Flow distribution pad and methods for using them

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for delivering fluids into a patient's body that includes a tubular member including a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a patient's body, and a fluid delivery lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; and a flexible pad on the distal end including a tissue contacting surface, a passage communicating with the fluid delivery lumen, and plurality of capillary channels in the tissue contact surface communicating with the passage, the capillary channels configured to deliver fluid from the fluid delivery lumen and passage to tissue contacted by the tissue contact surface.

1 . An apparatus for delivering fluids into a patient's body, comprising:
 a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a patient's body, and a fluid delivery lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; and   a flexible pad on the distal end including a tissue contact surface, a passage communicating with the fluid delivery lumen, and plurality of delivery channels in the tissue contact surface communicating with the passage, the delivery channels configured to deliver fluid from the fluid delivery lumen and passage to tissue contacted by the tissue contact surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery channels comprise a plurality of recesses formed in the tissue contact surface. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the recesses have one of a “U” and “V” shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the recesses have a maximum cross-sectional width of not more than 0.5 to two millimeters such that fluid flows along the recesses by capillary action. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the passage includes an opening at the tissue contact surface and wherein the delivery channels extend outwardly away from the opening along the tissue contact surface towards an outer periphery of the pad to distribute fluid from the opening along the delivery channels over a portion of the tissue contact surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the delivery channels include a plurality of radial channels that communicate with the opening and extend outwardly away from the opening and a plurality of circumferential channels that communicate with the radial channels to distribute fluid by capillary action from the opening through the radial and circumferential channels over a portion of the tissue contact surface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the delivery channels include a plurality of radial channels that communicate with the opening and extend outwardly away from the opening and a plurality of lateral channels that communicate with the radial channels to distribute fluid from the opening by capillary action through the radial and lateral channels over a portion of the tissue contact surface. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the passage communicates with a plurality of openings at the tissue contact surface and wherein the delivery channels extend outwardly away from the openings along the tissue contact surface towards an outer periphery of the pad to distribute fluid from the openings along the delivery channels over a portion of the tissue contact surface. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pad is formed from conformable material that allows the tissue contact surface to conform to contacted tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the tissue contact surface is biased to one of a substantially flat, concave, or convex shape. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the passage includes first and second of openings spaced apart from one another at the tissue contact surface, and wherein the delivery channels including first and second networks of channels extending outwardly away from the respective openings along the tissue contact surface to distribute fluid from the openings along the delivery channels over a portion of the tissue contact surface. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member further comprises a vacuum lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, and wherein the pad includes one or more vacuum ports in the front surface communicating with the vacuum lumen, the one or more vacuum ports being spaced apart from the delivery channels. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pad has an outer perimeter extending between the front surface and a back surface of the pad. 
     
     
         14 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for delivering fluids into a patient's body, comprising:
 introducing a pad including a tissue contact surface and plurality of delivery channels in the tissue contact surface into a body passage;   placing the tissue contact surface against a body surface adjacent the body passage such that open sides of the delivery channels contact the body surface; and   delivering fluid into the pad such that the fluid flows along the delivery channels to distribute the fluid over a portion of the body surface.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the delivery channels are sized such that the fluid flows along the delivery channels by capillary action. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the body passage is an airway. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the pad is provided on a distal end of a tubular member, and wherein introducing the pad comprises introducing the distal end of the tubular member into the body passage. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein delivering fluid comprises introducing the fluid through a lumen of the tubular member through a passage in the pad to the delivery channels.