BALLOON DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

摘要

In one aspect, the invention features a catherer (20) for delivering drug to tissue at a desired location of the wall of a body lumen. The catherer (20) is constructed for insertion in a body lumen, and has a catherer shaft (32) and an expandable balloon portion mounted on the catheter shaft (32). The expandable balloon portion (15) being expandable to a controlled pressure to fill the cross section of the body lumen (9) and press against the wall of the body lumen (9). At least a portion of the exterior surface of the expandable balloon portion is defined by a porous membrane (15) positioned over the surface of the balloon and creating therebetween a drug space (28). The porous membrane (15) is formed of a select material and is constructed to release drug (16) in the drug space (28) through openings (34, 36, 38) in the membrane (15) to the outer surface of said membrane (15) in a noninjurious low pressure manner. The drug application occurs in response to pressure applied by inflation of the balloon to compress the drug space (28).