable balloon defined by an interior wall and an exterior wall extending along an axis said interior wall defining a central chamber, (B) a plurality of axially extending conduits disposed between said interior and exterior walls extending in parallel over substantially the entire length of said balloon, said exterior wall thereby having a given area coextensive with each said conduit, (C) means to inflate said balloon by expanding said control chamber, (D) means to deliver medications to said conduit, and (E) a port position at each said conduit, each port position consisting of a two-dimensional array of ports through said exterior wall to enable the delivery of medication from said corresponding conduit, said ports at each said port position being closely spaced axially and circumferentially and each of said ports in said array having a diameter that limits a transfer of a medication from said conduit by oozing through said port, the area of said port position being significantly less than the given area of said exterior wall that is coextensive with said corresponding conduit.

Claim 3

A device as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said ports has a diameter that is less than 100 microns.

Claim 4

A device as recited in claim 2 wherein each of said ports has a diameter of about 30 microns.

Claim 5

A device as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said ports in said array has a center that is spaced from the center of adjacent ports by a distance equal to at least twice the diameter of said port.

Claim 6

A device as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said ports has a diameter of about 30 microns and the center of each port is spaced from the center of adjacent ports by a distance of about 60 microns.

Claim 7

A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said array comprises a plurality of rows of ports parallel to each other and extending along the length of said device.

Claim 8

A device as recited in claim 6 wherein the ports in one row are offset with respect to adjacent rows along the length of said device such that the ports in one row are centered between said ports in an adjacent row.

Claim 9

A medical device for the intravascular delivery of medications, said device comprising: (A) a catheter having a distal end and a plurality of lumens therethrough, (B) a hollow, inflatable, balloon defined by interior and exterior walls and having a distal and proximal ends of the balloon and disposed on the distal end of said catheter, the interior of said balloon being in fluid flow relationship with one of said lumens thereby to provide the interior of said balloon with inflation fluids, (C) a plurality of axially extending, parallel conduits formed intermediate said interior and exterior walls for receiving medications, said exterior wall having a given exterior wall area that is coextensive with each said conduit, (D) means for delivering medications through another of said lumens to said conduits, and (E) a single port position at each said conduit, each said port position consisting of a two-dimensional array of closely spaced ports through said exterior wall to enable the delivery of medication from said corresponding conduit, each of said ports in said array at a port position being closely spaced axially and circumferentially and each of said ports in each said array having a diameter that limits a transfer of a medication from said conduit by oozing through said ports, the area of each said array being significantly less than the area of said exterior wall that is coextensive with said conduit.

Claim 10

A medical device for the intravascular delivery of medications, said device comprising: (A) a catheter having a distal end and a plurality of lumens therethrough, (B) a hollow, inflatable, balloon defined by interior and exterior walls and having a distal and proximal ends of the balloon and disposed on the distal end of said catheter, the interior of said balloon being in fluid flow relationship with one of said lumens thereby to provide the interior of said balloon with inflation fluids, (C) a plurality of axially extending, parallel conduits formed intermediate said interior and exterior walls for receiving medications, said exterior wall having a given exterior wall area that is coextensive with each said conduit, (D) means for delivering medications through another of said lumens to said conduits, and (E) a single port position at each said conduit, each said port position consisting of a two-dimensional array of closely spaced ports through said exterior wall to enable the delivery of medication from said corresponding conduit, each of said ports in said array at a port position being closely spaced axially and circumferentially and each of said ports in each said array having a diameter that limits a transfer of a medication from said conduit by oozing through said ports, the area of each said array being significantly less than the area of said exterior wall that is coextensive with said conduit.

Claim 11

A device as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said ports has a diameter that is less than 100 microns.

Claim 12

A device as recited in claim 9 wherein each of said ports has a diameter of about 30 microns.

Claim 13

A device as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said ports in said array has a center that is spaced from the center of adjacent ports by a distance equal to at least twice the diameter of said port.

Claim 14

A device as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said ports has a diameter of about 30 microns and the center of each port is spaced from the center of adjacent ports by a distance of about 60 microns.

Claim 15

A device as recited in claim 8 wherein said array comprises a plurality of rows of ports parallel to each other and extending along the length of said device.

Claim 16

A device as recited in claim 13 wherein the ports in one row are offset with respect to adjacent rows along the length of said device such that the ports in one row are centered between said ports in an adjacent row.