Tortuous path injection device and method

• US 6,595,958 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Mickley, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez; Manuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han; Mark K.
• Application Number:
  US09/634,117
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01,164.01,164.02,164.03,164.06,264,252,258,523,532,534,171 606/194
• US Class Current: 604/164.01
• 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 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0084 being one or more injection needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0133 Tip steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes

Abstract

Devices and methods for delivering therapeutic or diagnostic agents to a target tissue of a human body are disclosed. A catheter in accordance with the present invention includes an elongate shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen therethrough. The elongate shaft includes a first curved portion proximate the distal end of the elongate shaft. The first curved portion of the elongate shaft defines a first plane. The elongate shaft also includes a second curved portion disposed between the distal end of the elongate shaft and the first curved portion of the elongate shaft. The second curved portion of the elongate shaft defines a second plane. The second plane intersects the first plane at an angle.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising:

a first elongated shaft,

the first elongated shaft defining a lumen,

the first elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis,

the first elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,

the distal end having a point;

a housing surrounding at least a portion of the first elongated shaft,

the housing having a proximal end and a distal end,

the distal end having a distal contact area; and

a barrel coupled to the distal end of the housing and the barrel defining the distal contact area,

the first elongated shaft slidable within the housing from a first position to a second position,

the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the first elongated shaft defining a curve when the distal end is in the second position.

2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the first elongated shaft defines a straight line when in the first position.

3. The catheter of claim 1 further comprising:

a second elongated shaft,

the second elongated shaft defining a lumen,

the second elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis,

the second elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,

the second elongated shaft slidable within the first elongated shaft from a first position to a second position,

the second position locating the distal end of the second elongated shaft outside of the distal end of the first elongated shaft.

4. The catheter of claim 3 wherein the longitudinal axis of the second elongated shaft defines a line when the second elongated shaft is in the first position and defines a curve when the shaft is in the second position.

5. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the curve is in the form of a first helix.

6. The catheter of claim 1 wherein an internal surface of the barrel defines a screw thread.

7. The catheter of claim 5 wherein the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the first elongated shaft is in the form of a second helix when the distal end is in the first position.

8. The catheter of claim 6 wherein the form of the first helix is more tightly wound than the form of the second helix.

9. The catheter of claim 1 further comprising:

a screw and thread mechanism coupling the first elongated shaft with the housing.

10. The catheter of claim 1 wherein a portion of the longitudinal axis of the proximal end of the first elongated shaft is in the form of a helix.

11. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal contact area is moveable from a first closed position to a second open position, the first closed position having the distal contact area orientated towards the longitudinal axis of the first elongated shaft.

12. A catheter comprising:

a first elongated shaft,

the first elongated shaft defining a lumen,

the first elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis,

the first elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,

a housing surrounding at least a portion of the first elongated shaft,

the housing having a proximal end and a distal end,

the distal end having a distal contact area; and

a barrel coupled to the distal end of the housing and the barrel defining the distal contact area,

the first elongated shaft slidable within the housing from a first position to a second position,

the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the first elongated shaft defining a curve when the distal end is in the second position.

13. The catheter of claim 12 wherein the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the first elongated shaft defines a straight line when in the first position.

14. The catheter of claim 12 further comprising:

a second elongated shaft,

the second elongated shaft defining a lumen,

the second elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis,

the second elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,

the distal end having a point,

the second elongated shaft slidable within the first elongated shaft from a first position to a second position,

the second position locating the distal end of the second elongated shaft outside of the distal end of the first elongated shaft.

15. The catheter of claim 14 wherein the longitudinal axis of the second elongated shaft defines a line when the second elongated shaft is in the first position and defines a curve when the shaft is in the second position.

16. The catheter of claim 12 wherein the curve is in the form of a first helix.

17. The catheter of claim 12 wherein an internal surface of the barrel defines a screw thread.

18. The catheter of claim 16 wherein the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the first elongated shaft is in the form of a second helix when the distal end is in the first position.

19. The catheter of claim 17 wherein the form of the first helix is more tightly wound than the form of the second helix.

20. The catheter of claim 12 further comprising:

a screw and thread mechanism coupling the first elongated shaft with the housing.

21. The catheter of claim 12 wherein a portion of the longitudinal axis of the proximal end of the first elongated shaft is in the form of a helix.

22. The catheter of claim 12 wherein the distal contact area is moveable from a first closed position to a second open position, the first closed position having the distal contact area orientated towards the longitudinal axis of the first elongated shaft.