Patent ID: 7491188

Claim:
A therapeutic medical article comprising: an inflatable balloon having an inner surface that defines an inner volume; an elongate member having an outer surface, the elongate member being disposed within the inner volume of the inflatable balloon such that a lumen is established between the inner surface of the balloon and the outer surface of the elongate member when the balloon is in a non-collapsed state; and a plurality of flexible hollow members disposed in said lumen, each hollow member comprising an exterior surface and an interior cavity containing a therapeutic agent that serves as a reservoir for the therapeutic agent, wherein a portion of the exterior surface is attached to the inner surface of the balloon, and each hollow member having an associated channel that extends (a) from the outer surface of the balloon to the interior cavity of the hollow member or (b) from the outer surface of the balloon to a puncturing member, disposed between inner surface of the balloon and the exterior surface of the hollow member, which punctures the hollow member upon inflation of the balloon, such that, in either case, the therapeutic agent contained in the interior cavity of the hollow member is forced to exit the device through the channel when the balloon is inflated to working pressure.