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US 2002/0177804 A1Published application
Heat transfer catcheters methods of making and using same
AssigneeRadiant Medical, Inc.
InventorMark A. Saab
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Heat transfer catheter apparatus and methods of making and using same are disclosed wherein fluid connection means is provided between the distal portions of two adjacent, thin-walled, high strength fluid lumens to define a closed loop fluid circulation system capable of controlled delivery of thermal energy to or withdrawal of thermal energy from remote internal body locations.
Claims73
Fluid circulation catheter apparatus comprising in combination:
- an elongated inlet fluid lumen having proximal and distal ends, said inlet lumen being defined by inlet lumen wall means and having fluid inlet means proximate to said proximal end;
- an elongated outlet fluid lumen having proximal and distal ends, said outlet lumen being defined by outlet lumen wall means and having fluid outlet means proximate to said proximal end;
- and fluid connection means whereby substantially all fluid would pass directly from said inlet lumen to said outlet lumen.
Medical apparatus for catheter applications comprising:
- (a) a first elongated fluid lumen having proximal and distal ends, said first fluid lumen being defined by first lumen wall means, further wherein said first lumen has a fluid opening proximate to said proximal end;
- (b) a second elongated fluid lumen having proximal and distal ends, said second fluid lumen being defined by second lumen wall means such that at least a common wall portion of said second lumen wall means also serves as at least a wall portion of said first lumen wall means, said common wall portion thereby separating the interior of said first lumen from the interior of said second lumen, further wherein said second lumen has a fluid opening proximate to said proximal end;
- and
- (c) fluid connection means through said common wall portion permitting fluid flow directly between said first lumen and said second lumen.
1 more element
Balloon dilatation catheter apparatus comprising:
- (a) first elongated, flexible, thin-walled, substantially inelastic polymeric tubing having an open proximal end, a biaxially-oriented closed distal end, and an interior passageway having a substantially constant first tubing diameter when said apparatus is inflated, said passageway being defined by biaxially-oriented first tubing wall means;
- (b) a very thin-walled, flexible, high strength, substantially inelastic polymeric balloon which is readily inflatable under fluid pressure and readily collapsible under vacuum, said balloon being located between the proximal and distal ends of said first tubing, said balloon comprising an interior having a substantially constant balloon diameter that is substantially independent of the fluid inflation pressure when said apparatus is inflated, said balloon diameter being greater than said first tubing diameter, and said balloon being defined by biaxially-oriented balloon wall means having a thickness of about 0.0015 inches or less;
- (c) integrally formed biaxially-oriented wall means joining said first tubing wall means to said balloon wall means in a unitary, integral and seamless construction;
- and (d) second elongated, flexible, thin-walled polymeric tubing having a substantially constant second tubing diameter when said apparatus is inflated, said second tubing having a diameter smaller than that of said first tubing, said second tubing being positioned inside said first tubing, said second tubing also having an open proximal end and an open distal end located proximally of the closed distal end of said first tubing.
1 more element
Medical apparatus comprising:
- (a) a very thin-walled, flexible, high strength, substantially inelastic balloon, said balloon comprising an inflatable interior and balloon wall means, said balloon also being readily inflatable under fluid pressure and readily collapsible under vacuum;
- (b) at least one adjacent lumen located externally of the maximum realizable dimension of said inelastic balloon and adjacent to said balloon wall means when said balloon is fully inflated and undeformed;
- (c) single-layer, integrally formed wall means comprising a portion of said balloon wall means and separating the interior of said balloon from the interior of said adjacent lumen, at least some of said integrally formed wall means having a thickness of less than 0.0015 inches;
- and, (d) fluid connection means through said integrally formed wall means permitting fluid flow directly between at least one of said adjacent external lumens and the interior of said balloon.
1 more element
Balloon dilatation catheter apparatus comprising:
- (a) an elongated catheter comprising at least first and second catheter lumens;
- (b) a very thin-walled, flexible, high strength, substantially inelastic balloon, said balloon comprising an inflatable interior and balloon wall means, said balloon interior also being readily inflatable under fluid pressure and readily collapsible under vacuum, further wherein said balloon interior is in fluid communication with said first and second catheter lumens so that fluid can be continuously transferred from said first catheter lumen to said balloon and from said balloon to said second catheter lumen so that said balloon can be selectively inflated and collapsed;
- (c) at least one adjacent lumen located externally of the maximum realizable dimension of said inelastic balloon and adjacent to said balloon wall means when said balloon is fully inflated and undeformed;
- and (d) single-layer integrally formed wall means comprising a portion of said balloon wall means and separating the interior of said balloon from the interior of said external adjacent lumen.
1 more element
Balloon dilatation catheter apparatus comprising:
- (a) an elongated catheter comprising at least first and second catheter lumens;
- (b) a very thin-walled, flexible, high strength, substantially inelastic balloon, said balloon comprising an inflatable interior and balloon wall means, said balloon also being readily inflatable under fluid pressure and readily collapsible under vacuum, further wherein said balloon interior is in fluid communication with said first catheter lumen so that fluid can be transferred between said first catheter lumen and said balloon;
- (c) at least one external adjacent balloon lumen in fluid communication with said second catheter lumen, said external adjacent lumen being located externally of said balloon interior and adjacent to said balloon wall means when said balloon is inflated;
- (d) single-layer, integrally formed wall means comprising a portion of said balloon wall means and separating the interior of said balloon from the interior of said external adjacent lumen;
- and (e) fluid connection means through said integrally formed wall means permitting fluid flow between the interior of said balloon and the interior of said external adjacent lumen.
2 more elements
Method for effecting a controlled transfer of heat to or from a selected remote internal body location comprising the steps of:
- (a) inserting into a body passageway so as to reach said body location a catheter apparatus comprising an inlet fluid lumen, an outlet fluid lumen adjacent said inlet fluid lumen, said inlet and outlet lumens sharing a common wall portion, and fluid connection means whereby substantially all fluid passes directly from said inlet lumen to said outlet lumen;
- and (b) establishing continuous fluid flow through said inlet and outlet lumens with a fluid at a temperature different from that of the subject body.
Method for heating or cooling a medical instrument while in use for internal body applications comprising:
- (a) inserting said medical instrument into a subject body through an instrument lumen of a catheter apparatus, said catheter apparatus further comprising an inlet fluid lumen, an outlet fluid lumen adjacent said inlet fluid lumen, said inlet and outlet lumens sharing a common wall portion, and fluid connection means whereby substantially all fluid passes directly from said inlet lumen to said outlet lumen, further wherein said instrument lumen is proximate to at least one of said fluid inlet and outlet lumens;
- and (b) continuously circulating through said fluid inlet and outlet lumens a heat transfer fluid at a temperature different from that of the subject body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.