초록 ▼

The invention features a catheter and methods for delivering drug to tissue at a desired location of the wall of a body lumen. The catheter is constructed for insertion in a body lumen and has a catheter shaft and an expandable portion mounted on the catheter shaft. The expandable portion is expanda

The invention features a catheter and methods for delivering drug to tissue at a desired location of the wall of a body lumen. The catheter is constructed for insertion in a body lumen and has a catheter shaft and an expandable portion mounted on the catheter shaft. The expandable portion is expandable to a controlled pressure to fill the cross-section of the body lumen and press against the wall of the body lumen. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the exterior surface of the expandable portion is defined by a coating of a tenaciously adhered swellable hydrogel polymer. Incorporated in the hydrogel polymer is an aqueous solution of a preselected drug to be delivered to the tissue or plaque. The hydrogel polymer and drug are selected to allow rapid release of a desired dosage of the drug from the hydrogel polymer coating during compression of the hydrogel polymer coating against the wall of the lumen when the expandable portion is expanded. In other embodiments the polymer is released from the expandable portion in response to pressure, to coat the wall of the body lumen.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for rapidly delivering a drug into a tissue or occlusive formation at a desired location of a body lumen, comprising:providing a catheter having a catheter shaft constructed for delivery to said tissue or occlusive formation, and an expandable portion mounted on

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for rapidly delivering a drug into a tissue or occlusive formation at a desired location of a body lumen, comprising:providing a catheter having a catheter shaft constructed for delivery to said tissue or occlusive formation, and an expandable portion mounted on said catheter shaft, said expandable portion being expandable in response to controlled inflation pressure, the expandable portion being characterized by a coating of a tenaciously adhered swellable hydrogel polymer having said drug incorporated therein, said coating, when swelled, being responsive to compressive pressure elevated above said inflation pressure, to reduce the coating thickness and forcing said drug into said tissue or occlusive formation,preparing said expandable portion by introducing said drug to said coating,positioning said expandable portion in said body lumen at the point of desired drug application,expanding said expandable portion against said tissue or occlusive formation to cause delivery of said drug to said tissue or occlusive formation in about thirty minutes or less,deflating said expandable portion, andremoving said catheter from said body.