Shafts with pressure relief in cryotherapeutic catheters and associated devices, systems, and methods

摘要

Cryotherapeutic systems with features that can facilitate pressure relief in the event of exhaust-passage blockage and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. A cryotherapeutic system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment can include an elongated shaft having a distal portion and a pressure-relief portion proximal to the distal portion. The cryotherapeutic system can further include a supply lumen, an exhaust passage, and a balloon configured to receive refrigerant from the supply lumen and to exhaust refrigerant to the exhaust passage. The pressure-relief portion can be configured to release refrigerant from the exhaust passage when a pressure of refrigerant in the exhaust passage exceeds a threshold pressure less than a pressure rating of the balloon. The pressure-relief portion, for example, can include a rupture element configured to rupture at about the threshold pressure.

主权项

1. A cryotherapeutic system, comprising:
a guide catheter including a distal opening, a proximal opening, and a guide passage extending between the distal opening and the proximal opening; an elongated shaft configured to move axially within the guide passage, and including a distal portion and a pressure-relief portion located proximally relative to the distal portion, the shaft configured to locate the distal portion within a vessel or lumen of a human patient; a supply lumen extending along at least a portion of the shaft; an exhaust passage extending along at least a portion of the shaft; and a balloon configured to receive refrigerant from the supply lumen and to exhaust refrigerant to the exhaust passage, the balloon having a pressure rating, wherein the distal portion extends between the pressure-relief portion and the balloon, and the pressure-relief portion is configured to rupture and thereby to release refrigerant from the exhaust passage to a space between the shaft and the guide catheter when a pressure of refrigerant in at least a portion of the exhaust passage, the balloon, or both approaches and/or exceeds a threshold pressure less than the pressure rating of the balloon.