Wayne W Snyder

US Patent:

6422988, Jul 23, 2002

Filed:

Oct 25, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/425936

Inventors:

Anthony J. Bradshaw - Sugar Land TX 77459
Richard T. Thornton - League City TX 77573
Wayne W. Snyder - Houston TX 77062

International Classification:

A61N 500

US Classification:

600 3

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for treating a stenosed region of a blood vessel such as a coronary artery by use of a single catheter for balloon angioplasty followed by delivery of a controlled inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the blood vessel wall to deter restenosis at the angioplasty site. In one embodiment, an angioplasty balloon catheter is adapted to have its balloon emptied after the angioplasty and then re-filled with radioactive fluid to re-engage the blood vessel wall at the angioplasty site. Another embodiment has a conventional angioplasty balloon surrounded by a radiotherapy treatment balloon that is separately inflatable with radioactive fluid. Partly filling the angioplasty balloon during the radiation treatment minimizes the volume of radioactive fluid necessary to achieve the desired dosage. In either embodiment, an outer containment balloon may be used to capture radioactive fluid that would otherwise escape if the treatment balloon were to rupture.

US Patent:

59719095, Oct 26, 1999

Filed:

Jul 25, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/900864

Inventors:

Anthony J. Bradshaw - Missouri City TX
Richard T. Thornton - League City TX
Wayne W. Snyder - Houston TX

Assignee:

NeoCardia LLC - Houston TX

International Classification:

A61N 500

US Classification:

600 3

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods are provided for relieving a stenosed region of a blood vessel such as a coronary artery using a single catheter that relieves the angioplasty by conventional means and then delivers an easily controllable inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the walls of a blood vessel for preventing restenosis after angioplasty. An embodiment of the apparatus comprises a catheter having an angioplasty balloon that is inflatable with a liquid containing a suspended radioactive material such as. sup. 125 I or. sup. 32 P. The balloon is surrounded by a membrane to capture the radioactive liquid in the event the balloon ruptures. The catheter is advanced through the patient until the balloon is disposed in the stenosed region of the blood vessel. The stenosed region is relieved using the angioplasty balloon, after which the angioplasty balloon is emptied and re-filled with the radioactive liquid, which expands the balloon to engage the walls of the blood vessel thereby providing an inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the blood vessel walls. Another embodiment of the apparatus comprises a catheter having an angioplasty balloon surrounded by a radiotherapy treatment balloon that is separately inflatable with a radioactive liquid.

US Patent:

56625804, Sep 2, 1997

Filed:

Feb 10, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/386419

Inventors:

Anthony J. Bradshaw - Missouri City TX
Richard T. Thornton - League City TX
Wayne W. Snyder - Houston TX

Assignee:

NeoCardia, LLC - Houston TX

International Classification:

A61N 500

US Classification:

600 3

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods are provided for relieving a stenosed region of a blood vessel such as a coronary using a single catheter that relieves the angioplasty by conventional means and then delivers an easily controllable inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the walls of a blood vessel for preventing restenosis after angioplasty. An embodiment of the apparatus comprises a catheter having an angioplasty balloon that is inflatable with a liquid containing a suspended radioactive material such as. sup. 125 I or. sup. 32 P. The balloon is surrounded by a membrane to capture the radioactive liquid in the event the balloon ruptures. The catheter is advanced through the patient until the balloon is disposed in the stenosed region of the blood vessel. The stenosed region is relieved using the angioplasty balloon, after which the angioplasty balloon is emptied and re-filled with the radioactive liquid, which expands the balloon to engage the walls of the blood vessel thereby providing an inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the blood vessel walls. Another embodiment of the apparatus comprises a catheter having an angioplasty balloon surrounded by a radiotherapy treatment balloon that is separately inflatable with a radioactive liquid.

US Patent:

56161140, Apr 1, 1997

Filed:

Dec 8, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/352318

Inventors:

Richard T. Thornton - League City TX
Anthony J. Bradshaw - Missouri City TX
Wayne W. Snyder - Houston TX

Assignee:

Neocardia, LLC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

A61N 500

US Classification:

600 3

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods are provided for delivering an easily controllable inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the walls of a blood vessel for preventing restenosis after angioplasty. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a balloon tip which is inflatable with a liquid containing a suspended radioactive material such as. sup. 125 l or. sup. 32 P. The catheter is advanced through the patient until this treatment balloon is disposed in the stenosed region of the blood vessel. The balloon is filled with the radioactive fluid which simultaneously expands and relieves the stenosis while irradiating the tissue, or if the stenosis has previously been relieved, the target tissue is irradiated by filling the treatment balloon with the radioactive fluid until the outer wall of the balloon engages, without substantially expanding, the inner wall of the blood vessel. An outer containment balloon is also provided to prevent loss of radioactive fluid in the event the treatment balloon ruptures and which may be used to perform the angioplasty prior to filling the treatment balloon with the radioactive fluid. The treatment balloon may be configured to minimize the volume of radioactive fluid necessary by providing an inner balloon filled with an inert material or by configuring the treatment balloon itself as a hollow cylinder with an annular chamber for receiving the radioactive fluid.