Delivering cooled fluid to sites inside the body

Abstract

Devices and methods to deliver cooled fluid to an internal site in the body are disclosed. A catheter for infusing a fluid to a site internal to the body includes an elongated member having a distal end positionable to be near the internal site and a lumen extending longitudinally through the member to the distal end of the member. An element cools fluid as it flows through the lumen before the fluid exits the lumen at the distal end. A method of performing an interventional procedure includes inserting a guide catheter into an aorta and seating a distal end of the guide catheter in a coronary ostium. A lesion is treated to eliminate an impediment to blood flow through a vessel, the treatment permitting increased blood flow through the vessel. Cooled fluid is provided to the ischemic tissue region caused by the lesion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.