Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device, and a method of using the device for dilating and irradiating a vascular segment, body passageway or an obstruction in a vascular segment or body passageway. The method of using the device comprises electroless deposition, electro-deposition or ion implantation of a radioactive coating on an expansion member. The radioactive coating may be deposited such that it has a total radioactivity that varies in at least one dimension of the expansion member. The expansion member may be substantially cylindrical and/or an expandable mesh. The radioactive expansion member, which is moveable between a radially contracted configuration and a radially expanded configuration, is radially contracted and placed into a vascular segment or body passageway. After advancing the contracted expansion member to a predetermined site in the vascular segment or body passageway, the expansion member is radially expanded to dilate and irradiate the predetermined site, while allowing fluid to flow through the expansion member. The expansion member is then radially contracted and removed from the vascular segment or body passageway.

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First Claim