Modular medical injection system

Abstract

A medical injection system includes an elongate injection apparatus and an actuator apparatus. The actuator apparatus includes a fitting for coupling the actuator apparatus to a delivery catheter and a reversible gripping means to grip the injection apparatus; the gripping means is included in a plunger that is slideably engaged with the fitting and directs the injection apparatus through a fitting lumen and through a catheter lumen, when the fitting is coupled to the catheter.

1 - 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . A medical delivery system, comprising:
 an elongate delivery apparatus comprising:
 an elongate shaft including a shaft lumen extending from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shaft, a proximal portion extending distally from the proximal end, and a distal spiral cut portion extending distally from the proximal portion to the distal end of the shaft, the distal spiral cut portion comprising a first segment extending distally from the proximal portion, a second segment extending distally from the first segment, and a spiral cut extending along the first segment and second segment, the spiral cut having a pitch that decreases at a first rate within the first segment and a pitch that decreases at a second rate within the second segment, wherein the first and second rates are different; and 
 a needle tip coupled to the shaft and extending distal to the distal end of the shaft, the needle tip including a needle lumen extending therethrough and approximately aligned with the shaft lumen; and 
   an actuator apparatus comprising:
 a fitting for coupling the actuator apparatus to a proximal portion of a catheter, the fitting including a fitting lumen configured to receive the needle tip and the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus and to direct the needle tip and the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus through a catheter lumen of the catheter; and 
 a plunger slidably engaged with the fitting, the plunger including a plunger lumen configured to slidably receive the needle tip and the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus and to direct the needle tip and elongate shaft through the fitting lumen; 
 wherein the plunger is configured to reversibly grip the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus such that moving the plunger distally and proximally moves the needle tip and elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus distally and proximally relative to the catheter lumen when the actuator apparatus is coupled to the catheter and the elongate shaft is gripped by the plunger. 
   
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the first rate at which the pitch decreases within the first segment is a generally exponentially decreasing rate. 
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the second rate at which the pitch decreases within the second segment is a generally linearly decreasing rate. 
     
     
         80 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the first rate at which the pitch decreases within the first segment is a generally exponentially decreasing rate, and wherein the second rate at which the pitch decreases within the second segment is a generally linearly decreasing rate. 
     
     
         81 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the plunger comprises a valve configured to reversibly grip the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         82 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the actuator apparatus further comprises an elastomeric plug positioned between the plunger and the catheter lumen, wherein the elastomeric plug seals the plunger from the catheter lumen while allowing passage of the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         83 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the actuator apparatus fitting further includes a Luer thread configured to couple with the catheter. 
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the actuator apparatus further comprises a spring member mounted between the plunger and the fitting to hold the plunger in a retracted position until a force is applied to slide the plunger distally with respect to the fitting. 
     
     
         85 . The system of  claim 77 , further comprising an introducer configured to pass through the fitting lumen and the plunger lumen of the actuator apparatus, the introducer including an introducer lumen extending therethrough that is configured to receive the needle tip and the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the distal spiral cut portion of the elongate shaft further includes at third segment extending distally between the first segment and the second segment, the spiral cut having a generally constant pitch along the third segment. 
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the elongate shaft further comprises an outer layer extending over the distal spiral cut portion. 
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 87 , wherein the outer layer has a wall thickness less than or equal to approximately 0.05 mm. 
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 87 , wherein the outer layer comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 86 , wherein the distal spiral cut portion of the elongate shaft has a length between approximately 50 mm and 500 mm. 
     
