Patent ID: 6676627
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
An elongated device for treatment of thrombus or other unwanted material in a vessel or cavity of a living body comprising:a. a proximal end and a distal end; b. high pressure tubular means for conveying pressurized fluid from said proximal end to said distal end; c. pressurized fluid connection means for connecting the proximal end of said high pressure tubular means to a source of pressurized fluid; d. jet emanator means with at least one jet orifice for directing at least one high velocity fluid jet in the vicinity of said distal end, said jet emanator means being attached to and in fluid communication with said high pressure tubular means; e. exhaust tubular means for conveying fluid from said distal end to said proximal end, at least one of said jet orifices directing at least one high velocity fluid jet into said exhaust tubular means, said exhaust tubular means providing for removal of fluid and thrombus or other unwanted material debris from the body vessel or cavity; f. inflow means in said exhaust tubular means, oriented so that at least one high velocity fluid jet entrains and draws surrounding blood or other fluid from a body vessel or cavity through said inflow means and into said exhaust tubular means, and creating a region of elevated pressure in said exhaust tubular means; g. outflow means in said exhaust tubular means, located at said region of elevated pressure, said outflow means thereby providing for passage of fluid out from said exhaust tubular means into a body vessel or cavity, creating one or more cross stream jets which provide force (normal and/or drag forces) which help to break thrombus or other unwanted material off the surface of a body vessel or cavity; h. one or more of said high velocity jet(s) act to break apart thrombus or other unwanted material which has been entrained by said high velocity jet(s); i. said high velocity jet(s), said inflow means, and said outflow means create a recirculation pattern so that fluid flows from said outflow means with radial flow vectors and circumferential and/or axial flow vectors to said inflow means and back into said exhaust tubular means, thereby providing enhanced removal of thrombus or other unwanted material off the surface of a body vessel or cavity, and macerating the thrombus or other unwanted material by action of said high velocity jet(s); and, j. said elevated pressure in said exhaust tubular means aids in driving fluid and thrombus or unwanted material debris from said distal end to said proximal end through said exhaust tubular means.