U.S. patent application number 11/648536 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-17 for therapeutic delivery balloon.
Invention is credited to Maria Palasis.
Application Number | 20070112330 11/648536 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25060250 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070112330 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Palasis; Maria |
May 17, 2007 |
Therapeutic delivery balloon
Abstract
A therapeutic delivery balloon and a system for delivering
therapeutic to an irregular interior vessel surface are provided.
This system may include a catheter having a proximal end, a distal
end, and an internal lumen; a source of fluid in communication with
the internal lumen of the catheter; and, a first inflatable balloon
having an exterior surface, wherein the balloon is
hyper-deformable, is in communication with the internal lumen of
the catheter, and has an exterior surface in communication with a
therapeutic when the balloon is in expanded state.
Inventors: |
Palasis; Maria; (Wellesley,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KENYON & KENYON LLP
1500 K STREET N.W.
SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
25060250 |
Appl. No.: |
11/648536 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09760807 |
Jan 17, 2001 |
7179251 |
|
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11648536 |
Jan 3, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/509 ;
604/101.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 2025/1013 20130101;
A61M 25/104 20130101; A61M 2025/105 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/509 ;
604/101.02 |
International
Class: |
A61M 31/00 20060101
A61M031/00 |
Claims
1. A system for delivering therapeutic to an irregular interior
vessel surface comprising: a catheter having a proximal end, a
distal end, and a first internal lumen; a source of fluid in
communication with the first internal lumen of the catheter; a
first inflatable balloon having an exterior surface and an interior
surface, the first inflatable balloon attached to the distal end of
the catheter and in fluid communication with the first internal
lumen of the catheter, the first inflatable balloon having a
measurable elasticity, the exterior surface of the first inflatable
balloon at least partially covered with a therapeutic when the
first inflatable balloon is in an initial unexpanded state, the
interior surface of the first inflatable balloon free from contact
with the therapeutic when the exterior surface of the first
inflatable balloon is at least partially covered with the
therapeutic when the first inflatable balloon is in an initial
unexpanded state, the exterior surface of the first inflatable
balloon at least partially covered with a therapeutic when the
first inflatable balloon is in an expanded state; a source of
therapeutic, the source of therapeutic in fluid communication with
the exterior surface of the first inflatable balloon; and a
dilation bladder located within the first inflatable balloon, the
dilation bladder attached to the distal end of the catheter and in
fluid communication with a second internal lumen of the catheter by
way of a dilation bladder opening in the catheter, the dilation
bladder deformable from a non-inflated position to an inflated
position, the dilation bladder having a measurable elasticity, the
elasticity of the first inflatable balloon being greater than the
elasticity of the dilation bladder wherein the therapeutic
traverses through a section of the first inflatable balloon before
the therapeutic comes in communication with the exterior surface of
the first inflatable balloon.
2. The system for delivering therapeutic of claim 1 further
comprising: a second inflatable balloon, the second inflatable
balloon located within the first inflatable balloon, the second
inflatable balloon having an outside surface, the outside surface
in communication with a source of therapeutic, the first inflatable
balloon having a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with
the outside surface of the second inflatable balloon.
3. The system for delivering therapeutic of claim 1 further
comprising: a third internal lumen within the catheter, the first
inflatable balloon positioned around the third internal lumen, the
third internal lumen having an entrance orifice and an exit
orifice, the entrance orifice positioned upstream of the inflatable
balloon, upstream relative to a fluid flowing through the irregular
interior vessel, and the exit orifice positioned downstream of the
inflatable balloon, downstream relative to fluid flowing through
the irregular interior vessel.
4. The system for delivering therapeutic of claim 1 wherein the
first inflatable balloon is porous relative to the therapeutic
being delivered.
5. A device for delivering therapeutic to an irregular interior
vessel surface comprising: a catheter having a proximal end, a
distal end, and an internal lumen; a first inflatable balloon
attached to the distal end of the catheter and in fluid
communication with the internal lumen of the catheter, the first
inflatable balloon having a measurable elasticity, the first
inflatable balloon having an exterior surface and an interior
surface, the exterior surface of the first inflatable balloon at
least partially covered with a therapeutic, the first inflatable
balloon being impervious to the therapeutic; and a dilation bladder
located within the first inflatable balloon, the dilation bladder
attached to the distal end of the catheter and in fluid
communication with a second internal lumen of the catheter by way
of a dilation bladder opening in the catheter, the dilation bladder
deformable from a non-inflated position to an inflated position,
wherein a surface of the first inflatable balloon contains grooves
sized to increase the deformability of the inflatable balloon.