     
         91 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the delivery apparatus further comprises a grip tube positioned about the elongate shaft, wherein the grip tube is closer to the proximal end than the distal end of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         92 . A medical delivery system comprising:
 an elongate delivery apparatus comprising:
 an elongate shaft including a shaft lumen extending distally from a proximal end of the shaft to a distal end of the shall, a proximal portion extending from the proximal end, and a distal spiral cut portion extending distally from the proximal portion to the distal end of the shaft, the distal spiral cut portion comprising a first segment extending distally from the proximal portion, a second segment extending distally from the first segment, and a spiral cut extending along the first segment and second segment, the spiral cut having a first pitch within the first segment and a second pitch within the second segment, wherein the first pitch is different than the second pitch; and 
 a needle tip coupled to the shaft and extending distal to the distal end of the shaft, the needle tip including a needle lumen extending therethrough and approximately aligned with the shaft lumen; and 
   an actuator apparatus comprising:
 a fitting for coupling the actuator apparatus to a proximal portion of a catheter, the fitting including a fitting lumen configured to receive the needle tip and the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus and to direct the needle tip and the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus through a catheter lumen of the catheter; and 
 a plunger slidably engaged with the fitting, the plunger including a plunger lumen configured to slidably receive the needle tip and the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus and to direct the needle tip and elongate shaft through the fitting lumen; 
 wherein the plunger is configured to reversibly grip the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus such that moving the plunger distally and proximally moves the needle tip and elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus distally and proximally relative to the catheter lumen when the actuator apparatus is coupled to the catheter and the elongate shaft is gripped by the plunger. 
   
     
     
         93 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the first pitch within the first segment is a generally constant pitch. 
     
     
         94 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the second pitch within the second segment is a generally linearly decreasing pitch. 
     
     
         95 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the first pitch within the first segment is a generally constant pitch, and wherein the second pitch within the second segment is a generally linearly decreasing pitch. 
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the plunger comprises a valve configured to reversibly grip the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the actuator apparatus further comprises an elastomeric plug positioned between the plunger and the catheter lumen, wherein the elastomeric plug seals the plunger from the catheter lumen while allowing passage of the delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the actuator apparatus further comprises a spring member mounted between the plunger and the fitting to hold the plunger in a retracted position until a force is applied to slide the plunger distally with respect to the fitting. 
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 92 , further comprising an introducer configured to pass through the fitting lumen and the plunger lumen, the introducer including an introducer lumen extending therethrough that is configured to slidably receive the needle tip and the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the distal spiral cut portion of the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus further includes a third segment extending distally between the proximal portion and the first segment, the spiral cut having a generally exponentially decreasing pitch along the third segment. 
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the delivery apparatus further comprises an outer layer extending over the distal spiral cut portion. 
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 101 , wherein the outer layer comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the length of the distal spiral cut portion is between approximately 50 mm and approximately 500 mm long. 
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 92 , wherein the delivery apparatus further comprises a grip tube positioned about the elongate shaft, wherein the grip tube is closer to the proximal end than the distal end of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         105 . A medical actuator apparatus comprising:
 a fitting for coupling the apparatus to a proximal portion of a catheter, the fitting including a fitting lumen configured to slidably receive an elongate member and to direct the elongate member through a catheter lumen of the catheter;   a plunger slidably engaged with the fitting, the plunger including a plunger lumen configured to slidably receive the elongate member and to direct the elongate member through the fitting lumen;   wherein the plunger is configured to reversibly grip the elongate member such that moving the plunger distally with respect to the fitting advances the elongate member within the catheter lumen when the apparatus is coupled to the catheter and the elongate shaft is gripped by the plunger; and   an introducer configured to be inserted through the fitting lumen and the plunger lumen, the introducer including an introducer lumen configured to slidably receive the elongate member, and wherein the elongate member may be loaded into the fitting lumen and the plunger lumen of the apparatus by the introducer, and further wherein the introducer is configured to be removed from the apparatus following loading of the elongate member into the fitting lumen and the plunger lumen of the apparatus.   
     
     
         106 . The system of  claim 105 , wherein the plunger comprises a valve configured to reversibly grip the elongate shaft of the delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         107 . The system of  claim 105 , wherein the actuator apparatus further comprises a spring member mounted between the plunger and the fitting to hold the plunger in a retracted position until a force is applied to slide the plunger distally with respect to the fitting.