Soft body catheter with low friction lumen

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to radiation catheter devices, methods for controlled application of irradiation to tissue at a body site, such as a cavity formed after removal of tissue, e.g. cancer, using such radiation catheter devices, solutions for forming a more lubricious luminal surface and method for lining lumens of such devices to improve the frictional characteristics thereof. The catheter device includes a flexible elongated shaft which is formed of low durometer polymeric material, which can be readily folded or coiled for securing the shaft to or under the skin of the patient and a radiation lumen lined with high durometer polymeric material to improve the frictional characteristics. The elongated shaft has at least one inner lumen for receiving a radiation source which has a layer of high durometer polymeric material that provides lower surface friction to facilitate advancement of a radiation source therein.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the catheter device has an inflatable balloon on the distal shaft portion surrounding the treatment location and the balloon is inflated to at least partially fill the body cavity. 
   
   
       21 - 28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . A method of lining a lumen formed by a low durometer polymeric material, comprising:
 a. providing a solution comprising a non-aqueous solvent and a polymeric solute dissolved in the solvent which is a high durometer polymeric material;   b. applying the solution to a surface defining at least in part the lumen; and   c. evaporating the solvent of the applied solution, leaving solute on the surface defining at least in part the lumen.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the solution contains about 0.1 to about 5% (by wt.) high durometer polymeric solute. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the solution contains about 0.5 to about 2% (by wt.) high durometer polymeric solute. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the high durometer polymer solute is the same type of polymer as the low durometer polymer material forming the lumen. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the high durometer polymer solute is a thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the polyurethane is a polyester polyurethane. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the non-aqueous solvent is selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexanone, dimethyl formamide, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       36 . A method for irradiating tissue at least in part surrounding a body cavity of a patient, comprising:
 a. providing a catheter device having a flexible elongate shaft which is formed of low durometer hardness polymeric material and which has a distal shaft portion, a treatment location at the distal shaft portion, and a plurality of radiation receiving lumens, each of which have layer of high durometer hardness polymeric material;   b. advancing the device into the patient until the treatment location on the distal shaft portion is disposed within the body cavity to be radiated;   c. slidably advancing a radiation source through a first of the radiation receiving lumens until the radiation source is disposed in the treatment location of the treatment device; and   d. slidably advancing the radiation source through a second of the radiation receiving lumens until the radiation source is disposed in the treatment location of the treatment device.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the radiation source is held at a first dwell site in the first radiation receiving lumen for a first predetermined period of time. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the radiation source is held at a second dwell site in the second radiation receiving lumen for a second predetermined period of time. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the elongated shaft is folded or coiled to facilitate securing the shaft to or under the patient's skin. 
   
   
       40 . The method  claim 36  wherein the high durometer hardness polymeric material lining the radiation source receiving lumens is the same type of polymer as the low durometer polymer material forming the elongated shaft. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the radiation source receiving lumens are lined with high durometer hardness polymeric material by the method of  claim 29 .