Thermal balloon angioplasty

摘要

A method for remodeling a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, having a stenosis to expand the stenosis comprising the steps of increasing the temperature of the body lumen and stenosis at the region of the stenosis for a time period and to a temperature level sufficient to cause a change in the stenosis and body lumen region from a relatively solid state into a softer and more moldable state and thereafter expanding the stenosis and the body lumen region while in the softer and more moldable state to thus reduce the tendency to fracture during expansion, and reducing the temperature of the stenosis and body lumen region while maintaining the expansion for a time period and to a temperature level sufficient to re-establish the relatively solid state thereof so as to increase the tendency to maintain the stenosis and body lumen region in the expanded condition. An improved heat applying balloon catheter is provided including passages for displacing the heated balloon inflating liquid with a cooling liquid to carry out the method.