Devices for detection and therapy of atheromatous plaque

1. An apparatus for detecting and treating vulnerable plaque in a blood vessel, comprising:

a probe operable to be inserted in the blood vessel, said probe including:

a detector operable to detect beta rays from a composition, wherein the composition is administered and localized to the vulnerable plaque and includes a radiolabeled molecular carrier administered and localized to the vulnerable plaque; and

a delivery unit operable to deliver a therapeutic compound to the vulnerable plaque, said therapeutic compound stabilizing the vulnerable plaque by reducing inflammatory components in the vulnerable plaque, wherein the delivery unit comprises an external unit and a stent that is retractable into and extendible out from the external unit, and wherein said external unit contains said therapeutic compound and is configured to apply said therapeutic compound onto said stent each time said stent is retracted into said external unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the delivery unit further includes an inflatable vessel, and the stent is moved towards a wall of the blood vessel by inflating said inflatable vessel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said inflatable vessel contains a transparent, non-toxic fluid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detector is operable to detect gamma rays.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the detector includes a first predetermined sensitivity to beta rays and a second predetermined sensitivity to gamma rays.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first predetermined sensitivity is equal to about 100 times the second predetermined sensitivity.

7. An apparatus for detecting and treating vulnerable plaque in a blood vessel, comprising:

means for detecting beta rays from a composition, wherein the composition is administered and localized to the vulnerable plaque and includes a radiolabeled molecular carrier; and

means for delivering a therapeutic compound to the vulnerable plaque, said therapeutic compound stabilizing the vulnerable plaque by reducing inflammatory components in the vulnerable plaque,

wherein the means for delivering the therapeutic compound includes an external unit containing the therapeutic compound and a stent that is retractable into and extendible out from the external unit, and wherein said external unit is configured to apply said therapeutic compound onto said stent each time said stent is retracted into said external unit.

8. An apparatus for detecting and treating vulnerable plaque in a blood vessel, comprising:

a probe operable to be inserted in the blood vessel, said probe including:

a detector operable to detect beta rays from a composition, wherein the composition is administered and localized to the vulnerable plaque and includes a radiolabeled molecular carrier administered and localized to the vulnerable plaque; and

a delivery unit operable to deliver a therapeutic compound to the vulnerable plaque, said therapeutic compound stabilizing the vulnerable plaque by inducing cross-linking of proteins of the plaque, wherein the delivery unit comprises an external unit and a stent that is retractable into and extendible out from the external unit, and wherein said external unit is configured to apply said therapeutic compound onto said stent each time said stent is retracted into said external unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the delivery unit further includes an inflatable vessel, and the stent is moved towards a wall of the blood vessel by inflating said inflatable vessel.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said inflatable vessel contains a transparent, non-toxic fluid.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the detector is operable to detect gamma rays.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the detector includes a first predetermined sensitivity to beta rays and a second predetermined sensitivity to gamma rays.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first predetermined sensitivity is equal to about 100 times the second predetermined sensitivity.

14. An apparatus for detecting and treating vulnerable plaque in a blood vessel, comprising:

means for detecting beta rays from a composition, wherein the composition is administered and localized to the vulnerable plaque and includes a radiolabeled molecular carrier; and

means for delivering a therapeutic compound to the vulnerable plaque, said therapeutic compound stabilizing the vulnerable plaque by inducing cross-linking of proteins of the plaque,

wherein the means for delivering the therapeutic compound includes an external unit and a stent that is retractable into and extendible out from the external unit, and wherein said external unit contains the therapeutic compound and is operable to apply said therapeutic compound onto said stent when said stent is retracted into said external unit.

15. A method for detecting and treating vulnerable plaque in a blood vessel, the method comprising:

introducing a probe into the blood vessel, said probe including:

a detector operable to detect beta rays from a composition, wherein the composition is administered and localized to the vulnerable plaque and includes a radiolabeled molecular carrier administered and localized to the vulnerable plaque; and

a delivery unit operable to deliver a therapeutic compound to the vulnerable plaque, said therapeutic compound stabilizing the vulnerable plaque by reducing inflammatory components in the vulnerable plaque, wherein the delivery unit comprises an external unit and a stent that is retractable into and extendible out from the external unit, and wherein said external unit contains said therapeutic compound and is configured to apply said therapeutic compound onto said stent each time said stent is retracted into said external unit;

administering the composition;

detecting beta rays from the composition with the detector; and

extending and retracting the stent from and into the external unit to apply the therapeutic compound to the vulnerable plaque.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the delivery unit further includes an inflatable vessel, and the stent is moved towards a wall of the blood vessel by inflating said inflatable vessel, and wherein the method further comprises inflating said inflatable vessel.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said inflatable vessel contains a transparent, non-toxic fluid.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the detector is operable to detect gamma rays.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the detector includes a first predetermined sensitivity to beta rays and a second predetermined sensitivity to gamma rays.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the first predetermined sensitivity is equal to about 100 times the second predetermined sensitivity.

21. A method for detecting and treating vulnerable plaque in a blood vessel, comprising:

introducing a probe operable into the blood vessel, said probe including:

a detector operable to detect beta rays from a composition, wherein the composition is administered and localized to the vulnerable plaque and includes

a radiolabeled molecular carrier administered and localized to the vulnerable plaque; and

a delivery unit operable to deliver a therapeutic compound to the vulnerable plaque, said therapeutic compound stabilizing the vulnerable plaque by inducing cross-linking of proteins of the plaque, wherein the delivery unit comprises an external unit and a stent that is retractable into and extendible out from the external unit, and wherein said external unit is configured to apply said therapeutic compound onto said stent each time said stent is retracted into said external unit;

administering the composition;

detecting beta rays from the composition with the detector; and

extending and retracting the stent from and into the external unit to apply the therapeutic compound to the vulnerable plaque.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the delivery unit further includes an inflatable vessel, and the stent is moved towards a wall of the blood vessel by inflating said inflatable vessel, and wherein the method further comprises inflating said inflatable vessel.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein said inflatable vessel contains a transparent, non-toxic fluid.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the detector is operable to detect gamma rays.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the detector includes a first predetermined sensitivity to beta rays and a second predetermined sensitivity to gamma rays.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the first predetermined sensitivity is equal to about 100 times the second predetermined sensitivity.