Importance

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Abstract

An intravascular catheter designed to apply a liquid medicament or other substance to a stenotic lesion as the blood vessel is undergoing dilatation to facilitate the restoration and long-term maintenance of patency to the blood vessel. It comprises three concentrically arranged flexible plastic tubes and a pair of concentrically arranged expander members located at the distal end of the tubes. The space between the outer wall of the inner tube and the inner wall of the intermediate tube is in fluid communication with the interior of the first expander member while the space between the outer wall of the intermediate tube and the inner wall of the outer tube is in fluid communication with the interior of the second expander member. A plurality of minute holes are formed through the second expander member such that when the liquid medicament is introduced into the lumen of the outer tube while an inflation fluid is introduced into the lumen of the intermediate tube, both expander members inflate with the drug or other substance being ejected out through the tiny pores of the outermost expander member while continued inflation of the inner expander member provides the necessary pressure for dilatation of the lesion.

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First Claim