Spray nozzle design for a catheter
AssigneeMedtronic CryoCath LP
InventorJean-Pierre LALONDE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A catheter-based medical device including controlled refrigerant dispersion is disclosed. The device includes a fluid injection tube that carries refrigerant from a coolant supply to the distal portion of the device. A fluid dispersion unit is disposed on the distal end of the fluid tube to control the angle of distribution for refrigerant that is expelled from the fluid injection tube. Controlling the angle of distribution for the refrigerant facilitates dispersion of the fluid in a predetermined spray pattern. The disclosure further relates to cryoablation treatment systems incorporating such a catheter, and to cryoablation treatment methods for tissue treatment to address various conditions suitably treatable with cryoablation.
Claims20
A cryoablation device comprising:
- an expandable element defining a chamber;
- an injection tube in fluid communication with the chamber, the injection tube having a proximal portion couplable to a source of cryoablation fluid and a distal portion within the chamber, the distal portion of the injection tube including a terminal distal portion with an outlet;
- and
- a fluid dispersion unit surrounding at least a portion of the distal portion of the injection tube and having a longitudinal axis, the outlet of the injection tube being located within the fluid dispersion unit and being configured to direct a flow of fluid into the fluid dispersion unit in a direction that is tangential to the longitudinal axis of the fluid dispersion unit, the fluid dispersion unit having a distal opening and a conical shape.
A cryoablation device comprising:
- an expandable element defining a chamber;
- an injection tube in fluid communication with the chamber, the injection tube having a proximal portion couplable to a source of cryoablation fluid and a distal portion within the chamber, the distal portion of the injection tube including a terminal distal portion with an outlet;
- and
- a fluid dispersion unit surrounding at least a portion of the distal portion of the injection tube and having a longitudinal axis, the outlet of the injection tube being located within the fluid dispersion unit and being configured to direct a flow of fluid into the fluid dispersion unit in a direction that is tangential to the longitudinal axis of the fluid dispersion unit, the fluid dispersion unit having a distal opening and an inverted conical shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.