Catheter

• US 6,129,698 A
• Filed: 05/23/1997
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprite Solutions
• Original Assignee: Robert C. Beck
• Inventors: Beck, Robert C
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US08/862,277
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 604/35, 604/19, 604/20, 604/21, 604/27, 604/39, 604/40, 604/43, 604/246, 604/247, 604/264, 604/523, 606/159, 606/167, 606/170, 606/179, 606/180
• US Class Current: 604/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32037 for removing obstructions from inner organs or blood vessels, e.g. for atherectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00553 using a turbine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208

Abstract

A hydraulic catheter which uses a deflected jet to entrain thrombus into a discharge lumen. Multiple energy sources including ultra sonic mechanical and optical energy may be used with the deflected jet energy.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first high pressure supply lumen located in said catheter body;

said catheter body defining a central axis;

a cap located near said distal end of said catheter body for blocking said high pressure supply lumen at the location of said cap, said cap having a first maximum diameter;

a control body located near said cap said body having a first diameter substantially equal to said first diameter of said cap and said diameter increasing in the direction of flow to a second maximum diameter greater than the first maximum diameter of said cap;

said high pressure supply lumen having a proximal end and having a distal end;

a slit formed by the junction of said cap and said body, said slit communicating with said high pressure lumen proximate said distal end, said slit directing a jet of fluid in a direction away from said central axis, thereby forming a sheet jet;

said control body positioned near said slit to turn said sheet jet through an angle with respect to said central axis generating a deflected jet.

2. The device of claim 1, further including an aperture located in said catheter body proximal of said distal end on said catheter body for receiving a guide wire.

16. The device of claim 1 further including a sheath forming a low pressure lumen;

said sheath adapted for relative motion with respect to said control body, whereby said control body may operate either outside or inside of said sheath.

3. A catheter comprising:

an elongate flexible catheter body, said body defining an axis,

a discharge lumen located in said catheter body;

a fluid supply lumen located in said catheter body;

said supply lumen connected to a nozzle formed by a slit communicating with said supply lumen, said slit having a land area substantially perpendicular to said axis, said nozzle having a first diameter,

whereby said nozzle ejects a jet of fluid in a direction away from said catheter body;

a control body having a second diameter greater than said first diameter located near said nozzle;

whereby said fluid jet attaches to and follows said control body, generating a fluid flow along said control body;

a throat communicating with said discharge lumen for receiving said fluid flow and for directing said fluid flow out of said discharge lumen.

4. A catheter for removing occlusive material from a patient comprising:

a fluid supply lumen terminating in a nozzle said nozzle forming a fluid jet, a control body located near said nozzle said nozzle having a cap side having a first diameter and a control body side, said control body having a second diameter greater than said first diameter,

said control body located near said jet for limiting entrainment of fluids on said control body side of said fluid jet;

whereby said fluid jet becomes attached to said control body and follows the contour of said body;

a discharge lumen located near said body to receive fluid from said jet.

5. A catheter having a distal end and having a proximal end, said catheter comprising:

a high pressure lumen;

a low pressure lumen;

a deflected jet formed by a slit communicating with said high pressure lumen at a location adjacent a control body, said control body meeting said slit at a first location adjacent said slit and having a characteristic dimension at said first location, said control body having a larger dimension at a second location located a distance away from said slit;

said control body located near said distal end whereby said deflected jet entrains and collects occlusive material and flows substantially retrograde toward said proximal end of said catheter body, along said control body thereby directing said occlusive material into said low-pressure lumen.

6. The device of claim 5 further including a impeller located distal of said deflected jet.

7. The device of claim 5 further including a blade located distal of said deflected jet.

8. The device of claim 5 further including a sonic probe located distal of said deflected jet.

9. The device of claim 5 further including a radio frequency energy probe located distal of said deflected jet.

10. The device of claim 5 further including an ultrasonic energy probe located distal of said deflected jet.

11. A catheter comprising:

a catheter body, said catheter body having distal end and a proximal end, said catheter body defining a central axis along the length of said body;

a supply lumen located within said catheter body, and coupled to a source of fluid;

an annular aperture communicating with said supply lumen, said annular aperture located around said central axis;

an annular control body having first dimension at a first location near said aperture and having a second dimension at a second location downstream of said aperture, said control body gradually increasing in dimension from said first location to said second location, said control body located near said annular aperture such that fluid exiting said aperture is directed radially outward with respect to said central axis and attaches to said control body and flows along said control body toward the proximal end of said catheter body;

a discharge lumen located within said catheter body and having an annular throat proximate said aperture whereby fluid from said supply lumen discharges into said throat and is extracted from the catheter body.

12. The catheter of claim 11 wherein said supply lumen, discharge lumen and control body are symmetrically located in said catheter body about said central axis.

13. The catheter of claim 12 wherein said control body is radially symmetric about said central axis.

14. The catheter of claim 13 wherein said annular aperture discharges fluid at a discharge angle with respect to said axis of between approximate 45 degrees and 90 degrees.

15. The catheter of claim 13 wherein said annular aperture discharges fluid at a discharge angle with respect to said axis of between approximate 45 degrees and 270 degrees.