Patent ID: 8795228

Claim:
A drug eluting balloon device, comprising: an inflatable balloon, inflatable from a substantially deflated position to a substantially inflated position; and a longitudinal sheath disposed around the balloon, the longitudinal sheath being expandable from a first position to a second position; wherein when the balloon is in the substantially deflated position the sheath is in the first position, and wherein when the balloon is inflated to the substantially inflated position the sheath is expanded to the second position; wherein the sheath comprises a plurality of drug delivery areas; wherein in a stable condition of the sheath, the drug delivery areas of the sheath protrude outwardly as protrusions; wherein the protrusions are adapted to be pressed inwardly to an inverted position storing elastic energy; wherein when the sheath is in the first position, the drug delivery areas are in the inverted position in the form of pockets adapted to contain a therapeutic agent; and wherein the drug delivery areas are adapted such that, upon inflation of the balloon and expansion of the sheath from the first position to the second position, the stored elastic energy is released, whereby the drug delivery areas self-invert from the pockets into the protrusions, such that the drug delivery areas are adapted to deliver the therapeutic agent to a target site.