SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO ENHANCE RADIAL SPRAY FROM A CATHETER
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and, in particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and devices to enhance radial spray from a catheter, such as devices with flow distribution elements for a radial spray catheter, including for radial cryospray catheters.
1 . A device for a radial spray catheter, comprising:
a body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, a mid-portion extending therebetween, and an exterior radial surface;
a central lumen extending within the body along the longitudinal axis from the proximal end of the body into at least the mid-portion of the body;
one or more apertures distributed about the exterior radial surface of the body; and
a flow distribution element in fluid communication with the central lumen and the one or more apertures.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the central lumen extends through the distal end of the body.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the central lumen transitions from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter between the proximal end of the body and the mid-portion of the body.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the body is configured to be mated with a distal end of the catheter.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution element comprises a diffuser element that is coaxial with the central lumen and faces proximally along the longitudinal axis of the body.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the diffuser element is a cone with a cone apex that faces proximally along the longitudinal axis of the body.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution element comprises a plurality of lumens fluidly connecting the central lumen with a plurality of the one or more apertures, and wherein each lumen extends distally within the body parallel to the longitudinal axis and then transitions along a radial wall of the body that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to a corresponding aperture.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the lumens extend distally within the body parallel to the longitudinal axis and then transition gradually along a curve to corresponding apertures.
9 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a porous sheath or porous rings about the exterior radial surface of the body covering the apertures.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution element comprises a plurality of independent lumens comprising elongate tubes, each tubular lumen associated with an independent aperture.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the tubular lumens are aligned in concentric radial circles at the proximal portion, and wherein the lumens radially closer to the longitudinal axis of the body extend farther distally at the radial portion than the lumens radially farther from the longitudinal axis of the body.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution element comprises a distribution lumen that extends from the central lumen to the distal end of the body and is in fluid communication and substantially coaxial with the central lumen, and wherein the distribution lumen has sections in the direction of the distal end along the longitudinal axis of the body that change in inner diameter and each include at least one of the apertures.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution element comprises a distribution lumen that extends from the central lumen to the distal end of the body and is in fluid communication with the central lumen, and wherein the distribution lumen includes a plurality of the apertures along the longitudinal axis, a spring within the distribution lumen having a distal component associated with the distal end of the body and a proximal component associated with an oscillator body, whereby the oscillator body oscillates in the distribution lumen with flow pushing against a restoring force of the spring to distribute the flow to the apertures.
14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution element comprises:
a distribution lumen within the body extending from the central lumen;
a rod rotatably disposed within the distribution lumen along the longitudinal axis of the body;
a turbine axially disposed about the rod; and
a multilumen member disposed about the rod, distal to the turbine and extending along the rod, wherein each lumen of the multilumen member has an exposed radial portion that longitudinally coincides with a respective one of a plurality of radial rows of the apertures, and wherein each lumen of the multilumen member terminates at a substantially radial wall that is adjacent distally to the respective one of the radial rows of apertures for each lumen.
15 . A device for a radial spray catheter, comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, an open proximal end, a distal end, and plurality of lumens extending therebetween in fluid communication with a flow distribution element.
16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the flow distribution element is disposed about the elongate member and comprises a plurality of longitudinally adjacent annular chambers, each chamber having a proximal end, a distal end, a central lumen extending therethrough that receives the elongate member, and a plurality of radial apertures about an outer surface of the chamber.
17 . The device of claim 15 , wherein each one of the plurality of lumens of the elongate member is dedicated to a respective each one of the plurality of chambers and has at least one dedicated supply aperture in fluid communication therewith.
18 . A device for a radial spray catheter, comprising:
an elongate body configured to be inserted into a distal end opening of a catheter, the body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end; and
a flow distribution element extending at least partially between the proximal and distal end of the body, and including a backstop at the distal end of the body.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the flow distribution element further comprises a plurality of fins extending radially from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body, the fins configured to engage an inner surface of the catheter.
20 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the backstop has a surface perpendicular to and facing the distal end opening of the catheter when the elongate body is inserted into the catheter, and wherein the surface is longitudinally offset from the distal end opening of the catheter in a distal direction forming a radial aperture around the opening.