6. A method for delivering therapeutic to an irregular interior
vessel surface of a patient comprising: inserting an expandable
first membrane attached to a distal end of a catheter into the
vessel of the patient, the expandable first membrane having an
exterior surface in contact with therapeutic and having a
measurable elasticity; positioning the expandable first membrane at
the irregular interior vessel surface within the patient; forcing a
fluid into the expandable first membrane after positioning the
expandable first membrane at the irregular interior vessel surface
to inflate the expandable first membrane, the expandable first
membrane becoming juxtaposed to and replicating the irregular
interior surface of the vessel of the patient; providing access to
a channel within the catheter to enable blood in the vessel of the
patient to flow through the catheter; and, after positioning the
expandable first membrane at the irregular interior surface of the
vessel within the patient, inflating a dilation bladder located
within the expandable first membrane, the dilation bladder having a
measurable elasticity, the elasticity of the first inflatable
balloon being greater than the elasticity of the dilation bladder,
the dilation bladder attached to the distal end of the
catheter.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising: opening an entrance
orifice of a passage traversing the expandable first membrane, the
passage compatible with the fluid flowing within the vessel of the
patient.
8. A medical device for delivery of therapeutic to a vessel within
a patient comprising: a catheter body having a first end, a second
end, and a lumen within the catheter body; and an inflatable
balloon in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter, the
balloon comprising a grooved surface of the balloon, the grooved
surface comprising ribs or notches.
9. The medical device of claim 8 further comprising a dilation
bladder, the dilation bladder positioned inside of the inflatable
balloon, the inflatable balloon and the dilation bladder each
having a measurable elasticity, the elasticity of the inflatable
balloon being greater than the elasticity of the dilation bladder.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 09/760,807, which was filed on Jan. 17, 2001, is entitled
"Therapeutic Delivery Balloon," and is incorporated herein in its
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention regards the delivery of therapeutic to
a target site of an organic vessel. More particularly the present
invention regards the delivery of therapeutic to the interior walls
of a lumen via a hyper-deformable inflatable balloon placed within
the lumen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The delivery of therapeutic to the interior lumen walls of a
diseased vessel is an important, often repeated, procedure in the
practice of modem medicine. The delivery of the therapeutic can be
completed through the use of numerous devices and procedures
including direct injection by syringe and needle, pneumatic
injection of the therapeutic into the diseased tissue, and the
release of the therapeutic, near the target site, by the distal end
of a catheter inserted into the lumen. When the diseased or
otherwise targeted area is irregularly shaped its unorthodox shape
can retard the effective and uniform delivery and absorption of the
therapeutic at the target site. For example, as can be seen in FIG.
1, which depicts a drug delivery bladder 13 being used to place
therapeutic against the interior walls of lumen 12 in vessel 10,
the walls of the bladder 13 do not touch all of the walls of the
lumen 12. As can be seen the vessel 10 contains a calcification 11
that acts to distort the configuration of lumen 12. Previously
round, the lumen 12 has been distorted into a reniform
configuration due to the disforming forces of the calcification 11.
Accordingly, when the bladder 13, located on the distal end of a
catheter 14 is inflated, only a portion of the bladder's 13
exterior surface comes in contact with the interior wall of the
lumen 12 and, thus, only this contacted portion can be directly
reached by the therapeutic. Likewise, when the wall of the lumen 12
has a cratered or otherwise irregular profile, which is typical in
arteries inflicted with arteriosclerosis, the expanding bladder is
unable to contact the entire surface area of the wall of the lumen
12. When this occurs, therapeutic being delivered is sporadically
and unevenly placed at the target site, leaving portions of the
lumen wall unexposed to the therapeutic. FIG. 1a provides an
illustrative enlarged example of an interface between a bladder
surface 15 and an irregularly shaped lumen wall 16. As is evident,
certain craters 17 of the lumen wall 16 are not in contact with the
bladder surface 15. Therefore, irregularly shaped lumen walls
present an impediment to and a retarding factor in the delivery of
therapeutic to the irregularly shaped lumen walls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention regards a therapeutic delivery
balloon. In one embodiment a system for delivering therapeutic to
an irregular interior vessel surface is provided. This system
includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and an
internal lumen; a source of fluid in communication with the
internal lumen of the catheter; and, a first inflatable balloon
having an exterior surface, wherein the balloon is
hyper-deformable, is in communication with the internal lumen of
the catheter, and has an exterior surface in communication with a
therapeutic when the balloon is in an expanded state.
