Medical device systems and accessories
Thrombectomy catheter systems, accessory devices, and methods for making and using such devices are disclosed. An example thrombectomy system may include a catheter shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen extending at least partially through the catheter shaft. A high pressure tube may be disposed within the lumen. The high pressure tube may be designed for communication with a fluid source. A fluid jet emanator may be coupled to the high pressure tube. The fluid jet emanator may have at least one jet orifice. The catheter shaft may include a first orifice disposed proximally of a distal end of the catheter shaft and a second orifice disposed proximally of the first orifice. An accessory device may be disposed within the lumen. The accessory device may include a helical distal region.
1. A thrombectomy catheter system, comprising:
a catheter shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen extending at least partially through the catheter shaft;
a high pressure tube disposed within the lumen, the high pressure tube being designed for communication with a fluid source;
a fluid jet emanator coupled to the high pressure tube, the fluid jet emanator having at least one jet orifice;
wherein the catheter shaft includes a first orifice disposed proximally of a distal end of the catheter shaft and a second orifice disposed proximally of the first orifice; and
an accessory device disposed within the lumen, the accessory device including a helical distal region, the helical distal region being adapted to cause the distal portion of the catheter shaft to take a shape that resembles the shape of the helical distal region when the helical distal region is disposed within the catheter shaft.
2. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the accessory device comprises a guidewire having a proximal region.
3. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 2 , wherein the proximal region has a first diameter, wherein the helical distal region has a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter.
4. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 3 , wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter.
5. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 2 , wherein the proximal region has a first stiffness, wherein the helical distal region has a second stiffness, and wherein the first stiffness is different than the second stiffness.
6. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 5 , wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness.
7. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 2 , wherein the proximal region is attached to the helical distal region at a joint.
8. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 2 , wherein the proximal region has a longitudinal axis and wherein the helical distal region extends from the proximal region at a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
9. A thrombectomy catheter system, comprising:
a catheter shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen extending at least partially through the catheter shaft;
wherein the catheter shaft includes an inflow orifice disposed proximally of a distal end of the catheter shaft and an outflow orifice disposed proximally of the inflow orifice; and
a guidewire disposed within the lumen, the guidewire including a proximal region and a helical distal region, the helical distal region being adapted to cause the distal portion of the catheter shaft to take a shape that resembles the shape of the helical distal region when the helical distal region is disposed within the catheter shaft.
10. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 9 , wherein the proximal region has a first diameter, wherein the helical distal region has a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter.
11. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 10 , wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter.
12. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 9 , wherein the proximal region has a first stiffness, wherein the helical distal region has a second stiffness, and wherein the first stiffness is different than the second stiffness.
13. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 12 , wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness.
14. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 9 , wherein the proximal region is attached to the helical distal region at a joint.
15. The thrombectomy catheter system of claim 9 , wherein the proximal region has a longitudinal axis and wherein the helical distal region extends from the proximal region at a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
16. A method for orienting a catheter, the method comprising:
disposing a thrombectomy catheter within a body lumen, the thrombectomy catheter comprising:
a catheter shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen extending at least partially through the catheter shaft,
a high pressure tube disposed within the lumen, the high pressure tube being designed for communication with a fluid source,
a fluid jet emanator coupled to the high pressure tube, the fluid jet emanator having at least one jet orifice, and
wherein the catheter shaft includes a first orifice disposed proximally of a distal end of the catheter shaft and a second orifice disposed proximally of the first orifice;
wherein disposing a thrombectomy catheter within a body lumen includes disposing the distal portion at a first position relative to a wall of the body lumen;
disposing an accessory device within the lumen, the accessory device including a proximal region and a helical distal region, the helical distal region being adapted to cause the distal portion of the catheter shaft to take a shape that resembles the shape of the helical distal region when the helical distal region is disposed within the catheter shaft;
wherein disposing an accessory device within the lumen includes arranging the helical distal region so that at least a portion of the helical distal region is disposed adjacent to the wall of the body lumen;
wherein disposing an accessory device within the lumen includes shifting the catheter shaft to a second position that is closer to the wall of the body lumen than the first position.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein shifting the catheter shaft to a second position includes moving the first orifice to a position adjacent to the wall of the body lumen.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein shifting the catheter shaft to a second position includes moving the helical distal region of the accessory device into the catheter shaft, thereby arranging at least a portion of the catheter shaft into a helical configuration.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the proximal region of the accessory device has a first diameter, wherein the helical distal region has a second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the proximal region of the accessory device has a first stiffness, wherein the helical distal region has a second stiffness, and wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness.