Liquid filled ablation catheter with overjacket

A laser ablation catheter to ablate blockages in body lumens using high energy and high power (UV) laser pulses, comprising:

• a liquid filled waveguide including a catheter tube having an inner layer with a first index of refraction and a biocompatible ultraviolet transparent optical fluid disposed within and completely filling an inner lumen of the catheter tube, with the optical fluid having a second index of refraction which is greater than the first index of refraction;
• and
• an ultraviolet grade elongated distal optical window disposed in liquid sealed relation to an inner surface of the catheter tube at a distal end of the catheter tube and in optical communication with the optical fluid;
• an optical window disposed in a liquid sealed relation to the inner surface of the catheter tube at a proximal end of the catheter tube and in optical communication with the optical fluid;
• and
• an outer jacket that is disposed over the catheter tube and that has a proximal end that is disposed at a proximal portion of the catheter tube and a distal end that is disposed at an axial position which is substantially adjacent to a distal end of the catheter tube with the outer jacket being secured relative to the catheter tube such that the outer jacket remains substantially fixed along a longitudinal axis thereof relative to the catheter tube, the outer jacket comprising:
• a substantially constant transverse outer dimension;
• an inner lumen with an inner surface, with the inner surface of the inner lumen being configured to slide over an exterior surface of the catheter tube with a close fit therebetween;
• and
• a tubular jacket body that has a longitudinal stiffness greater than a longitudinal stiffness of the catheter tube at a proximal portion thereof, the tubular jacket body formed from a jacket body material that is water impermeable with the tubular jacket body being configured to increase the stiffness and crush resistance of the laser ablation catheter along a length of the outer jacket.

A method of making a liquid core UV laser ablation catheter, comprising:

• coating an inner surface of a catheter tube with an optical coating having a first index of refraction;
• applying an appropriate thermal cycle to the catheter tube and the optical coating to adhere the optical coating to the inner surface of the catheter tube;
• attaching an elongated distal optical window to a distal portion of the catheter tube;
• filling the catheter tube with a biocompatible ultraviolet transparent optical fluid having a second index of refraction;
• attaching a high energy laser coupler to a proximal portion of the catheter tube with the laser coupler having a laser coupler body, a window connector body being disposed within the optical coupler body, and an optical input window disposed within and secured to the window connector body with the optical window being in optical communication with the optical fluid;
• transmitting laser light through the optical fluid to determine the optical performance of the optical coating;
• sliding an outer jacket over the catheter tube, the outer jacket having an inner lumen with an inner surface with the inner surface of the inner lumen being configured to slide over an outer surface of the catheter tube with a close fit therebetween;
• and
• securing the outer jacket to the catheter tube such that a longitudinal axis of the outer jacket remains substantially fixed in relation the catheter tube, the outer jacket being configured to increase the stiffness and crush resistance of the laser ablation catheter.