[0005] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention a
method for delivering therapeutic to an irregular interior vessel
surface of a patient is provided. This method includes: inserting
an expandable hyper-deformable membrane into the vessel of the
patient, the expandable hyper-deformable membrane having an
exterior surface; positioning the expandable hyper-deformable
membrane at an irregular interior surface of the vessel within the
patient; and, forcing fluid into the expandable hyper-deformable
membrane to expand the expandable hyper-deformable membrane, the
expandable hyper-deformable membrane becoming juxtaposed to the
irregular interior surface of the vessel of the patient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an expandable bladder
located within an irregularly shaped lumen of a vessel.
[0007] FIG. 1a is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an interface
point between an expandable bladder and an irregularly shaped lumen
wall.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an expanded
hyper-deformable inflatable balloon within an irregularly shaped
lumen of a vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 2a is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of
a hyper-deformable inflatable balloon conforming to an irregularly
shaped lumen wall in accordance with an alternative embodiment of
the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, with an enlarged portion,
of a distal end of a catheter employing a hyper-deformable
inflatable balloon as employed within an irregularly shaped lumen
in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of a distal end of a catheter
employing a hyper-deformable inflatable balloon in accordance with
another alternative embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of the hyper-deformable inflatable
balloon of FIG. 4 in an inflated configuration.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a side view of a catheter employing a dilating
bladder and a hyper-deformable inflatable balloon in accordance
with another alternative embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG.
6.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a side view of the distal end of a catheter
located near an irregular surface of a lumen in accordance with
another alternative embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a side view of the distal end of the catheter from
FIG. 8 illustrating the dilation bladder and the hyper-deformable
balloon in an expanded state.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a side view of the distal end of the catheter
from FIG. 8 after the dilation bladder and hyper-deformable balloon
illustrated in FIG. 9 have been deflated.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a side view of the distal end of the catheter
from FIG. 8 illustrating the hyper-deformable inflatable balloon in
an inflated state.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a side view of the distal end of a catheter in
accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 13 is a side view of the catheter from FIG. 12.
[0021] FIG. 14 is a side view of the distal end of a catheter in
accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 15 is a side view of a catheter in accordance with
another alternative embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a vessel 20,
having a lumen, located within the body of a patient. The vessel 20
contains reniform interior lumen wall surface 21. As can be seen,
this interior lumen wall surface 21 is shaped in an irregular
configuration due to the calcification 24 located within the wall
of the vessel 20. This calcification 24 places pressure on the
interior lumen wall surface 21, causing it to deform into its
irregular shape.
[0024] Also depicted in FIG. 2 is a hyper-deformable inflatable
balloon 22. This balloon 22, which is shown in its inflated state,
is mounted on the distal end of catheter 28. Positioned between the
lumen wall surface 21 and the hyper-deformable inflatable balloon
22 is a therapeutic 23. The therapeutic 23 may be used to treat,
regenerate, or otherwise affect the interior lumen wall surface 21
or the vessel wall itself. The proximity of the hyper-deformable
inflatable balloon 22, the interior lumen wall surface 21, and the
therapeutic 23 is clearly shown in the enlarged portion of FIG.
2.
[0025] As can be seen in the enlarged portion of FIG. 2, the
hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 22 closely mimics and contours
to the interior lumen wall surface 21 such that the therapeutic 23
located on the exterior of the hyper-deformable inflatable balloon
may be placed adjacent to and in contact with the interior lumen
wall surface 21 by the exterior surface of the balloon 22. The term
hyper-deformable as used herein includes materials that are capable
of stretching or expanding in order to closely replicate the
irregular surfaces with which they are expanded up against. Due to
the hyper-deformability of the inflatable balloon 22, some areas of
the balloon will stretch further from the catheter 28 than others.
This is made evident in FIG. 2, which illustrates the varying
distances from the catheter 28 that the balloon may travel.
[0026] The hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 22 may be made with
any material that is hyper-deformable. Latex, silicone,
polyurethane, rubber (including styrene and isobutylene styrene),
and nylon, are each examples of materials that may be used in
manufacturing the hyper-deformable balloon. Moreover, the actual
configuration of the balloon may also make it hyper-deformable. For
example, the balloon may be internally ribbed or notched or
otherwise specifically configured to increase its deformability
and, thus, make it readily conformable to its surroundings in an
expanded state.
