Patent ID: 7803149
Filing Date: 2010-09-28
Classification: A61F,A61L,A61M,A61P

Abstract:
1. A method of delivering paclitaxel to an inner wall of a blood vessel of a patient from an implantable medical device having an expandable balloon with the paclitaxel on an outer surface of the balloon, the method comprising the steps of: providing an angioplasty balloon having a dried layer containing the paclitaxel on the outer surface of the balloon, the balloon being free of a coating atop the dried layer, the balloon being free of a time-release layer, the balloon being free of a containment material and the balloon being free of a containment layer; and further wherein the balloon has folds, and portions of the dried layer containing paclitaxel are positioned in the folds; advancing the balloon within the blood vessel to a treatment site within the blood vessel; inflating the balloon at the treatment site to contact the balloon with an inner wall of the blood vessel; maintaining the inflated balloon in contact with the inner wall of the blood vessel so as to transfer paclitaxel to the inner wall of the blood vessel; deflating the balloon after said maintaining; and removing the deflated balloon from the blood vessel.