Method of treating an intravascular site in a patient, and thrombolysis catheter therefor

A method of treating an intravascular site in a patient with a thrombolysis catheter that includes an elongate catheter body having a supply segment and a spray segment, and defining a longitudinal axis extending through the supply segment and the spray segment, the elongate catheter body further having an outer surface, an inner surface defining a longitudinally extending fluid lumen, and a body wall extending between the inner surface and the outer surface;

• the elongate catheter body further defining a fluid supply port located in the supply segment and connecting with the fluid lumen, and a plurality of spray orifices formed in the body wall within the spray segment, the plurality of spray orifices communicating between the inner surface and the outer surface and being configured to spray jets of fluid from the fluid lumen into an intraluminal space;
• the plurality of spray orifices each having an orifice path within the body wall defining an orifice path orientation relative to the longitudinal axis, the orifice path orientation including a radially advancing component and a circumferentially advancing component;
• and the plurality of spray orifices further defining a torque inducing spray jet pattern based on the radially advancing component and the circumferentially advancing component, whereby a back pressure of spray jets exiting the spray orifices induces a torque about the longitudinal axis on the spray segment of the elongate catheter body, and the method comprising the steps of:
• supplying a treatment fluid to the fluid lumen of the elongate catheter body, positioned within an intravascular site;
• spraying jets of treatment fluid out of the spray orifices formed in the elongate catheter body;
• inducing a torque on the elongate catheter body about the longitudinal axis by way of a back pressure of the jets;
• and
• changing an impingement pattern of the treatment fluid on material within the intravascular site in response to the torque.