Devices, systems, and related methods for delivery of fluid to tissue

Abstract

Described are devices useful to inject fluid to tissue without the use of a needle, and related methods; the devices include one or a combination of features such as ejection orifices ( 40 ), distal end control features, or combinations of these; the systems can include a fluid delivery system having an injector source and an access device; the access device can comprise a minimally invasive, tubular delivery lumen ( 34 ) such as a catheter or endoscope; the tube-like device further includes one or more apposing jets that are selectively fired to force the injection orifice of the tube-like device against the target tissue; selective firing can include a continuous firing during the injection to improve the efficiency of the treatment.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A needleless method of injecting tissue, the method comprising
 providing a needleless injection device comprising
 a flexible shaft comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a distal end tip, and an injection lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, 
 the distal end comprising an injection orifice at a length-wise location of the distal end on a proximal side of the distal end tip, the injection orifice in communication with the injection lumen, the injection orifice directed at an angle in the range from about 45 to about 100 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft at the length-wise location of the injection orifice, 
   positioning the distal end at a location near a tissue surface and normal to the tissue surface, without the injection orifice penetrating the tissue surface,   ejecting a fluid stream from the injection orifice such that the fluid stream penetrates the tissue surface at an angle of 45 degrees or less, relative to the tissue surface.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  comprising positioning the distal end at a location near a tissue surface and normal to the tissue surface, without the injection orifice penetrating the tissue surface, and placing a normal pressure on the distal end to cause the distal end tip to indent the tissue surface. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein ejection of fluid from the injection orifice produces an injection force on the distal end. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21  comprising at least partially opposing the injection force. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein the injection force is opposed by a tissue holding tip, an opposing force produced by a control orifice, or an opposing force produced by an injection orifice. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23  comprising ejecting fluid from one or more ejection orifice at the distal end to produce an ejection force that is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction relative to the injection force. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 19  comprising injecting bladder tissue. 
     
     
         26 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the needleless injection device comprises an elongate tissue holding tip extending longitudinally from the distal end tip, the elongate tissue holding tip being capable of frictionally engaging tissue to prevent movement of the injection orifice during injection. 
     
     
         37 . A method of  claim 36  comprising positioning the distal end normal to the tissue surface without the elongate tissue holding tip puncturing the tissue surface, and placing a normal pressure on the distal end to cause the distal end tip to indent the tissue surface. 
     
     
         38 . A method of  claim 19  wherein the distal end comprises two or more injection orifices directed at equidistant locations around a circumference of the shaft, at the same length-wise location along a length of the shaft, at a distance in the range from about 1 to about 5 millimeters from the distal end tip. 
     
     
         39 . A method of  claim 19  comprising injecting tissue that has a thickness in a range from 2 to 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         40 . A method of  claim 39  wherein the injected fluid does not pass through the thickness of the tissue. 
     
     
         41 . A method of  claim 19  comprising injecting tissue that has a thickness in a range from 3 to 4 millimeters. 
     
     
         42 . A method of  claim 41  wherein the tissue is selected from tissue of a bladder and tissue of a bladder neck. 
     
     
         43 . A method of  claim 19  comprising contacting the distal end tip with a tissue surface with at least a portion of the distal end oriented normal to the tissue surface, and placing pressure on the distal end to cause the distal end tip to indent the tissue surface. 
     
     
         44 . A method of  claim 43  comprising injecting the a fluid into the tissue at an angle in a range from 0 to 10 degrees below the tissue surface.