Patent ID: 7837720
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for treatment of tissue within a body requiring thermotherapy, said apparatus comprising: a) a catheter to be inserted into a bodily conduit, the catheter defines a central lumen and at least one lumen disposed outwardly from the central lumen; b) an energy-emitting source disposed within the central lumen of said catheter; c) a compression balloon surrounding the energy-emitting source within said catheter, said compression balloon having an inflated diameter that is greater than that of the bodily conduit in a relaxed state and having an outside surface of the balloon coated with at least one of a gene modifier and a drug or medication, the compression balloon including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the catheter including a plurality of inlet ports located near the proximal portion of the compression balloon and in fluid communication with the at least one lumen disposed outwardly from the central lumen, and a plurality of outlet ports spaced distally apart from the plurality of inlet ports and in fluid communication with the central lumen, the plurality of inlet ports and the plurality of outlet ports allowing fluid communication between the catheter and the compression balloon such that a circulating fluid can flow into the compression balloon via the plurality of inlet ports and out of the compression balloon and into the central lumen of the catheter via the plurality of outlet ports; d) anchoring means for positioning said energy-emitting source and said compression balloon adjacent the tissue to be treated; e) means for inflating the compression balloon with a circulating fluid at a temperature in the range of approximately 30° C. to approximately 60° C. thereby expanding the bodily conduit and maintaining the temperature of the bodily conduit while the energy source is controlled to heat the tissue; f) means for activating the energy-emitting source to radiate energy to heat the coated, compression balloon and tissue to be treated to a temperature of approximately 43° C. wherein the heat of the energized energy-emitting source releases, activates or enhances the at least one of the gene modifier, and the drug or medication coated on the compression balloon; and g) means for terminating the radiation of energy from the energy-emitting source heated to a temperature greater than 43° C. upon completion of the time period to destroy diseased tissue whereby the heated, coated compression balloon effectively delivers the at least one of the gene modifier, and the drug or medication to a target area of the diseased tissue.