Method and device for vascular treatment

1. A method of treating veins, comprising:

introducing a treatment device inside a vein;

providing a cooling fluid directly inside the vein via a distal end of the treatment device to internally cool the vein;

introducing an energy-transmitting member inside the vein via the distal end of the treatment device to irradiate the vein with energy;

advancing a distal end of the energy-transmitting member to protrude beyond the distal end of the treatment device inside the vein; and

irradiating said vein via the protruding distal end of the energy-transmitting member; and

wherein a part of said cooling fluid is vaporized during the step of irradiating said vein.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is adapted to endoluminally treat vascular irregularities by internally cooling said vein before it is irradiated with energy from the energy-transmitting member within said vein.

3. The method of endoluminally treating vascular irregularities according to claim 2 , wherein the step of providing the cooling fluid directly inside the vein comprises passing the cooling fluid through a channel in the treatment device, wherein at least a portion of said cooling fluid exiting near a distal end of said treatment device is vaporized.

4. The method for treating vascular diseases according to claim 1 wherein said internally cooling fluid includes a local anesthetic in it.

5. The method of endoluminally treating vascular irregularities according to claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:

introducing the treatment device inside the vein, to permit said cooling fluid to pass around said energy-transmitting member inside the vein;

delivering energy and fluid to a treatment site via an exposed distal end of the treatment device; and

treating said vascular irregularities with said energy.

6. An endoluminar method of treating vascular irregularities, comprising:

providing a multichannel introducing device inside a vein;

delivering a fluid via the multichannel introducing device to directly infuse a treatment site inside the vein with the fluid;

introducing an energy-transmitting member to the treatment site inside the vein via a distal end of the multichannel introducing device;

advancing a distal end of the energy-transmitting member to protrude beyond the distal end of the multichannel introducing device inside the vein; and

irradiating the treatment site inside the vein via the protruding distal end of the energy-transmitting member;

wherein the treatment site inside the vein is infused with the fluid prior to or simultaneously with energy emission from the protruding distal end of said energy-transmitting member.

7. The endoluminar method according to claim 6 , wherein said multichannel introducing device is a catheter with at least two channels, wherein one channel is adapted for said energy-transmitting member to transmit energy, and another channel is adapted to deliver said fluid.

8. The method of endoluminally treating vascular irregularities according to claim 5 , wherein said energy-emitting member is selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber, an RF transmitting device, and a thermal emitting device.

9. The method of endoluminally treating vascular irregularities according to claim 5 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of a saline solution, a cooled saline solution, an anesthetic, and a formulation containing an ingredient that is activated by said energy emitted from said distal end of said energy-emitting member.

10. The endoluminar method of treating vascular irregularities according to claim 6 , wherein said energy-emitting member is selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber, an RF transmitting device, and a thermal emitting device.

11. The endoluminar method of treating vascular irregularities according to claim 6 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of a saline solution, a cooled saline solution, an anesthetic, and a formulation containing an ingredient that is activated by said energy emitted from said distal end of said energy-emitting member.

12. A device for treating veins, comprising:

an energy-transmitting member adapted to emit energy to a vein from inside the vein; and

a catheter configured to be positioned inside the vein;

wherein the catheter is adapted to introduce a cooling fluid directly inside the vein and to introduce the energy-emitting member inside the vein;

wherein a distal end of the energy-transmitting member is configured to protrude beyond a distal end of the catheter to irradiate the inside of the vein; and

wherein a part of said cooling fluid is vaporized during irradiation of said vein.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the catheter comprises at least one channel for introducing said energy transmitting member and introducing said cooling fluid.

14. A treatment system for endoluminar treatment of vascular irregularities comprising:

an energy-transmitting member adapted to emit energy to a vein from inside the vein; and

a catheter configured to be positioned inside the vein;

wherein a distal end of the catheter is adapted to introduce a cooling fluid directly inside the vein and to introduce the energy-transmitting member inside the vein, such that at least some of the cooling fluid is vaporized inside the vein by the energy emitted by the energy-transmitting member; and

wherein a distal end of the energy-transmitting member is configured to protrude beyond the distal end of the catheter to irradiate the inside of the vein.

15. A treatment system for endoluminar treatment of vascular irregularities comprising:

an energy-transmitting member adapted to emit energy to a vein from inside the vein; and

a catheter configured to be positioned inside the vein;

wherein the catheter comprises at least one channel for introducing the energy-transmitting member inside the vein and at least one channel for introducing a cooling fluid directly inside the vein and wherein a part of said cooling fluid is vaporized during irradiation of said vein; and

means for timing said introduction of the cooling fluid and for timing energy emission from said energy-emitting member;

wherein a distal end of the energy-transmitting member is configured to protrude beyond a distal end of the catheter to irradiate the inside of the vein.

16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said energy transmitting member is an optical fiber.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein said optical fiber has a distal end, which emits radiation radially within said vein.

18. The system according to claims 14 , wherein said introduction of the cooling fluid is accomplished with an infusion pump.

19. The system according to claims 14 , wherein said cooling fluid is selected from the group consisting of a saline solution, a cooled saline solution, an anesthetic, a formulation containing an ingredient that can be activated by said energy emitted from said energy-transmitting member.

20. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said energy transmitting member is an optical fiber.

21. The system according to claim 20 , wherein said optical fiber has a distal end, which emits radiation radially within said vein.

22. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said introduction of the cooling fluid is accomplished with an infusion pump.

23. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said cooling fluid is selected from the group consisting of a saline solution, a cooled saline solution, an anesthetic, a formulation containing an ingredient that can be activated by said energy emitted from said energy-transmitting member.

24. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said energy transmitting member is an optical fiber.

25. The system according to claim 24 , wherein said optical fiber has a distal end, which emits radiation radially within said vein.

26. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said introduction of the cooling fluid is accomplished with an infusion pump.

27. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said cooling fluid is selected from the group consisting of a saline solution, a cooled saline solution, an anesthetic, a formulation containing an ingredient that can be activated by said energy emitted from said energy-transmitting member.