Methods and apparatus for introducing tumescent fluid to body tissue

Abstract

A catheter is usable to treat a hollow anatomical structure (HAS). The catheter comprises one or more shafts which extend away from a proximal end of the catheter toward a distal end thereof. The catheter further comprises an HAS constriction energy source located at or near the distal end of the catheter. The catheter further comprises at least one radially expandable transmural fluid delivery channel located in the catheter near the HAS constriction energy source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a hollow anatomical structure with a catheter having one or more shafts which extend away from a proximal end of said catheter toward a distal end thereof, said method comprising:
 conducting a fluid, via a fluid delivery channel of said catheter, from a location within said hollow anatomical structure and within one of said shafts, to a tip of said channel which is located radially outward from said one or more shafts;   with a therapeutic energy source of said catheter system, passing energy into a wall of said hollow anatomical structure; and   with said energy, constricting said hollow anatomical structure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein passing energy comprises driving RF energy through said wall of said hollow anatomical structure with at least one electrode of said catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein passing energy comprises heating said wall of said hollow anatomical structure with at least one heating element of said catheter system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein conducting said fluid comprises conducting said fluid through said wall of said hollow anatomical structure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising penetrating said wall of said hollow anatomical structure with said channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein conducting said fluid comprises conducting tumescent fluid into tissue near said hollow anatomical structure and thereby initially constricting said hollow anatomical structure. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein passing said energy comprises passing said energy after said initial constriction of said hollow anatomical structure. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after passing said energy, moving said energy source along said hollow anatomical structure to a first subsequent treatment position, and conducting said fluid via said fluid delivery channel into tissue adjacent said hollow anatomical structure near said first subsequent treatment position.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising passing said energy while said energy source is at said first subsequent treatment position.