Intravascular tissue disruption
Disrupting tissue and devices and systems for disrupting tissue. The disclosure describes ways to deliver moieties to a target tissue, where the target tissue in general is not at the point of introduction, in such a way that minimal damage is produced in the tissue at the point of introduction. In some embodiments this is accomplished by jetting fluid at high velocity into the target tissue. The disclosure further describes novel agents deliverable in such systems for use in remodeling tissues. Some of these agents comprise a liquid while others do not. Additionally, although not specifically described in detail much of the disclosure may additionally be used in the delivery of therapeutic drugs.
1. A method of controlling the delivery of fluid from a medical delivery device, comprising:
a medical device comprising a distal delivery region comprising a plurality of fluid controls, each of the plurality of fluid controls comprising an aperture in direct fluid communication with a region external to the medical device, wherein each of the apertures is adapted to be in fluid communication with a single fluid delivery lumen and single fluid reservoir;
selectively regulating the flow of a fluid through the plurality of fluid controls, wherein selectively regulating the flow comprises flowing the fluid out of a first fluid control to the region external to the medical device at a high velocity and flowing the fluid out of a second fluid control to the region outside of the medical device at a low velocity, and wherein selectively regulating further comprises increasing the flow of fluid from the first fluid control while at the same time not changing the flow of fluid through the second fluid control;
wherein selectively regulating further comprises moving the first fluid control from a closed configuration to an open configuration causing the fluid to flow from the first control at the high velocity, while the fluid flows out of the second fluid control at the low velocity; and
wherein moving the first control to the open configuration comprises moving a first valve element with a first aperture therein relative to a second valve element with a second aperture therein until the apertures are in alignment, wherein the first and second valve elements are disposed in the distal delivery region.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein selectively regulating further comprises increasing the fluid flow from the first fluid control a first amount and increasing the flow of fluid from the second fluid control a second amount, wherein the first amount is different than the second amount.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein flowing the fluid out of a first fluid control at a high velocity comprises flowing the fluid out of a first fluid control at a velocity of at least 10 m/sec.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein flowing the fluid out of a first fluid control at a high velocity comprises flowing the fluid out of a first fluid control at a velocity between 75 m/sec and 150 m/sec.