| abstract |
A mechanically expanded drug delivery device (11) for expanding a blocked blood flow path of a blood vessel by expanding and delivering a therapeutic substance or drug (40). The present invention includes a substantially cylindrical expansion member (31), and changes the distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the expansion member to change the expansion member between the most contracted state and the most expanded state. Means are incorporated into the expansion member. The therapeutic substance (40) is coated on the expansion member (31) or incorporated into the substrate (43) covering it. In this method, the coated expansion member is advanced into the occlusion of the blood vessel, and an opposing force is applied axially to the expansion member to move the expansion member into an expanded configuration that expands the occlusion, and the expansion member is passive or active Therapeutic substance is delivered to the occlusion. |