Systems and methods for variable injection flow

• US 9,314,588 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Groves, Regina E., Lalonde, Jean-Pierre, Laske, Timothy G., Lueckge, Claudia, Wittenberger, Dan, Sabbaghe-Kermani, Ramin, Seraj, Mahmoud Kabir
• Primary Examiner(s): Stigell, Theodore
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAREY, MICHAEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US13/300,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 606/20, 606/21, 606/22, 606/23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/0218 with open-end cryogenic probe, e.g. for spraying fluid directly on tissue or via a tissue-contacting porous tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00202 rotating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0268 with restriction of flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0025 having a collapsible lumen
• 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 2025/0175 having telescopic features, interengaging nestable members movable in relations to one another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0029 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the middle part of the catheter, e.g. slots, flaps, valves, cuffs, apertures, notches, grooves or rapid exchange ports catheter shaft surface irregularities A61M2025/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

Systems and methods for controllably variable fluid flow are disclosed that provide the ability to modify the effective cross-sectional area of the fluid delivery conduit available for fluid flow. Accordingly, selective control of these configurations allows fluid flow to be regulated as desired while the fluid delivery pressure remains the same. Additional configurations provided herein allow for the selective manipulation of a footprint or therapeutic pattern achievable with the medical device during a single procedure, negating the need for the removal and insertion of multiple devices to achieve the same variations in treatment geometry or characteristics.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

a catheter body defining a distal portion having a thermally transmissive region, the thermally transmissive region defining a chamber;

a fluid delivery conduit located entirely within the catheter body and defining an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber of the thermally transmissive region;

a solid elongate member slidably disposed within at least a portion of the fluid delivery conduit, advancing and retracting the solid elongate member selectively obstructing and un-obstructing a portion of the fluid delivery conduit to modulate fluid flow through the outlet.

2. The medical device of claim 1, further defining a fluid exhaust lumen within the catheter body.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the fluid delivery conduit defines a tapered diameter, and the elongate member is longitudinally movable with respect to the tapered diameter.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the elongate member includes a plug movably positionable about the outlet.

5. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the plug has a tapered cross-section.

6. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the plug is substantially spherical.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the elongate member is constructed from a shape memory material.

8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the shape memory material transitions in response to a thermal load.

9. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the shape memory material transitions in response to an electrical load.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the fluid delivery conduit defines a plurality of outlet apertures in the distal portion, and the elongate member is movable to selectively obstruct one or more of the plurality of outlet apertures.

11. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a cryogenic fluid source in fluid communication with at least one of the fluid delivery conduit or elongate member.

12. A method of regulating fluid flow through a catheter, comprising:

delivering a fluid to a fluid delivery conduit entirely disposed within a portion of the catheter, the catheter including a thermally transmissive region in fluid communication with the fluid delivery conduit; and

moving a solid rod within a portion of the fluid delivery conduit to at least partially obstruct a portion of the fluid delivery conduit to regulate fluid flowing through the fluid delivery conduit within the catheter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fluid delivery conduit defines a tapered section, and moving the rod includes moving the rod with respect to the tapered section.

14. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate body defining a distal end, a fluid delivery conduit, a fluid exhaust conduit, and a thermally transmissive region at the distal end; and

a unitary distal insert partially disposed within the thermally transmissive region and coupled to the distal end of the elongate body, the distal insert defining;

a first lumen extending through the unitary distal insert and being in fluid communication with the fluid delivery conduit,

a second lumen extending through the unitary distal insert and being coaxial with the first lumen and being in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust conduit, and

a plurality of openings within the thermally transmissive region in fluid communication with the second lumen.

15. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the unitary distal insert defines a collar and the medical device includes a steering element coupled to the collar.

16. The medical device of claim 14, further comprising a rod movably positionable with a portion of the first lumen.