Multi-purpose catheters, catheter systems, and radiation treatment

• US 7,384,411 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1998
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Condado Medical Devices Corporation
• Original Assignee: Condado Medical Devices Corporation
• Inventors: Condado, Jose Antonio R.
• Primary Examiner(s): AHMED, HASAN SYED
• Application Number:
  US09/367,636
• Time in Patent Office: 3,764 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01, 604/99.04, 604/100.01, 604/100.02, 604/101.01, 604/101.05, 604/102.03, 604/103.04, 604/103.07, 604/103.08, 604/103.01, 604/101.02, 604/104, 604/105, 604/106, 604/103.05, 604/103.06, 604/103.13, 606/108, 606/109, 606/192, 606/194, 623/1.11
• US Class Current: 604/96.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0036 with more than four lumina
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/004 characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1013 with concentrically mounted balloons, e.g. being independently inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1056 having guide wire lumens outside the main shaft, i.e. the guide wire lumen is within or on the surface of the balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1059 having different inflatable sections mainly depending on the response to the inflation pressure, e.g. due to different material properties with different compartments A61M2025/1072
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1003 having means for centering a radioactive source within the lumen, e.g. balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1023 Means for creating a row of seeds, e.g. spacers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1025 Wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1002 Intraluminal radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body

Abstract

Tis invention is new apparatuses and methods for treatments to be used from inside conduits or biological pathways. Examples of the biological pathways in which these new apparatuses and methods may be used include arteries, veins, and respiratory ways. Multi-purpose catheters (10) and catheter systems using structures including wires (2108), balloons (2150), and cords (2204) are described as well as methods to use such catheters and catheter systems. One of the embodiments is a configurable wire system which carries or transports radioactive sources. The wire is used in conjunction with a closed-end channel catheter.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly, comprising:

(a) a flexible tubular catheter body having an inner lumen; and

(b) at least one fluid communication structure integrally formed on the catheter body, wherein the at least one fluid communication structure comprises;

at least one bulk formed on the catheter body; and

at least one conduit formed on the bulk, wherein the at least one conduit is adapted to permit fluid flow through a biological path; and

where the at least conduit can have around the whole or partial periphery open channels and wherein the open channels are covered by a membrane.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter has a plurality of bulks on the catheter body.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein each bulk has a length, the length of each bulk being approximately three to seven millimeters.

4. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising at least one market attached to the catheter body, wherein the market enables a user to position a radiating source within a biological path.

5. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising at least one balloon attached to a distal end of the outer surface of the catheter body.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the at least one balloon extends over the at least one bulk.

7. The catheter of claim 6, wherein the at least one balloon extends over each conduit on a bulk such that the path for the fluid is formed by the conduit and the balloon.

8. The catheter of claim 6, wherein a balloon control communicates with the balloon through the inner lumen or micro conduits.

9. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a valve.

10. The catheter of claim 9 wherein the value is a U-shaped metallic valve built into a lumen or channel of the catheter.

11. The catheter of claim 9 wherein the catheter has multiple valves.

12. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises a pressure monitor or a blood pressure monitor.

13. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter further comprises a marker.

14. The catheter of claim 13 wherein the market is for visually marking the catheter with visual monitoring equipment.

15. The catheter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a stent or membrane for maintaining a cell wall.

16. The catheter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a guidewire.

17. The catheter of claim 16 further comprising a second guidewire, wherein at least one of the guidewires is made of nickel alloy.

18. The catheter assembly of claim 1, further comprising an over-the-wire guidewire.

19. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein a guidewire may be removed from the catheter and another wire placed into the catheter.

20. A catheter assembly, comprising:

(a) a flexible tubular catheter body having an inner lumen and a guidewire channel;

(b) a guidewire disposed within the guidewire channel for selectively positioning the catheter body;

(c) a first balloon structure attached to a distal end of the catheter body, wherein the balloon is in communication with a balloon control through micro conduits, where at least one micro conduit can have around the whole or partial periphery open channels and wherein the open channels are covered by a membrane;

(d) a guidewire exit port in communication with the guidewire channel; and

(e) at least one perfusion hole at a proximal side of the first balloon structure and at least one perfusion hole at a distal side of the first balloon structure to permit fluid flow through a biological path.

21. The catheter assembly of claim 20, further comprising a second balloon enveloping the first balloon structure.

22. A catheter for use in biological paths to provide fluids and/or gases perfusion along the length of the catheter when inserted in a biological path, wherein the catheter comprises two or more integral concentric or non concentric conduits and one or more balloons attached to a more exterior conduit;

a more interior conduit used for placing devices used in catheter operations;

the more exterior conduit for providing a track for fluids and/or gases without substantially obstructing fluid flow through the biological paths when the one or more balloons are inflated, wherein the one or more balloons, when inflated, provide a wall for the more exterior conduit and where the at least conduit can have around the whole or partial periphery open channels and wherein the open channels are covered by a membrane.

23. The catheter according to claim 22, where the balloon constitutes a concentric or non concentric most external conduit with respect to the interior and exterior conduits.

24. The catheter according to claim 22, where around the whole or partial periphery and at specific location of the exterior conduit are attached one or more balloons.

25. The catheter according to claim 22, where the balloon prolongate along the entire length of the exterior conduit.

26. The catheter according to claim 25, where the ends of the balloons are attached to distal locations of the edges of the external conduit.

27. The catheter according to claim 22, where the balloons are located at specific locations along the entire length of the exterior conduit.

28. A catheter for use in biological paths to provide fluids and/or gases perfusion along the length of the catheter when inserted in a biological path, wherein the catheter comprises two or more integral concentric or non concentric conduits;

a more interior conduit used for placing devices used in catheter operations;

a more exterior conduit for providing a track for fluids and/or gases without substantially obstructing fluid flow through the biological paths, wherein the catheter provides a continuous wall for the more exterior conduit and where the exterior conduit can have around the whole or partial periphery open channels and wherein the open channels are covered by a membrane.

29. The catheter according to claim 28, where the exterior conduit permits positioning a radiation and/or radioactive source at a desirable distance from the biological paths.

30. The catheter according to claim 28, where the exterior conduit supports the walls of the biological paths.

31. The catheter according to claim 28, where the exterior conduit is of flexible material.

32. The catheter according to claim 28, where the exterior conduit prolongate along the entire length of the interior conduit.

33. The catheter according to claim 28, where the exterior conduit are segments of conduits located along the entire length and/or at specific locations of the interior channel.

34. The catheter according to claim 28, where the exterior conduit have perpendicular to its cross section micro-conduits and/or pores.

35. The catheter according to claim 34, where the cross section of the micro-conduits and/or pores are parallelepites of regular or irregular shape.

36. The catheter according to claim 35, where the cross section of the micro-conduits and/or pores are circles, ellipses and/or rectangles.

37. The catheter according to claim 34, where the micro-conduits and/or pores are arranged in an ordered manner and/or non-ordered manner.

38. The catheter according to claim 28, where the interior conduits are used for introducing devices used in catheter operations.

39. The catheter according to claim 38, where the devices used in catheter operations are guidewires.

40. The catheter according to claim 28, where the exterior conduit can have around the whole or partial periphery open channels.

41. The catheter according to claim 40, where the walls of the open channels have regular or irregular shape.

42. The catheter according to claim 40, where the open channels are arranged in an ordered manner and/or non-ordered manner.

43. The catheter according to claim 34, where said external conduits having on its outer surface pores which extend from said outer surface to the above mentioned micro-conduits, said pores being oriented at whatever desired angle with respect to the micro-conduits.

44. The catheter of claim 33, wherein the segments and the space between the segments are covered by a membrane.

45. The catheter of claim 40, wherein the open channels are covered by a membrane.