Integrated catheter for diverse in situ tissue therapy

• US 5,522,815 A
• Filed: 08/09/1994
• Issued: 06/04/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Christopher A. Rowland, Michael G. Vergano, Roy H. Sullivan, Russell F. Durgin Jr
• Original Assignee: Christopher A. Rowland, Michael G. Vergano, Roy H. Sullivan, Russell F. Durgin Jr
• Inventors: Sullivan, Roy H., Durgin, Russell F. Jr., Rowland, Christopher A., Vergano, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US08/287,956
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 606/37-42, 606/45-50, 604/21, 604/22, 607/104, 607/105, 607/115, 607/116, 607/120, 607/122
• US Class Current: 606/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0079 Separate user-activated means, e.g. guidewires, guide tubes, balloon catheters or sheaths, for sealing off an orifice, e.g. a lumen or side holes, of a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0089 Single injection needle protruding axially, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the catheter, from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means

Abstract

An integrated catheter assembly for enabling diverse in situ therapies includes a catheter with an irrigation fluid lumen, a distal tip portion that acts as a hemostat and a needle for injection therapy that extends through the catheter lumen and a lumen in the distal tip portion. A needle hub structure carries the catheter and provides a sealing entrance for a needle that can be displaced between extended and retracted positions. The needle and electrodes are electrically isolated. The apparatus provides a physician the options of irrigating tissue, cauterizing tissue or injecting tissue without the need for removing the apparatus from the working channel of an endoscope.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly for enabling a physician to utilize diverse in situ therapy modalities at selected tissue comprising:

A. catheter means having a lumen therethrough from a proximal to a distal end thereof for extending from a location externally of a patient to tissue being treated,

B. heating means attached to the distal end of said catheter means for providing therapy to the selected tissue, said heating means having a lumen therethrough aligned with said catheter means lumen for enabling the transfer of fluids between said catheter means lumen and the selected tissue through said heating means lumen, and

C. needle means for providing injection therapy extending from a proximal end externally of the patient through said lumens in said catheter means and said heating means for axial displacement whereby a distal portion of said needle means extends distally beyond and retracts proximally of a distal end surface of said heating means.

2. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein:

i. said catheter means includes control means for connecting said heating means, a catheter with a lumen through which said needle means extends, and catheter hub means at the proximal end of said catheter for carrying said catheter and for directing said connecting means through said catheter whereby said connecting means are carried to said heating means, and

ii. said heating means includes a heating element, a body portion having a distal end for carrying said heating element, a shank portion extending proximally of said body portion for connection with the distal end of said catheter, and a cylindrical needle guide portion extending proximally from said shank portion to be coextensive with a distal portion of said catheter for supporting the distal end of said needle means in its retracted position.

3. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said needle guide portion is pervious thereby to enable the transfer of fluid between said catheter lumen and said lumen in said heating means.

4. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said needle guide portion comprises an elongated tube having one end portion inserted into said means lumen at the proximal end thereof and at least one radial aperture through said tube proximally of said electrical element for enabling the fluid transfer.

5. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said needle guide portion comprises an elongated spring with axially spaced turns inserted into said heating means lumen at the proximal end thereof whereby the fluid transfer occurs between adjacent turns of said spring.

6. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein needle means includes:

i. an elongated needle having a lumen therethrough,

ii. operator means at the proximal end thereof for facilitating the transfer of fluid to said needle lumen, and

iii. needle hub means attached to said catheter intermediate said catheter hub means and said distal end of said catheter for guiding said elongated needle into said catheter lumen.

7. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said needle hub means includes proximal compartment means for receiving and interacting with said operator means for displacement to enable the extension and retraction of said elongated needle, said proximal compartment means including means for limiting proximal movement of said operator means.

8. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said needle hub means includes an other compartment means disposed distally of said proximal compartment means for supporting said catheter in a radiused orientation and sealing means disposed in said other compartment means and around said catheter means for enabling said needle means to penetrate said sealing means and said catheter into said catheter lumen thereby to be movable between said extended and retracted positions.

9. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said needle hub means additionally includes a plurality of axially aligned compartment means including proximal compartment means and an other compartment means disposed distally of said proximal compartment means for supporting said catheter in a radiused orientation and sealing means disposed in said second compartment means and around said catheter means for enabling said needle means to penetrate said sealing means and said catheter into said catheter lumen thereby to be movable between said extended and retracted positions.

10. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein needle means includes stop means at a predetermined location spaced from the distal end of and formed on said elongated needle for engaging the proximal end of said shank portion thereby to limit the extension of said elongated needle from the distal tip of said heating means.

11. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said stop means comprises a collar means formed with a distal end positioned at the predetermined location.

12. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said elongated needle is formed of a distal portion of a given diameter that extends to the predetermined location and a proximal portion that extends from the predetermined location proximally to said operator means, said proximal portion having a greater diameter than said distal portion thereby to form a radially extending annular stop surface for engaging the proximal end of said shank means.

13. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said needle hub means includes a proximal compartment means for receiving said operator means, an intermediate compartment means for supporting said catheter in a radiused orientation, distal compartment means for constraining a portion of said catheter and sealing means disposed in said intermediate compartment means and around said catheter means for enabling said needle means to penetrate said sealing means and said catheter into said catheter lumen thereby to be movable between said extended and retracted positions.

20. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said heating means includes an electrical element at the distal end of said catheter means for selectively heating the selected tissue.

14. A catheter assembly for enabling a physician to utilize diverse in situ therapy modalities for selected tissue comprising:

A. heating means for providing therapy to the selected tissue, said heating means including;

i. a heating element,

ii. a body portion having a distal end for carrying said heating element,

iii. a shank portion extending proximally of said body portion, said body and shank portions being formed about a central axis and defining an axially extending lumen therethrough that is open at the distal and proximal ends of said heating element, and

iv. a cylindrical pervious needle guide portion extending proximally from said shank portion,

B. catheter means having a lumen therethrough from a proximal to a distal end thereof for extending from a proximal location externally of a patient to the selected tissue, said catheter means including;

i. a catheter with a lumen therethrough for enabling the transfer of irrigation fluids, said distal end of said catheter overlying and supporting said shank portion,

ii. catheter hub means at the proximal end of said catheter for carrying said catheter, and

iii. connection means connected to said heating element and extending distally therefrom through said catheter and through said catheter hub means for controlling said heating element,

C. needle means for providing injection therapy including;

i. an elongated needle having a lumen therethrough,

ii. operating means at the proximal end of said elongated needle means,

iii. needle hub means attached to said catheter intermediate said catheter hub means and said distal end of said catheter for guiding said elongated needle into said catheter lumen whereby said needle extends distally within said catheter lumen, and

iv. stop means at a predetermined location spaced from the distal end of and formed on said elongated needle for engaging the proximal end of said shank portion thereby to limit the extension of said elongated needle from the distal tip of said heating means.

15. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said needle guide portion comprises an elongated tube having one end portion inserted into said heating means lumen at the proximal end thereof and at least one radial aperture through said tube proximally of said heating element for enabling the fluid transfer.

16. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said needle guide portion comprises an elongated spring with axially spaced turns inserted into said heating means lumen at the proximal end thereof whereby the fluid transfer occurs between adjacent turns of said spring.

17. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said stop means comprises a collar means formed with a distal end positioned at the predetermined location.

18. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said elongated needle is formed of a distal portion of a given diameter that extends to the predetermined location and a proximal portion that extends from the predetermined location proximally to said operator means, said proximal portion having a greater diameter than said distal portion thereby to form a radially extending annular stop surface for engaging the proximal end of said shank means.

19. A catheter assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said heating element includes an electrical element for selectively heating the selected tissue.