Rapid exchange fluid jet catheter
Catheters including guidewire tubes having a limited length and methods of using the catheters are described. The catheters may be delivered over guidewires in procedures that are commonly referred to as rapid-exchange delivery. In some embodiments, the catheters may be miniature flexible thrombectomy catheters that may be used to remove thrombus or other unwanted material from a body blood vessel or other small regions of body cavities in which the distal portion of the catheter has smaller external dimensions than the larger proximal portion.
1. A catheter comprising:
an elongated catheter body comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the proximal end and the distal end, and wherein the catheter body comprises a proximal body section and a distal body section, wherein a distal end of the proximal body section is attached to a proximal end of the distal body section at a transition section of the catheter body;
an exhaust lumen located within the catheter body, the exhaust lumen being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the catheter body, wherein the exhaust lumen comprises a proximal cross-sectional area on a proximal side of the transition section that is larger than a distal cross-sectional area on a distal side of the transition section;
one or more protrusions extending into the exhaust lumen in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body;
a fluid jet emanator located in the distal body section of the catheter body;
a fluid delivery tube attached to the fluid jet emanator, the fluid delivery tube extending through at least a portion of the proximal body section of the catheter body, wherein the fluid delivery tube passes from the proximal body section into the distal body section through the transition section; and
a guidewire tube located within only a portion of the catheter body, wherein the guidewire tube comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the guidewire tube comprises a guidewire lumen extending from a proximal port at the proximal end of the guidewire tube to a distal port at the distal end of the guidewire tube, and wherein the distal port of the guidewire lumen opens into the exhaust lumen at a location proximal to the fluid jet emanator.
2. The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more protrusions comprise one protrusion that extends annularly around a diameter of the catheter.
3. The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more protrusions comprise more than one protrusion that extends annularly around a diameter of the catheter.
4. The catheter according to claim 3 , wherein said protrusions each extend a length that is less than the diameter of the catheter.
5. A catheter comprising:
an elongated catheter body comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the proximal end and the distal end, and wherein the catheter body comprises a proximal body section and a distal body section, wherein a distal end of the proximal body section is attached to a proximal end of the distal body section at a transition section of the catheter body;
an exhaust lumen located within the catheter body, the exhaust lumen being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the catheter body, wherein the exhaust lumen comprises a proximal cross-sectional area on a proximal side of the transition section that is larger than a distal cross-sectional area on a distal side of the transition section;
a fluid jet emanator located in the distal body section of the catheter body;
a fluid delivery tube attached to the fluid jet emanator, the fluid delivery tube extending through at least a portion of the proximal body section of the catheter body, wherein the fluid delivery tube passes from the proximal body section into the distal body section through the transition section; and
a guidewire tube located within only a portion of the catheter body, wherein the guidewire tube comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the guidewire tube comprises a guidewire lumen extending from a proximal port at the proximal end of the guidewire tube to a distal port at the distal end of the guidewire tube, and wherein the distal port of the guidewire lumen opens into the exhaust lumen at a location proximal to the fluid jet emanator and further comprising one or more restrictions extending into the guidewire lumen in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.
6. The catheter according to claim 5 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise one restriction that extends annularly around a diameter of the catheter.
7. The catheter according to claim 5 , wherein the one or more restrictions comprise more than one restriction that extends annularly around a diameter of the catheter.
8. The catheter according to claim 7 , wherein each restriction extends a length that is less than the diameter of the catheter.