LIGHT DELIVERY SYSTEM WITH BLOOD FLUSHING CAPABILITY

摘要

A light delivery system (10) for use in irradiating vascular tissue includes a balloon catheter (12) with a working lumen (14) for receiving an optical fiber (28) therein and an inflation/flushing lumen (16) adapted to receive a liquid at a proximal end and leading to a space defined within the balloon member (32) attached to the distal end of the catheter. The balloon member (32) has a pattern of holes or pores (36) in the wall thereof through which the saline solution may flow when the balloon is inflated, causing any blood or other absorbing substances that may interfere with good radiant energy transmission to be flushed away from the treatment area.