Catheter System

Abstract

A catheter with one or more heated or detachable sections is described. The catheter may be useful for liquid embolic delivery, where the heated or detachable sections may help free the catheter when stuck to liquid embolic during delivery. An instrumented catheter is also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A detachable tip catheter comprising:
 a catheter body having a liquid embolic deliver passage and a distal region;   a heater located at the distal region;   a current path extending along the catheter body and connected to the heater to supply power to the heater when connected to a current source; and,   a detachable tubular section positioned over the distal region and being detachable from the distal region when the heater is activated.   
     
     
         2 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising adhesive positioned between the distal region of the catheter body and the detachable tubular section. 
     
     
         3 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive melts at about 120-160 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         4 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the heater is a metallic heater coil. 
     
     
         5 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the heater is a conductive trace. 
     
     
         6 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the current path is a conductive trace. 
     
     
         7 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat shrink tube positioned over the heater. 
     
     
         8 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the detachable tubular section is positioned over the heat shrink tube. 
     
     
         9 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the detachable tubular section has shape memory characteristic in which heat applied by the heater expands the detachable tubular section. 
     
     
         10 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable tubular section directly overlies the heater. 
     
     
         11 . A detachable tip catheter comprising:
 a catheter body having a liquid embolic deliver passage extending between a proximal region and a distal region of the catheter body;   a detachable section positioned around the distal region and being detachable from the distal region; and,   a detachment system that selectively detaches the detachable section from the distal region of the catheter body.   
     
     
         12 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the detachment system is a heater system that generates heat at the distal region when current is supplied to it. 
     
     
         13 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 12 , wherein the heater system is a heater coil or current trace. 
     
     
         14 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 11 , further comprising adhesive positioned between the distal region of the catheter body and the detachable section. 
     
     
         15 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 11 , further comprising a heat shrink tube positioned over the heater system. 
     
     
         16 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 13 , wherein the detachable section is positioned over the heat shrink tube. 
     
     
         17 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the detachable section is tubular. 
     
     
         18 . The detachable tip catheter of  claim 11 , wherein the detachable section is selectively expandable. 
     
     
         19 . A method of using a catheter, comprising:
 delivering liquid embolic within a patient from a catheter;   activating a catheter detachment mechanism; and,   releasing a distal tubular section from a distal portion of a catheter body.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein activating a catheter detachment mechanism further comprises generating heat at the distal portion of the catheter body.