Flexible flow apparatus and method for the disruption of occlusions

Abstract

The invention encompasses methods and flexible apparatus for creating fluid flow from one location to another through the repetitive expansion and collapse of bubbles generated as a result of the absorption of repetitive pulses of radiation in a fluid. This pumping phenomenon can be used to aid removal of a total or partial occlusion in a body passage by disrupting the surface of the occlusion with acoustic shock and pressure waves and/or by causing mechanical disruption of the occlusive material. Flexibility is improved with choice of materials and particular constructions.

It is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method of disrupting occlusive material in a body lumen with a treatment device having a distal tip, comprising: 
 passing at least the distal tip of the treatment device in a distal direction through the occlusive material;    delivering energy to the distal tip of the treatment device; and    moving the distal tip of the treatment device in a proximal direction into the occlusive material to disrupt at least a portion of said material with the energy.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for disrupting occlusive material in a body lumen upon guidewire-free delivery of a distal end of the apparatus to the occlusive material, comprising: 
 at least one optical fiber having a distal end;    a first annular structure having a wall, an open proximal end and an open distal end, the wall having at least one port, the distal end of said optical fiber positioned within said first annular structure in a vicinity of said port; and    a second annular structure for enabling delivery of the apparatus to the occlusive material to be disrupted, a length of said optical fiber positioned within said second annular structure, said second annular structure being elongate, flexible and operably connected to said first annular structure.    
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for disrupting occlusive material in a body lumen upon delivery of a distal end of the apparatus to the occlusive material, comprising: 
 a first annular structure extending along a first length to the first distal end thereof;    a second annular structure having an open proximal end, an open distal end, and extending along a second length to a second distal end thereof, which second length is less than the first length, said second annular structure disposed external of said first annular structure with the second length adjacent the first length and the second distal end coplanar with the first distal end;    at least one first optical fiber having a distal end, the distal end of said first optical fiber housed within said second annular structure;    at least one second optical fiber having a distal end, the distal end of said second optical fiber disposed externally of said first and said second annular structures near the distal end of the apparatus; and    a third annular structure which houses said first and second annular structures and said first and second optical fibers near the distal end of the apparatus.