Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for treating a stenosed region of a blood vessel such as a coronary artery by use of a single catheter for balloon angioplasty followed by delivery of a controlled inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the blood vessel wall to deter restenosis at the angioplasty site. In one embodiment, an angioplasty balloon catheter is adapted to have its balloon emptied after the angioplasty and then re-filled with radioactive fluid to re-engage the blood vessel wall at the angioplasty site. Another embodiment has a conventional angioplasty balloon surrounded by a radiotherapy treatment balloon that is separately inflatable with radioactive fluid. Partly filling the angioplasty balloon during the radiation treatment minimizes the volume of radioactive fluid necessary to achieve the desired dosage. In either embodiment, an outer containment balloon may be used to capture radioactive fluid that would otherwise escape if the treatment balloon were to rupture.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for relieving a stenosed region of a blood vessel such as a coronary artery using a single catheter that relieves the angioplasty by conventional means and then delivers an easily controllable inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the walls of a blood vessel for preventing restenosis after angioplasty. An embodiment of the apparatus comprises a catheter having an angioplasty balloon that is inflatable with a liquid containing a suspended radioactive material such as .sup.125 I or .sup.32 P. The balloon is surrounded by a membrane to capture the radioactive liquid in the event the balloon ruptures. The catheter is advanced through the patient until the balloon is disposed in the stenosed region of the blood vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for relieving a stenosed region of a blood vessel such as a coronary using a single catheter that relieves the angioplasty by conventional means and then delivers an easily controllable inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the walls of a blood vessel for preventing restenosis after angioplasty. An embodiment of the apparatus comprises a catheter having an angioplasty balloon that is inflatable with a liquid containing a suspended radioactive material such as .sup.125 I or .sup.32 P. The balloon is surrounded by a membrane to capture the radioactive liquid in the event the balloon ruptures. The catheter is advanced through the patient until the balloon is disposed in the stenosed region of the blood vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for delivering an easily controllable inherently uniform dosage of radiation to the walls of a blood vessel for preventing restenosis after angioplasty. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a balloon tip which is inflatable with a liquid containing a suspended radioactive material such as .sup.125 l or .sup.32 P. The catheter is advanced through the patient until this treatment balloon is disposed in the stenosed region of the blood vessel. The balloon is filled with the radioactive fluid which simultaneously expands and relieves the stenosis while irradiating the tissue, or if the stenosis has previously been relieved, the target tissue is irradiated by filling the treatment balloon with the radioactive fluid until the outer wall of the balloon engages, without substantially expanding, the inner wall of the blood vessel.