Fluid spraying apparatuses, and related systems and methods

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to fluid spraying apparatuses, and related systems and methods. The disclosed fluid spraying apparatuses may be used, for example, to spray a medically suitable fluid on a target region of a living subject such as for treating or removing tissue. In an embodiment, a fluid spraying apparatus includes a target designation unit having a target sensor configured to sense a target region of a living subject, a spray mechanism, and a controller. The spray mechanism includes at least one reservoir configured to hold fluid, and a spraying device operably coupled to the at least one reservoir, the spraying device configured to spray the fluid in the at least one reservoir onto the target region. The controller includes control electrical circuitry operably coupled to the spray mechanism and the target designation unit, and configured to control the spray mechanism responsive to the target sensor sensing the target region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A method, comprising:
 sensing a target region of a living subject with a target designating unit of a fluid spraying apparatus;   designating the target region; and   spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus occurs substantially automatically responsive to the designating the target region. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein designating the target region includes selecting the target region via a computer user interface. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein sensing a target region of a living subject with a target designating unit of a fluid spraying apparatus includes sensing an indicator or a feature of the target region on the living subject. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the indicator or feature includes at least one ink or light. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the indicator or feature is provided from light output from a lighting device. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein sensing a target region of a living subject with a target designating unit of a fluid spraying apparatus includes imaging the target region with an image sensor. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein imaging the target region with an image sensor includes recognizing the target region by at least one feature thereof. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein:
 designating a target region includes specifying a sub-target region that at least partially defines the target region; and   spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes spraying the fluid within the sub-target region.   
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein specifying a sub-target region that at least partially defines the target region includes specifying the sub-target region via a computer user interface. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes directing the fluid at a selected number of sub-regions within the target region. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes substantially continuously sweeping the fluid over the target region. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes directing the fluid at a single sub-region within the target region. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein:
 sensing a target region of a living subject with a target designating unit of a fluid spraying apparatus includes sensing a temperature of each of a plurality of regions of the living subject that includes the target region; and   designating the target region includes selecting the target region from among the plurality of regions at least partially based on the temperature thereof.   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein:
 sensing a target region of a living subject with a target designating unit of a fluid spraying apparatus includes sensing a temperature of the target region; and   spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes spraying the fluid onto the target region responsive to one or more signals from the target designating unit.   
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein:
 sensing a target region of a living subject with a target designating unit includes sensing motion of the fluid spray apparatus; and   spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes spraying the fluid onto the target region responsive to sensing the motion.   
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein:
 sensing a target region of a living subject with a target designating unit includes sensing motion of the fluid spray apparatus; and   spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes directing a spray of the fluid onto the target region responsive to sensing the motion to at least partially counteract effects of motion of the spray mechanism relative to the target region.   
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes selectively spraying different types of cryogens onto different regions of the target region. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes selectively spraying a first type of cryogen onto a central portion of the target region and a second type of cryogen onto a peripheral portion of the target region. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein:
 sensing a target region of a living subject with a target designating unit of a fluid spraying apparatus includes sensing a temperature of the target region; and   spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes altering at least one of a spray direction of the fluid or a spray divergence of the fluid responsive to the temperature being sensed.   
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising:
 sensing information at least related to a distance to the target region from the spray mechanism with a distance sensor; and   wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes spraying fluid onto the target region responsive to sensing the information at least related to the distance.   
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the target region is internally located in the living subject. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the target region is externally located on the living subject. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes altering at least one of a spray direction of the fluid or a spray divergence of the fluid. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region from a spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes sequentially spraying cryogen and a pyrofluid onto the target region. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising stopping spraying the fluid responsive to a specified condition. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the specified condition includes at least one of spray time, tissue damage, time that target region is at a certain temperature, or temperature outside of the target region. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the fluid includes at least one of cryogen or a pyrofluid. 
     
     
         90 - 94 . (canceled) 
     
     
         95 . A method, comprising:
 delivering a spray mechanism of a fluid spraying apparatus in a delivery catheter to a location inside a living subject   sensing a target region of the living subject with a target designating unit of the fluid spraying apparatus;   designating the target region using the target designating unit; and   spraying fluid onto the designated target region through a single output orifice of a spray nozzle of the spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus.   
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein delivering a spray mechanism of a fluid spraying apparatus in a delivery catheter to a location in the living subject includes delivering the spray mechanism internally inside the living subject. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region through a single output orifice of a spray nozzle of the spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes intermittently spraying the fluid onto the designated target region. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region through a single output orifice of a spray nozzle of the spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes substantially continuously spraying the fluid onto the designated target region. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the fluid includes cryogen or a fluid having a temperature greater than about 45° C. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein spraying fluid onto the designated target region through a single output orifice of a spray nozzle of the spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus includes alternating spraying the pyrofluid and the cryogen onto the target region. 
     
     
         101 . A method, comprising:
 delivering a spray mechanism of a fluid spraying apparatus in a delivery catheter to a location inside a living subject;   sensing a target region, including a first sub-target region and a second sub-target region, of the living subject with a target designating unit; and   selectively spraying a first type of cryogen onto the first sub-target region and a second type of cryogen onto the second sub-target region, wherein the second type of cryogen is different than the first type of cryogen.   
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein each of the first and second types of cryogen is contained in a corresponding cryogen reservoir, and wherein the fluid spraying apparatus includes a plurality of valves that selectively fluidly couple the first and second types of cryogen to the spray mechanism. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein each of the plurality of valves is associated with one of the corresponding cryogen reservoirs. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein selectively spraying a first type of cryogen onto the first sub-target region and a second type of cryogen onto the second sub-target region includes selectively spraying the first type of cryogen onto a central portion of the target region and the second type of cryogen onto a peripheral portion of the target region. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein sensing a target region, including a first sub-target region and a second sub-target region, of the living subject with a target designating unit includes sensing temperature and distance of the target region. 
     
     
         106 . A method, comprising:
 imaging a target region of a living subject with a target designating unit of a fluid spraying apparatus;   designating the target region; and   substantially automatically responsive to designating the target region, spraying fluid onto the designated target region from the spray mechanism of the fluid spraying apparatus.   
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein imaging the target region of the living subject with the target designating unit of the fluid spraying apparatus includes detecting an indicator of the target region on the living subject. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein the indicator includes at least one of an marking or a light. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein imaging the target region includes recognizing the target region by at least one feature thereof.