[0027] The vessel 20 may be any vessel located within or outside of
the body of a patient. It may include blood-carrying vessels such
as the veins, arteries, and chambers of the heart, it may also
include the esophagus, the ureters, the intestines, the pockets of
fluid located within the individual vertebrae of the spinal column
and any other suitable vessel as apparent to one of skill in the
art. Organs and tissues that may be treated by the methods of the
present invention include any mammalian tissue or organ, whether
located in vivo or ex vivo. Non-limiting examples include the
heart, the lungs, the brain, the livers, the kidneys, the bladder,
the intestines, the stomach, the pancreas, the ovaries, the
prostate, the eyes, as well as tumors, cartilage and bone.
[0028] FIG. 2a is an enlarged sectional view of the interface point
of an inflated hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 25 conforming to
an irregular surface of a vessel wall 26. As can be seen in FIG.
2a, the hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 25 has very closely
conformed to the irregular surface of the vessel wall 26. Because
the hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 25 is able to conform to
the irregular surface of the vessel wall 26, the therapeutic 27,
previously located on the outside surface of the balloon 25, may
come in direct contact with the entire surface of the irregularly
shaped vessel wall 26.
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of the distal
end of a catheter 31 located within a vessel 30 having an
irregularly shaped lumen wall 35. The distal end of the catheter 31
is shown in FIG. 3 as being inserted past the irregular shaped
lumen wall 35. As can be seen, the surface of the distal end of the
catheter 31 contains a plurality of orifices 34 situated within and
in fluid communication with the hyper-inflatable balloon 33. These
orifices, while round, may be any configuration that provides for
the exit of the fluid from inside of the catheter 31 to inside of
the balloon 33. Also evident in this figure is a therapeutic 32,
which has been previously placed on the exterior surface of the
hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 33.
[0030] In use, bio-compatible non-compressible fluid will be pumped
from the proximal end of the catheter 31 down a lumen in the
catheter and out the orifices 34 of the catheter 31 to inflate the
hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 33. The balloon 33, in this
embodiment, inflates under the pressure of the fluid, being pumped
out of the orifices 34, until the balloon 33 comes in contact with
the irregularly shaped lumen wall 35. Due to the
hyper-deformability of the balloon 33, the balloon 33 is able to
conform to the irregularly shaped lumen wall 35 and, therefore,
expose the irregularly shaped lumen wall 35 to the therapeutic 32
located on the outside of the hyper-deformable inflatable balloon
33.
[0031] The interface between the hyper-deformable inflatable
balloon 33, the therapeutic 32, and the irregularly shaped lumen
wall 35 is clearly shown in the enlarged circle of FIG. 3. As is
evident in this embodiment, when the balloon 33 is inflated its
hyper-deformability allows the therapeutic 32 to be placed adjacent
to and in contact with the entire surface of the irregularly shaped
lumen wall 35.
[0032] While the orifices 34 in FIG. 3 are illustrated as being
evenly and uniformly spaced along the catheter 31, these orifices
34 may be of different sizes or different shapes and may be located
at different spacings along the catheter. In a preferred
embodiment, however, these orifices will be evenly spaced along the
catheter 31 to facilitate the even distribution of fluid into the
hyper-deformable inflatable balloon and, consequently, the even and
uniform inflation of the balloon 33.
[0033] In this embodiment, the fluid may be pumped into the
catheter through a syringe (which is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, 13,
and 15) located at the proximal end of the catheter or,
alternatively, through any other pumping means that can apply a
pressure on the fluid to carry it into the balloon. These
alternative means could include a micro-pump, an inflator, and a
collapsible bladder. In a preferred embodiment, the amount of fluid
being injected into the catheter and/or the infusion pressure
placed on the fluid, will be measured to help monitor the expansion
of the balloon 33 within the vessel 30 and to preclude an
overabundance of fluid from being injected into the balloon 33,
causing the balloon 33 or the vessel 30 to unwantedly rupture. By
measuring the amount of pressure placed on the fluid the operator
can monitor the progress of the procedure. In this preferred
embodiment, the amount of pressure generated in the vessel will not
exceed a known tolerable pressure level for the vessel being
treated. Lastly, due to the risk of rupture, it is preferred that
any fluid used to expand the hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 33
be bio-compatible with the environment in which the
hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 33 and catheter 31 are
employed. These fluids can include contrast solutions such as those
used in ultrasound, fluoroscopy, and MRI procedures as well as
various brine solutions.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a side view of a catheter 40 in accordance with
another alternative embodiment of the present invention. The distal
tip 48, tube 42, syringe 41, plunger 46, therapeutic 43, and
hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 44 of the catheter 40 are all
clearly evident in FIG. 4. As can be seen and as discussed above,
the syringe 41 has been attached to the proximal end of the
