Spray nozzle design for a catheter

摘要

A catheter-based medical device including controlled refrigerant dispersion is disclosed. The device includes a fluid injection tube that carries refrigerant from a coolant supply to the distal portion of the device. A fluid dispersion unit is disposed on the distal end of the fluid tube to control the angle of distribution for refrigerant that is expelled from the fluid injection tube. Controlling the angle of distribution for the refrigerant facilitates dispersion of the fluid in a predetermined spray pattern. The disclosure further relates to cryoablation treatment systems incorporating such a catheter, and to cryoablation treatment methods for tissue treatment to address various conditions suitably treatable with cryoablation.

主权项

1. A cryoablation catheter comprising:
a flexible outer tubular member; an expandable chamber defining a proximal end coupled to the flexible outer tubular member; an injection tubular member substantially spanning the length of the flexible outer tubular member and in fluid communication with an interior of the expandable chamber, said injection tubular member having a proximal end adapted to be coupled to a source of cryoablation fluid and a distal end within the expandable chamber; a fluid nozzle located in a distalmost end face of the distal end of the injection tubular member; and a fluid dispersion unit coupled to the distal end of the injection tubular member and having a longitudinal axis, the distal end of the injection tubular member being coiled about the longitudinal axis, the fluid nozzle being located within the fluid dispersion unit and being configured to direct a uniform flow of fluid into the fluid dispersion unit in a direction that is tangential to the longitudinal axis of the fluid dispersion unit, the fluid dispersion unit having an opening at the distalmost end face and being configured to direct a flow path of the uniform flow of fluid expelled by the fluid nozzle in a predetermined pattern within the fluid dispersion unit and into an interior surface of the expandable chamber from the opening at the distalmost end face.