System and method for delivering fluids to a balloon catheter

Abstract

A fluid delivery system includes a first pressurizing device, a second pressurizing device, a reusable fluid path for delivering fluid to multiple patients and a per-patient disposable fluid path adapted to be connected to the reusable fluid path and operable to deliver fluid media to a balloon catheter in a patient. The reusable fluid path includes a first portion in fluid communication with a first source of fluid medium and a second portion in fluid communication with a second source of fluid medium. The first pressurizing device is associated with the first portion of the reusable fluid path and the second pressurizing device is associated with the second portion of the reusable fluid path. A control unit in communication with the first and second pressurizing devices is adapted to actuate the first and second pressurizing devices to deliver one or both of the fluid media to a balloon on the balloon catheter.

1 . A fluid delivery system, comprising: 
 a reusable fluid path for delivering fluid to multiple patients, the reusable fluid path comprising: 
 a first portion in fluid communication with a first source of fluid medium; and  
 a second portion in fluid communication with a second source of fluid medium;  
   a first pressurizing device associated with the first portion of the reusable fluid path;    a second pressurizing device associated with the second portion of the reusable fluid path;    a per-patient disposable fluid path adapted to be connected to the reusable fluid path and operable to deliver the first and second fluid media at least to a balloon catheter in a patient; and    a control unit in communication with the first and second pressurizing devices and adapted to actuate the first and second pressurizing devices to deliver the first and second fluid media to a balloon on the balloon catheter.    
   
   
       2 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the first fluid medium comprises a contrast medium and the second fluid medium comprises a diluent medium.  
   
   
       3 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the per-patient disposable fluid path comprises: 
 a tube;    a valve; and    a per-patient connector.    
   
   
       4 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 3  wherein the valve of the per-patient disposable fluid path comprises a check valve.  
   
   
       5 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the reusable fluid path further comprises a mixing apparatus.  
   
   
       6 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the reusable fluid path further comprises a pressurization pump.  
   
   
       7 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the first pressurizing device comprises a pump.  
   
   
       8 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 7  wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.  
   
   
       9 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the reusable fluid path further comprises an air detector.  
   
   
       10 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the second pressurizing device comprises a pump.  
   
   
       11 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 10  wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.  
   
   
       12 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising a handheld control mechanism in communication with the control unit to control the first and second pressurizing devices.  
   
   
       13 . The fluid delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second fluid media at least partially inflate the balloon.  
   
   
       14 . A method of delivering fluid media to a balloon catheter in a patient using a fluid delivery system comprising a reusable fluid path comprising a first portion in fluid communication with a first source of fluid medium and a second portion in fluid communication with a second source of fluid medium, a first pressurizing device associated with the first portion of the reusable fluid path, and a second pressurizing device associated with the second portion of the reusable fluid path, the method comprising: 
 providing a per-patient disposable fluid path adapted to be connected to the reusable fluid path and operable to deliver one or both of the first and second fluid media at least to a balloon catheter in a patient connecting the per-patient disposable fluid path to the reusable fluid path; and    actuating one or both of the first and second pressurizing devices to deliver one or both of the first and second fluid media via the reusable and per-patient disposable fluid paths at least to a balloon on the balloon catheter.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 providing a control unit in communication with the first and second pressurizing devices to control the operation thereof.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 at least partially inflating the balloon with one or both of the first and second fluid media.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the actuating step comprises actuating both of the first and second pressurizing devices to deliver both of the first and second fluid media to the balloon.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of mixing the first and second fluid media.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first fluid medium comprises a contrast medium and the second fluid medium comprises a diluent medium.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 disconnecting the per-patient disposable fluid path from the reusable fluid path.