APPARATUS FOR TREATING VULNERABLE PLAQUE

摘要

Various apparatuses are described to treat vulnerable plaque with the use of combination drug therapy. In one /embodiment, the apparatus (1001) has an elongated catheter body (1010) adapted for insertion in a body lumen, with a drug delivery device (1013) attached near a distal portion of the elongated body. The drug delivery device is configured to deliver a therapeutic or biologically active agent to stabilize a vulnerable plague. In another embodiment, a drug eluting stent is delivered and deployed in conjunction with a second apparatus that delivers drug in pressurized retrograde perfusion. Still another embodiment uses a uniquely shaped balloon to deploy a stent while utilizing a drug infusion needle to inject drug into the vessel wall through a hollow guide wire.