METAL HOT TIP CATHETER WITH FUSED TIP AND TEMPERATURE FEEDBACK LOOP

摘要

Disclosed is a hot tip catheter having minimal tip dissociation, which reaches and consistently maintains very high temperatures. The catheter body is formed of spirally wound metal wire (2) which is relatively flat, each spiral substantially in contact with the next, to improve column strength, and is sealed with teflon (21) and a distal collar (22). The hot tip (3) is also formed of metal and is welded to the catheter body to eliminate dissociation of the tip. Heating is a accomplished by a catalytic reaction of H2 and O2 at the tip monitored via a thermocoupler, and the catheter body includes a gas inlet lumen (connected to a gas generator) and a vacuum outlet lumen (connected to a vacuum pump) to input the gas and remove the heat by-products, respectively. A temperature control loop is preferably included which regulates the inflow of gas to the catheter, and the temperature of the tip.