Patent ID: 9138530
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of delivering fluid to tissue surrounding a lumen of a body organ comprising the steps of: inserting into the lumen of the body organ a catheter assembly that includes a catheter and an elongated hollow needle with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the catheter including a catheter wall and a catheter lumen extending lengthwise of the catheter wall, the catheter wall having a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, the catheter wall including a plurality of openings that extend through the catheter wall from the inner surface to the outer surface, the openings communicating with the catheter lumen, the distal end portion of the needle being directed radially outward so as to extend into an adjacent one of the openings, the distal end portion having a configuration that stores potential energy when the distal end portion is disposed within the catheter lumen, the potential energy being converted to kinetic energy to produce movement of the distal end portion of the needle and thereby to produce movement of the proximal end portion in response to such movement of the distal end portion as the distal end portion moves from the inner surface of the catheter wall across the edge of and into said adjacent one of the openings, the movement of the proximal end portion being haptically perceptible; moving the needle lengthwise in the catheter lumen so that the distal end portion moves along the inner surface of the catheter wall until the distal end portion of the needle is disposed adjacent an edge of a first one of the plurality of openings; continuing to move the needle lengthwise in the catheter lumen so that the distal end portion of the needle moves from the inner surface of the catheter wall across the edge of and into the first one of the plurality of openings to convert stored potential energy in the distal end portion of the needle to kinetic energy so as to produce radially outward movement of the distal end portion of the needle as the distal end portion moves from the inner surface of the catheter wall into the first one of the plurality of openings and thereby to produce haptically perceptible movement of the proximal end portion of the needle in response to such radially outward movement of the distal end portion; extending the distal end portion of the needle into a first portion of tissue outside of the lumen in the body organ by moving the needle lengthwise in the catheter lumen upon haptically perceiving the movement of the proximal end portion of the needle in response to the radially outward movement of the distal end portion; introducing a fluid into the first portion of tissue through the hollow needle; retracting the distal end portion of the needle from the first portion of tissue and into the catheter lumen by moving the needle lengthwise in the catheter lumen; moving the needle lengthwise in the catheter lumen so that the distal end portion moves along the inner surface of the catheter wall until the distal end portion of the needle is disposed adjacent an edge of a second one of the plurality of openings; continuing to move the needle lengthwise in the catheter lumen so that the distal end portion of the needle moves from the inner surface of the catheter wall across the edge of and into the second one of the plurality of openings to convert stored potential energy in the distal end portion of the needle to kinetic energy so as to produce radially outward movement of the distal end portion of the needle as the distal end portion moves from the inner surface of the catheter wall into the second one of the plurality of openings and thereby to produce haptically perceptible movement of the proximal end portion of the needle in response to such radially outward movement of the distal end portion; extending the distal end portion of the needle into a second portion of tissue outside of the lumen in the body organ by moving the needle lengthwise in the catheter lumen upon haptically perceiving the movement of the proximal end portion of the needle in response to the radially outward movement of the distal end portion; introducing the fluid into the second portion of tissue through the hollow needle; and retracting the distal end portion of the needle from the second portion of tissue and into the catheter lumen by moving the needle lengthwise in the catheter lumen.