PERFUSION BALLOON AND RADIOACTIVE WIRE DELIVERY SYSTEM

摘要

This invention is a catheter (11) capable of irradiating blood vessel walls to inhibit re-stenosis after angio-plasty. Catheters (11) are capable of simultaneous irradiation and angio-plasty. Preferred catheters (11) include a helical perfusion balloon (35) having closely spaced or contacting adjacent windings when inflated. A helical balloon (35) with strand windings having little space therebetween decreases the amount of blood between the balloon exterior surface and vessel walls. A removable, sheathed, elongate radiation source (13, 14) is used with some embodiments. A fixed, flexible sheath (13) portioning the catheter lumen (17) into sterile and non-sterile portions is included in another embodiment. Internal rather than external perfusion, and use of gas to inflate the balloon (15) decreases the absorption of beta radiation by blood, and liquid inflation fluid, respectively.