Material Delivery System

Abstract

A balloon for injecting material into a wall of a hollow organ of a human, comprising: an expandable balloon body having a surface and having an axis; at least one predefined ejection port on said body adapted for ejection of fluid therefrom, in a transaxial direction; and an impulse source configured for and adapted to eject material out of said point at a velocity and shape suitable for mechanically penetrating tissue adjacent said port.

1 . Apparatus for injecting material into a wall of a hollow organ of a human, comprising: 
 an expandable balloon body having a surface and having an axis;    at least one predefined ejection port on said body adapted for ejection of material therefrom, in a transaxial direction; and    an impulse source configured for and adapted to eject material out of said port for a period not exceeding 1 second.    
     
     
         2 - 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said impulse source comprises a mechanical pressure generator adapted to be located outside a human containing the wall and a fluid column connecting said generator with said balloon body.  
     
     
         12 - 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one port comprises a valve adapted to pass fluid under certain pressure conditions.  
     
     
         16 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one port comprises a plurality of ports arranged and configured with said impulse source to generate a uniform material ejection pattern over at least a predetermined axial length of the body.  
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said material comprises a structural material adapted to affect at least one mechanical property of human tissue when ejected into the tissue.  
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said material comprises an anti-proliferation bio-active component.  
     
     
         25 - 27 . (canceled)  
     
     
         28 . A method of treating a hollow organ, comprising: 
 (a) contacting an outer surface of a balloon with inside walls of said organ; and    (b) ejecting material away from said balloon in a radial direction and into said walls, without the use of a needle for said penetration during a period not exceeding one second.    
     
     
         29 - 36 . (canceled)  
     
     
         37 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising an impulse source in or near said balloon and adapted to generate an impulse sufficient to open said ports.  
     
     
         38 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one port is adapted to remain closed at a pressure below 15 atmospheres.  
     
     
         39 - 44 . (canceled)  
     
     
         45 . A method of treating a vessel wall, comprising: 
 (a) contacting a port to said wall; and    (b) injecting a structural material into said wall, such that a mechanical property of said wall is mechanically affected by said structural material.    
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein said structural material is a setting material.  
     
     
         47 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one predefined ejection port is closed prior to operation of the impulse source and opens as a result of operation of the impulse source.  
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the inside walls of said organ comprise a stent so that practice of the method contributes to a reduction in in-stent restenosis.  
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the ejection reaches a peak ejection pressure and decreases by at least 25% from the peak ejection pressure within 100 milliseconds.  
     
     
         50 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ejection reaches a peak ejection pressure and decreases by at least 25% from the peak ejection pressure within 100 milliseconds.  
     
     
         51 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one predefined ejection port is adapted to close once a pressure on them is below a threshold value.  
     
     
         52 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said expandable balloon is expanded to a preferred maximum diameter prior to impulse source activation.  
     
     
         53 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is adapted to apply PTCA prior to impulse source activation.  
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the ejecting results from operation of a pressure pulse source.  
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 54 , wherein the operation of the pressure pulse source lasts not more than 500 milliseconds.