| 摘要 |
A source wire (38) having a radioactive source (40) at its distal tip (45) is used to treat a blood vessel within a patient's body by localized in vivo radiation to prevent stenosis of the blood vessel, including restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The source wire (38) is advanced to the target site along the vascular system of the patient's body from a point external to the body. The source wire (38) is preferably a solid lead of substantially uniform thickness along its entire length, composed of a super-elastic nickel-titanium alloy (nitinol). Alternatively, the wire (38) may be a cable composed of multiple strands of the alloy of substantially uniform thickness throughout the entire length of each strand. The alloy has desired characteristics of super-elasticity for transitioning into and out of a stress-induced martensitic state as it is advanced through tortuous lumens for passage into the coronary arteries. |
