METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESTENOSIS TREATMENT

摘要

Method and apparatus (10) for treatment and post-treatment of the stenosed region (14) of an artery (12) after reduction of the region by angioplasty or other means by applying a radioactive dose (30) to said reduced region of the artery by positioning a radioactive dose to the reduced region is disclosed. Low dose, local ionizing irradiation (38) is delivered to the site of an intravascular intervention to prevent and/or minimize excessive cell proliferation. The irradiating source may be located external to the site or may involve a source located within the vessel. The low dose, local ionizing irradiation may also be delivered during the interventional session or thereafter, preferably within 72 hours of the intervention, in a single dose or a fractionated dose, and alone or in combination with at least one radiosensitizing agent.