Energy delivery catheter and method for the use thereof

A method for directing light energy therapeutically to a site within a blood vessel of the brain, the method utilizing a catheter having a proximal portion with a first and second lumen extending therethrough, which is attached to a distal portion having a single lumen opening internally into the first and second lumens, a guidewire in said first lumen and a coupled to a light energy guide in said second lumen, and a fluid introduction means for introducing a fluid to the proximal portion, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting the catheter through the blood vessel in the brain;
• extending the guidewire through the first lumen and into the single lumen;
• guiding the catheter using the guidewire until an end of the distal portion is adjacent the site;
• retracting the guidewire from the single lumen and into the first lumen to clear the single lumen of obstruction;
• advancing a distal end of the light energy guide partway into the single lumen;
• flowing optical fluid through the catheter for discharge adjacent the site at the end of the distal portion;
• and
• transmitting light energy from said light energy source through the light energy guide and through the single lumen via the optical fluid to said site, the inner surface of said single lumen being internally reflective to the light energy to guide the light energy from the distal end of the light energy guide to the site, unobstructed by the guidewire.

A method for removing a blood clot in the brain, the method utilizing a light delivery catheter having a proximal portion with a first and second lumen extending therethrough, which is attached to a distal portion having a single lumen opening internally into the first and second lumens, a guidewire in said first lumen and a light guide having a distal end in said second lumen, the method comprising:

• (a) inserting said catheter into an artery in the brain with the guidewire extending through said single lumen and out a short distance from the distal end of the catheter, and utilizing said guidewire to advance the catheter to the clot;
• (b) retracting the guidewire from the single lumen so that it is fully within said first lumen,
• (c) advancing the light guide into the single lumen to position the distal end thereof partway into the single lumen;
• and
• (d) applying light energy through the light guide and single lumen to the clot.

A catheter assembly for treating blood clots formed in a vessel in the brain comprising:

• a flexible tube having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said proximal portion comprising a first lumen and a second lumen and said distal portion forming a single lumen communicating with said first and second lumens;
• a guidewire received in said first lumen and retractably received in said single lumen for guiding said catheter into a vessel to position a distal end of the single lumen adjacent a blood clot;
• a light energy source coupled to the second lumen;
• and
• light energy transmission means within the second lumen for transmitting light energy from said light energy source to the distal portion of the flexible tube;
• the distal portion being internally reflective to guide the light energy though the single lumen to the clot.