Apparatus and methods for delivering a bolus of therapeutic material
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsToby Freyman, Inas Khayal, Wendy Naimark
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and method utilizing fluid to deliver a bolus of therapeutic material through a lumen to a delivery or discharge control portion of the apparatus, where the bolus may be discharged or delivered to a desired location.
Claims43
A catheter assembly comprising:
- a lumen having a distal end and a proximal end;
- a bolus of therapeutic material slidably and sealingly engaged within said lumen;
- and
- a source of pressurized fluid coupled to said proximal end of said lumen,
- whereby introduction of pressurized fluid from said source of pressurized fluid into said proximal end of said lumen displaces said bolus toward said distal end of said lumen.
An apparatus for conveying a bolus of a therapeutic material, comprising:
- an elongate body having a distal end;
- a supply lumen disposed in said body for receiving fluid;
- and
- a return lumen disposed in said body for outputting fluid,
- said supply lumen and said return lumen being in fluidic communication with each other proximate to said distal end of said body, said supply lumen being configured to receive the bolus for conveyance therethrough, said supply lumen and said return lumen being configured such that the bolus is conveyed along said supply lumen when fluid is delivered from said supply lumen to said return lumen.
Apparatus for delivering a bolus of a therapeutic material, comprising:
- a catheter;
- a lumen disposed in said catheter, having a distal end and a proximal end, and being adapted to allow passage of the bolus therethrough;
- and
- a discharge control device in fluidic communication with said distal end of said lumen, said discharge control device being adapted to permit passage of the bolus therethrough in response to application of a predetermined fluid pressure in said lumen.
A catheter for discharging a bolus of therapeutic material, comprising:
- a fluid passage formed in said catheter body and extending from a proximal end of said catheter body, to a distal end of said catheter body, and back to said proximal end of said catheter body;
- means for circulating fluid through said passage;
- and
- a normally-closed valve at said distal end of said catheter, said valve being selectively openable to permit fluidic communication between said passage and the exterior environment of said catheter,
- whereby a bolus disposed in said passage can be transported toward said valve by fluid circulated in said passage.
A method of delivering a bolus of therapeutic material via a catheter having an internal lumen, the bolus being disposed in the lumen, the lumen containing fluid on a distal side and a proximal side of the bolus, said method comprising:
- creating a differential in the pressure of the fluid in the lumen across the bolus, the pressure of the fluid on the distal side of the bolus being lower than the pressure of the fluid on the proximal side of the bolus, said pressure differential displacing the bolus through the lumen toward a distal end of the catheter.
A method of delivering a bolus of therapeutic material via a catheter having a supply lumen and a return lumen, the bolus being disposed in the supply lumen, the return lumen fluidically communicating with the supply lumen proximate to a distal end of the catheter, the supply lumen containing fluid on a distal side and a proximal side of the bolus, said method comprising:
- supplying pressurized fluid to said supply lumen proximal to said bolus and displacing fluid from the supply lumen distal to the bolus into the return lumen to displace the bolus through the supply lumen.
A method of delivering a bolus of therapeutic material via a catheter having an internal lumen, the bolus being disposed in the lumen, the lumen containing fluid on a distal side of the bolus, the catheter having an obstruction selectively disposed to inhibit discharge of the bolus from a distal end of the lumen, said method comprising:
- supplying fluid to the lumen proximal to the bolus;
- displacing the bolus to the distal end of the lumen;
- displacing the obstruction to permit discharge of the bolus from the distal end of the lumen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.