Systems and methods for treating hollow anatomical structures
View Patent ↗An apparatus for treating a hollow anatomical structure can include a light delivery device. The light delivery device comprises an optical fiber that is located in a lumen of a shaft suitable for insertion into the hollow anatomical structure and has a fiber tip located proximal of a distal end of the shaft during treatment of the hollow anatomical structure. The apparatus can further include a liquid source for providing a liquid flow over the optical fiber at a predetermined liquid flow rate.
1. Apparatus for treating a hollow anatomical structure, the apparatus comprising:
a sheath, the sheath having an elongate shaft defining an internal lumen, the shaft having a sidewall, a proximal portion, and a distal portion, the sidewall being more transmissive of therapeutic light energy in the distal portion than in the proximal portion, the distal portion forming a distal tip of the shaft and having a distal-facing opening at the distal tip;
an optical fiber disposed within and movable along the lumen, the optical fiber having a fiber tip;
a light propagation path which extends distally from the fiber tip and through the distal-facing opening; and
a position limiter configured to limit distal movement of the fiber tip relative to the distal tip of the shaft such that the fiber tip cannot extend distally farther than 2 mm proximal of the distal tip of the shaft, the position limiter comprising a narrowed portion of the lumen in the distal portion of the shaft, the narrowed portion forming a shoulder, and a structure on the optical fiber configured to abut the shoulder;
wherein the position limiter comprises a tube at least partially surrounding the optical fiber, and the tube includes at least one tab and at least one recess in a distal face thereof.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sidewall is made from a first material in the proximal portion and from a second material in the distal portion, the second material being more transmissive of therapeutic light than the first material.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the second material is transmissive of wavelengths of light from 800 to 1500 nm.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first material is more flexible than the second material.
5. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the second material is one of quartz, sapphire, synthetic fused silica, polycarbonate, polyetherethereketone, polysufone, polyarylethersulfone, polyetherimide, and polyamide-imide.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft is sized for insertion into a vein.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a liquid flow advancing distally along the shaft lumen and contacting the fiber tip.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a liquid source in fluid communication with the shaft lumen, the liquid source configured to provide the liquid flow at a fixed and predetermined liquid flow rate.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the liquid flow rate is 5-60cc/hr.
10. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the liquid source comprises a saline bag fluidly coupled to the shaft lumen through a flow regulator.
11. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the liquid source comprises a liquid reservoir, a liquid flow path from the reservoir to the shaft lumen, and a flow restriction comprising an orifice of a fixed size positioned in the flow path, the orifice size being smaller than that of the rest of the liquid flow path.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fiber tip is optically coupled to the distal-facing opening to form the light propagation path.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the narrowed portion of the lumen in the distal portion of the shaft tapers in the distal direction toward the distal tip of the shaft.
14. Apparatus for treating a hollow anatomical structure, the apparatus comprising:
a sheath, the sheath having an elongate shaft defining an internal lumen, the shaft having a sidewall, a proximal portion, and a distal portion, the sidewall being more transmissive of therapeutic light energy in the distal portion than in the proximal portion, the distal portion forming a distal tip of the shaft and having a distal-facing opening at the distal tip;
an optical fiber disposed within and movable along the lumen, the optical fiber having a fiber tip;
a light propagation path which extends distally from the fiber tip and through the distal-facing opening; and
a position limiter configured to limit distal movement of the fiber tip relative to the distal tip of the shaft such that the fiber tip cannot extend distally farther than 2 mm proximal of the distal tip of the shaft, the position limiter comprising a narrowed portion of the lumen in the distal portion of the shaft, the narrowed portion forming a shoulder, and a structure on the optical fiber configured to abut the shoulder;
wherein the position limiter comprises a tube at least partially surrounding the optical fiber, and the tube includes a plurality of pores configured to allow a predetermined positive liquid flow rate through the tube.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the shaft is sized for insertion into a vein.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the sidewall is made from a first material in the proximal portion and from a second material in the distal portion, the second material being more transmissive of therapeutic light than the first material.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the second material is transmissive of wavelengths of light from 800 to 1500 nm.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the first material is more flexible than the second material.
19. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the second material is one of quartz, sapphire, synthetic fused silica, polycarbonate, polyetherethereketone, polysufone, polyarylethersulfone, polyetherimide, and polyamide-imide.
20. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a liquid flow advancing distally along the shaft lumen and contacting the fiber tip.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising a liquid source in fluid communication with the shaft lumen, the liquid source configured to provide the liquid flow at a fixed and predetermined liquid flow rate.
22. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the liquid flow rate is 5-60 cc/hr.
23. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the liquid source comprises a saline bag fluidly coupled to the shaft lumen through a flow regulator.
24. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the liquid source comprises a liquid reservoir, a liquid flow path from the reservoir to the shaft lumen, and a flow restriction comprising an orifice of a fixed size positioned in the flow path, the orifice size being smaller than that of the rest of the liquid flow path.
25. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the fiber tip is optically coupled to the distal-facing opening to form the light propagation path.
26. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the narrowed portion of the lumen in the distal portion of the shaft tapers in the distal direction toward the distal tip of the shaft.