catheter 40. This syringe 41 may contain a fluid that is injected
and pushed down through the tube 42 of the catheter 40, by
depressing the plunger 46, to inflate the balloon 44. Upon being
inflated, therapeutic 43 may be placed adjacent to and in contact
with an irregularly shaped lumen wall located near the distal end
of the catheter 40. In this embodiment the therapeutic has been
placed on the surface of the balloon 44 prior to the commencement
of the medical procedure. Alternatively, as discussed below, the
therapeutic 43 may also be pumped to the surface of the balloon
before or during the completion of the procedure.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a side view of the catheter from FIG. 4. As can be
seen, the hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 44 is illustrated in
an extended position. As is also evident, the plunger 46,
previously shown in an extended position in FIG. 4, is shown in a
compressed position in FIG. 5. As a result of depressing or
compressing the plunger 46 from the first position to the second
position, the hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 44 has been
inflated. It will be evident to one of skill in the art that FIG. 5
is clearly not drawn to scale as the amount of fluid displaced by
the movement of the plunger 46 would be smaller than the volume of
the inflated balloon 44 illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0036] As mentioned above, the volume of fluid injected into the
hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 44 may be measured and
monitored during the procedure to control the rate and amount of
balloon 44 inflation. This measurement may be completed by placing
striations or markings along the side of the syringe 41 and then
counting the number of markings that the plunger 46 has passed
through. Alternatively, if another type of pump is used this pump
may be calibrated to measure the amount of fluid injected into the
lumen of the catheter, the amount of resistive force pushing back
on fluid being pumped into the lumen or both. Moreover, the pump or
any of the inflation devices, may be used to control the rate at
which the balloon is expanded. Also, the tracing fluid described
above, may be used in concert with an imaging device to track the
progress of the expansion of the delivery balloon 44.
[0037] FIG. 6 is a side view of another alternative embodiment of
the present invention. In FIG. 6, a catheter 60 has a first syringe
64, a second syringe 63, and the end of guide wire 601 located at
its proximal end and a hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 65 and a
dilation bladder 66 located at its distal end. Also illustrated in
FIG. 6 are the catheter body 61, the first lumen 62, the second
lumen 68, orifices 67, and openings 69. The first syringe 64 may be
in fluid communication with the first lumen 62 and the opening 69
in this embodiment. The second syringe 63 may be in fluid
communication with the orifices 67 through the second lumen 68 in
this embodiment. The first syringe 64 may be in fluid communication
with the openings 69 through the first lumen 62 in this
embodiment.
[0038] In use, when the distal end of the catheter 60 is placed
within a lumen of the body through the use of the guide wire 601
the dilation bladder 66 may be inflated to first dilate the lumen
and then, next, the hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 65 may be
inflated to place therapeutic against the irregular but now dilated
surface of the lumen. The openings 69 are located on the first
lumen within the distillation bladder 66 such that when the first
syringe 64 is depressed, fluid may be pumped into the dilation
bladder 66 and the dilation bladder 66 will expand. Similarly, the
orifices 67 may be located along the second lumen 68 and positioned
such that when the second syringe 63 is depressed, the balloon 65
will be forced to expand.
[0039] As described above, fluid may be used to inflate both the
bladder and the balloon, and the volume and rate of entry of this
fluid may be monitored to help measure the progress of the
procedure and to perform various maneuvers and steps of the
delivery procedure.
[0040] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of
FIG. 6. The first lumen 62, the second lumen 68, the openings 69,
the catheter body 61, the dilation bladder 66, the guide wire 601,
and the hyper-deformable inflatable balloon 65 are all clearly
evident in this view. As can be seen, the openings 69 are evenly
spaced along the catheter body 61. In addition, while three
openings 69 are shown in this embodiment, other configurations of
the openings may be employed, including varying the number of
openings and openings of different shapes and sizes.
[0041] The catheter body 61 in this embodiment, as well as in the
other embodiments, may be made from numerous materials, including
stainless steel, plastic, and other suitably rigid polymers. It is
preferable that the materials used are compatible with the target
sites in which they can be used and that they may be able to
withstand the pressures generated by the fluids passing through
them. In addition, they should be flexible enough such that the
catheter may be effectively snaked down through a vessel in the
body having an irregularly shaped lumen.
[0042] FIGS. 8-11 illustrate the various steps that may be employed
in utilizing an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As
can be seen in FIG. 8, the distal end of a catheter 82 has been
inserted into a vessel 80. This vessel 80 contains irregular lumen
walls 81. The arrow 85 in FIG. 8 illustrates the direction in which
the catheter 82 has been inserted into the vessel 80. Also evident
in FIG. 8 are the balloon 83 and the dilation bladder 84, both
located at the distal end of the catheter 82.
