Patent ID: 6875193
Filing Date: 2005-04-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A rapid exchange fluid jet device for breaking apart tissue or other material in a biological or synthetic body vessel or cavity comprising: a. a unitary elongated structure with a proximal end and a distal end and defining a length between said proximal end and said distal end; b. said unitary elongated structure having tubular means extending along the length thereof, said tubular means defining at least a first passage for carrying a flow of high pressure fluid from said proximal end of said unitary elongated structure to said distal end of said unitary elongated structure, said first passage having a proximal end and a distal end, and high pressure connection means for supplying high pressure fluid to said proximal end of said first passage; c. a distal exhaust tube extending a portion of the length of said unitary elongated structure, said distal exhaust tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal exhaust tube being located in the region near said distal end of said unitary elongated structure, said distal exhaust tube having at least one inflow orifice and at least one outflow orifice; d. a proximal exhaust tube extending a portion of the length of said unitary elongated structure, said proximal exhaust tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal exhaust tube being located in the region near said proximal end of said unitary elongated structure, and exhaust connection means communicating with said proximal end of said proximal exhaust tube; e. a guidewire tube extending from a location near the proximal end of said distal exhaust tube to a location near the distal end of said distal exhaust tube, said guidewire tube providing for passage of a guidewire from a point outside said unitary elongated structure near said proximal end of said distal exhaust tube to the distal end of said distal exhaust tube through said guidewire tube; f. a semi-rigid intermediate tube providing fluid communication between said proximal end of said distal exhaust tube and said distal end of said proximal exhaust tube, said semi-rigid intermediate tube having a truncated and rounded slot, said truncated and rounded slot fitting said guidewire tube near said proximal end of said distal exhaust tube; g. a jet emanator in fluid communication with said first passage, said jet emanator having at least one jet orifice, said at least one jet orifice forming high velocity fluid jet(s) by passage of high pressure fluid through said orifice(s); at least one of said jet orifice(s) directing at least one of said fluid jet(s) towards said distal exhaust tube and entraining surrounding blood or other fluid from the body vessel through said inflow orifice(s) into said distal exhaust tube creating a region of elevated pressure therein; h. said outflow orifice(s) creating cross stream jet(s) by passage of blood or other fluid and debris through said outflow orifice(s); and, i. said distal exhaust tube, said semi-rigid intermediate tube, and said proximal exhaust tube providing fluid passage for transporting thrombus or other unwanted tissue or debris from the distal end of said unitary elongated structure to the proximal end of said unitary elongated structure.