Continuous Flow Balloon Catheter Systems and Methods of Use

Abstract

Systems and methods for continuous infusion of a fluid, which may be heated, into a balloon catheter. A system for balloon inflation, the system comprising a catheter having an inflow lumen and an outflow lumen, a balloon positioned at a distal end of the catheter, the balloon being in fluid communication with the inflow and the outflow lumen, and an infusion device in fluid communication with the balloon through the inflow and outflow lumens, the infusion device configured for continuously circulating a fluid into and out of the balloon to maintain the balloon at a constant pressure and volume by matching a flow of the fluid into the balloon via the inflow lumen with a flow of the fluid out of the balloon via the outflow lumen in order to keep the balloon volume and pressure constant during an entire infusion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method using a balloon catheter comprising:
 positioning a catheter at a first target site, the catheter comprising a balloon;   inflating the balloon to a first volume and pressure with a fluid; and   continuously circulating the fluid in and out of the balloon at a flow and a rate maintaining the first volume and pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising heating the fluid to generate a heated fluid, and ablating a target tissue at the first target site with heat from the heated fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein in the step of positioning, the balloon is configured to ablate a target tissue at the first target site in a desired pattern via the heat from the heated fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a location and orientation of the balloon relative to the target tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising reversing the flow of the fluid in and out of the balloon, while maintaining the first volume and pressure of the balloon. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising repositioning the catheter to a different target site, and inflating the balloon to a second volume and pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the step of positioning, the balloon catheter further comprises an infusion device in fluid communication with the balloon catheter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising after the positioning step, attaching an infusion device to the catheter, the infusion device configured to be in fluid communication with the catheter.