[0043] During an initial step illustrated in FIG. 9, the dilation
bladder 84 may be inflated by injecting fluid down the catheter 82,
thereby enlarging the dilation bladder 84. As can be seen, as the
dilation bladder enlarges, so, too, does the balloon 83, whereby
both the enlarged balloon and the enlarged bladder swell to meet
the irregular lumen wall 81. Due to the structural rigidity of the
bladder 84, the previously narrow and highly irregular lumen wall
81 has been smoothed over and dilated by the forces exerted from
the bladder 84 to the wall 81. As can be seen in FIG. 9, due to the
rigidity of the bladder 84, spaces 91 exist between the balloon 83
and the irregular lumen wall 81 while the bladder 84 is in an
expanded state. Also evident in FIG. 9 are uncontacted areas 90 and
voids 91 wherein the balloon 83 has not come in contact with the
irregular lumen wall 81 at all.
[0044] These uncontacted areas 90 and voids 91 form, because the
bladder 84, used to dilate the vessel 80 and compact the irregular
lumen walls 81, is a rigid and partially flexible material. The
material from which the bladder 84 is made may be non-compliant,
semi-compliant or compliant but should be rigid enough such that
when the dilating bladder 84 is inflated it may dilate the lumen in
which it is placed.
[0045] In FIG. 10, the dilation bladder 84 has been shrunk by
extracting the fluid used to expand it through a suction force
generated at the proximal end of the catheter 82. This suction
force may be generated by pulling on a plunger attached to the
syringe, through a vacuum pump located at the proximal end of the
catheter 82 or through any other suitable means. As can be seen in
FIG. 10, the balloon 83 did not contact the entire surface of the
irregular lumen wall 81 as made evident by non-contact points 101
which are illustrated in this figure. Conversely, the balloon did
contact some points of the lumen wall, these contact points 100 are
identified in Fig. 10. As suggested by their name, they indicate
where the balloon 83 contacted the irregular lumen wall 81 during
expansion of the bladder 84.
[0046] In FIG. 11, the balloon 83 has been inflated through the
injection of fluid down the catheter under a pressure generated in
a pump or other inflation device located at the proximal end of the
catheter (which is not shown). As can be seen in FIG. 11, the
balloon 83, which is hyper-deformable, has expanded and comes in
complete contact with the irregularly shaped lumen wall 81 in this
embodiment. This is advantageous because therapeutic 86 located on
the outside surface of the balloon 83 may be maintained against the
entire surface of the irregular lumen wall 81 while the balloon 83
remains in its expanded state.
[0047] With each of the previous embodiments, the therapeutic has
been placed or coated on the exterior surface of the inflatable
balloon. Alternatively, as suggested above and as described in the
following embodiments, the therapeutic may also be located within
the inflatable balloon and then forced out through the inflatable
balloon to its exterior surface through orifices located in the
inflatable balloon or, alternatively, through the balloon itself
because the therapeutic may itself be permeable relative to the
material comprising the balloon.
[0048] FIG. 12 illustrates the distal end of a catheter 120 in
accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
This catheter 120 has a first balloon 121 located at its distal
end, the first balloon 121 contains a plurality of orifices 122. As
mentioned above and as described below, the therapeutic in this
embodiment may be located within the first balloon 121 and may be
squeezed to its surface after the balloon has been located at the
target site within the lumen.
[0049] FIG. 13 is a side view of the catheter from FIG. 12 showing
the internal components of the balloon 121. As can be seen, the
balloon 121, which contains a plurality of orifices 122, also
contains a second balloon 130 and a layer of therapeutic 131
positioned between the surface of the second balloon 130 and the
balloon 121.
[0050] In use, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 may be
inserted into an irregularly shaped lumen as described above. Then,
as required, the second internal balloon 130 may be inflated, first
forcing the first balloon 121 up against the lumen wall and then
forcing the therapeutic 131 out through the orifices 122 such that
the therapeutic 131 may come in contact with the entire surface of
the irregularly shaped lumen wall. An advantage of this
configuration is that the therapeutic is not located on the outside
of the first balloon and, therefore, is less at risk of becoming
errantly placed at a non-target area of the lumen as the catheter
is positioned within the body. Alternatively, in another
embodiment, rather than having the therapeutic resident on the
surface of the inner second balloon, it may, instead, be pumped
between the two balloons, from the catheter, during the performance
of the procedure.
