Infusion catheter

An infusion catheter system, comprising:

• an elongate catheter shaft extending along a Z-axis having a proximal end region, a distal end region, a distal opening having an area extending along the X-Y plane, and a lumen extending between the proximal end region and the distal opening, wherein the distal end region includes a coiled portion formed at least in part from a shape memory material and having a preformed coiled configuration including a plurality of helically wound rings;
• a plurality of apertures formed through a sidewall of the coiled portion such that the plurality of apertures are oriented in a radially outward direction when the coiled portion is in the preformed coiled configuration, the plurality of apertures in fluid communication with the lumen of the elongate catheter shaft;
• a fluid delivery device fluidly coupled to the proximal end region of the elongate catheter shaft;
• and
• a guidewire configured to be slidably disposed within the lumen of the elongate catheter shaft, the guidewire including a proximal end region having a first outer diameter, a distal end region having a second outer diameter, the second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter, and an intermediate region disposed between the proximal end region of the guidewire and the distal end region of the guidewire;
• wherein the distal end region of the guidewire is configured to block a percentage of the area of the distal opening of the elongate catheter shaft;
• and
• wherein the intermediate region of the guidewire has a first flexibility greater than a second flexibility of the proximal end region of the guidewire and the coiled portion has a third flexibility less than the first flexibility and greater than the second flexibility.

An infusion catheter system, comprising:

• an elongate catheter shaft having a proximal end region, a distal end region, a distal opening, and a lumen extending between the proximal end region and the distal opening, wherein the distal end region includes a coiled portion formed at least in part from a shape memory material and having a preformed coiled configuration including a plurality of helically wound rings;
• a plurality of apertures formed through a sidewall of the coiled portion such that the plurality of apertures are oriented in a radially outward direction when the coiled portion is in the preformed coiled configuration, the plurality of apertures in fluid communication with the lumen of the elongate catheter shaft;
• a fluid delivery device fluidly coupled to the proximal end region of the elongate catheter shaft;
• and
• a guidewire configured to be slidably disposed within the lumen of the elongate catheter shaft, the guidewire including a proximal end region having a first outer diameter, a distal end region having a second outer diameter, the second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter, and an intermediate region disposed between the proximal end region and the distal end region;
• wherein the distal end region of the guidewire is movable relative the distal opening of the elongate catheter shaft to adjust a flow rate of a fluid exiting the distal opening and the plurality of apertures during delivery of the fluid through the lumen of the elongate catheter shaft;
• and
• wherein when the coiled portion is disposed over the intermediate region of the guidewire, the elongate catheter shaft biases the guidewire into a helical configuration.