[0051] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 is similar to the
alternative embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 14
illustrates the distal end of a catheter 143 in accordance with
another alternative embodiment of the present invention. In the
alternative embodiment of FIG. 14, rather than having orifices 122
described in the above embodiment, the balloon 141 is manufactured
with a material that is permeable to the therapeutic 140 which is
located between the second balloon 142 and the first balloon 141.
As the second balloon 142 is inflated and the first balloon 141
comes in contact with and rests up against the irregularly shaped
lumen surface, the therapeutic 140, resident between the two
balloons, may be squeezed through the permeable membrane of the
first balloon 141, out onto the exterior surface of the balloon,
and in contact with the irregularly shaped lumen wall.
[0052] FIG. 15 is a side view of a catheter in accordance with
another alternative embodiment of the present invention. The
catheter in this embodiment contains an exit orifice 152, an
entrance orifice 151, a slide cover 153, a pull ring 150, and a
string 154. The exit orifice 152 and the entrance orifice 151 may
be fluidly connected within the catheter by a channel or lumen.
When the catheter in FIG. 15 is used within an artery or vein of
the body, and when the balloon has been inflated, thereby allowing
therapeutic to be placed up against the wall of either of these
lumens, the slide 153 may be slid open by pulling on the ring
150--allowing blood to flow from the entrance orifice 151, through
the lumen within the catheter, and out the exit orifice 152. By
allowing blood to flow through the catheter as the catheter is
applying therapeutic to the target area, the catheter may be
retained in place for a longer period of time. This is especially
preferred when the catheter is used in various procedures involving
vessels located within the torso of a patient.
[0053] The term "therapeutic" as used throughout includes one or
more "therapeutic agents" or "drugs." The terms "therapeutic" and
"drugs" are used interchangeably herein and include
pharmaceutically active compounds, nucleic acids with and without
carrier vectors such as lipids, compacting agents (such as
histones), virus (such as adenovirus, andenoassociated virus,
retrovirus, lentivirus and a-virus), polymers, hyaluronic acid,
proteins, cells and the like, with or without targeting sequences.
The therapeutics administered in accordance with the invention
includes the therapeutic agent(s) and solutions thereof.
[0054] Specific examples of therapeutic agents used in conjunction
with the present invention include, for example, pharmaceutically
active compounds, proteins, cells, oligonucleotides, ribozymes,
anti-sense oligonucleotides, DNA compacting agents, gene/vector
systems (i.e., any vehicle that allows for the uptake and
expression of nucleic acids), nucleic acids (including, for
example, recombinant nucleic acids; naked DNA, cDNA, RNA; genomic
DNA, cDNA or RNA in a non-infectious vector or in a viral vector
and which further may have attached peptide targeting sequences;
antisense nucleic acid (RNA or DNA); and DNA chimeras which include
gene sequences and encoding for ferry proteins such as membrane
translocating sequences ("MTS") and herpes simplex virus-1
("VP22")), and viral, liposomes and cationic and anionic polymers
and neutral polymers that are selected from a number of types
depending on the desired application. Non-limiting examples of
virus vectors or vectors derived from viral sources include
adenoviral vectors, herpes simplex vectors, papilloma vectors,
adeno-associated vectors, retroviral vectors, and the like.
Non-limiting examples of biologically active solutes include
anti-thrombogenic agents such as heparin, heparin derivatives,
urokinase, and PPACK (dextrophenylalanine proline arginine
chloromethylketone); antioxidants such as probucol and retinoic
acid; angiogenic and anti-angiogenic agents and factors; agents
blocking smooth muscle cell proliferation such as rapamycin,
angiopeptin, and monoclonal antibodies capable of blocking smooth
muscle cell proliferation; anti-inflammatory agents such as
dexamethasone, prednisolone, corticosterone, budesonide, estrogen,
sulfasalazine, acetyl salicylic acid, and mesalamine; calcium entry
blockers such as verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipine;
antineoplastic/antiproliferative/anti-mitotic agents such as
paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, doxorubicin,
daunorubicin, cyclosporine, cisplatin, vinblastine, vincristine,
epothilones, endostatin, angiostatin and thymidine kinase
inhibitors; antimicrobials such as triclosan, cephalosporins,
aminoglycosides, and nitorfurantoin; anesthetic agents such as
lidocaine, bupivacaine, and ropivacaine; nitric oxide (NO) donors
such as lisidomine, molsidomine, L-arginine, NO-protein adducts,
NO-carbohydrate adducts, polymeric or oligomeric NO adducts;
anti-coagulants such as D-Phe-Pro-Arg chloromethyl ketone, an RGD
peptide-containing compound, heparin, antithrombin compounds,
platelet receptor antagonists, anti-thrombin antibodies,
anti-platelet receptor antibodies, enoxaparin, hirudin, Warafin
sodium, Dicumarol, aspirin, prostaglandin inhibitors, platelet
inhibitors and tick antiplatelet factors; vascular cell growth
promotors such as growth factors, growth factor receptor
antagonists, transcriptional activators, and translational
promotors; vascular cell growth inhibitors such as growth factor
inhibitors, growth factor receptor antagonists, transcriptional
repressors, translational repressors, replication inhibitors,
inhibitory antibodies, antibodies directed against growth factors,
bifunctional molecules consisting of a growth factor and a
cytotoxin, bifunctional molecules consisting of an antibody and a
cytotoxin; cholesterol-lowering agents; vasodilating agents; agents
which interfere with endogeneus vascoactive mechanisms; survival
genes which protect against cell death, such as anti-apoptotic
Bcl-2 family factors and Akt kinase; and combinations thereof.
Cells can be of human origin (autologous or allogenic) or from an
animal source (xenogeneic), genetically engineered if desired to
deliver proteins of interest at the injection site. The delivery
mediated is formulated as needed to maintain cell function and
viability. Any modifications are routinely made by one skilled in
the art.
[0055] Polynucleotide sequences useful in practice of the invention
include DNA or RNA sequences having a therapeutic effect after
being taken up by a cell. Examples of therapeutic polynucleotides
include anti-sense DNA and RNA; DNA coding for an anti-sense RNA;
or DNA coding for tRNA or rRNA to replace defective or deficient
endogenous molecules. The polynucleotides of the invention can also
code for therapeutic proteins or polypeptides. A polypeptide is
understood to be any translation product of a polynucleotide
regardless of size, and whether glycosylated or not. Therapeutic
proteins and polypeptides include as a primary example, those
proteins or polypeptides that can compensate for defective or
deficient species in an animal, or those that act through toxic
effects to limit or remove harmful cells from the body. In
addition, the polypeptides or proteins that can be injected, or
whose DNA can be incorporated, include without limitation,
angiogenic factors and other molecules competent to induce
angiogenesis, including acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors,
vascular endothelial growth factor, hif-1, epidermal growth factor,
transforming growth factor .alpha. and .beta., platelet-derived
endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, tumor
necrosis factor .alpha., hepatocyte growth factor and insulin like
growth factor; growth factors; cell cycle inhibitors including CDK
inhibitors; anti-restenosis agents, including p15, p16, p18, p19,
p21, p27, p53, p57, Rb, nFkB and E2F decoys, thymidine kinase
("TK") and combinations thereof and other agents useful for
interfering with cell proliferation, including agents for treating
malignancies; and combinations thereof. Still other useful factors,
which can be provided as polypeptides or as DNA encoding these
polypeptides, include monocyte chemoattractant protein ("MCP-1"),
and the family of bone morphogenic proteins ("BMP's"). The known
proteins include BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6 (Vgr-1), BMP-7
(OP-1), BMP-8, BMP-9, BMP-10, BMP-11, BMP-12, BMP-13, BMP-14,
BMP-15, and BMP-16. Currently preferred BMP's are any of BMP-2,
BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6 and BMP-7. These dimeric proteins can be
provided as homodimers, heterodimers, or combinations thereof,
alone or together with other molecules. Alternatively or, in
addition, molecules capable of inducing an upstream or downstream
effect of a BMP can be provided. Such molecules include any of the
"hedgehog" proteins, or the DNA's encoding them.
[0056] The therapeutic and the delivery balloon may be used, for
example, in any application for treating, preventing, or otherwise
affecting the course of a disease or tissue or organ dysfunction.
For example, the methods of the invention can be used to induce or
inhibit angiogenesis, as desired, to prevent or treat restenosis,
to treat a cardiomyopathy or other dysfunction of the heart, for
treating Parkinson's disease or a stroke or other dysfunction of
the brain, for treating cystic fibrosis or other dysfunction of the
lung, for treating or inhibiting malignant cell proliferation, for
treating any malignancy, and for inducing nerve, blood vessel or
tissue regeneration in a particular tissue or organ.
[0057] A therapeutic delivery balloon is provided. In addition to
the embodiments described above, one of skill in the art will
realize that these examples are merely illustrative as numerous
other embodiments may be implemented without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *