1. An integrated hydroprocessing process for the production of relatively lower molecular weight products from a relatively heavy feedstock including sulfur-containing and aromatic-containing hydrocarbon compounds, the process comprising:
a. hydrotreating the feedstock with a hydrotreating catalyst in the presence of hydrogen to produce a hydrotreated effluent containing a reduced amount of sulfur-containing hydrocarbon compounds;
b. separating the hydrotreated effluent in a high-pressure separation zone to produce a vapor stream and a hydrocarbon liquid stream;
c. purifying at least a portion of the vapor stream in an absorption zone in the presence of at least a portion of relatively heavier components of vapor stream from step (b) to produce a high purity hydrogen gas stream and a fuel gas stream;
d. saturating the aromatic compounds contained in a portion of the hydrocarbon liquid stream with an aromatic saturation catalyst in the presence of hydrogen gas to produce an aromatic saturated effluent, wherein the hydrogen gas includes the high purity hydrogen gas stream from step (c) along with make-up hydrogen stream; and
e. separating and fractioning the aromatic saturated effluent to produce one or more overhead gas streams, one or more sour water streams and overhead and bottom fractioned distillate products.
2. The process as in claim 1, where step (b) comprises separating the hydrotreated effluent in a hot high-pressure separation zone to produce a hydrotreated gas stream and a hydrotreated liquid stream, and separating the hydrotreated gas stream in a cold high-pressure separation zone to produce a vapor stream, a hydrocarbon liquid stream and a sour water stream, wherein the relatively heavier components of the vapor stream used in step (c) are derived from further condensation of the heavier fractions in the vapor stream generated from the cold separator and additional make up provided by the portion of the hydrocarbon liquid stream from the cold high- pressure separation zone.
3. The process as in claim 2, wherein step (d) comprises saturating the aromatic compounds contained in the hydrotreated liquid stream from the hot high-pressure separation zone.
4. The process as in claim 3, wherein step (e) comprises
separating the aromatic saturated effluent into an overhead gas stream, a condensed hydrocarbon liquid stream, and a sour water stream;
flashing the condensed hydrocarbon liquid stream from to produce an overhead gas stream, a hydrocarbon liquid side stream and a sour water stream;
fractionating the hydrocarbon liquid side stream from step to produce a fractioned overhead stream and a fractioned bottom stream; and
recovering the fractioned overhead stream and the fractioned bottom stream as products.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A device for treating a body vessel region while occluding a more distal body vessel region comprising:
a first catheter including a first elongate tubular shaft having a proximal region, a distal region, a proximal end, and a first lumen therethrough, an inflatable balloon disposed near said first shaft distal region and having an interior in fluid communication with said first lumen, and a fluid displacement rod having a portion thereof slideably disposed in said tubular member such that said balloon may be expanded upon longitudinal actuation of said rod; and
a second catheter including a second elongate tubular shaft having a second lumen therethrough, wherein said second catheter second lumen is dimensioned to slide over said first catheter shaft while said first catheter balloon remains inflated with inflation fluid.
2. A device for treating a body vessel region as recited in claim 1, further comprising a seal connected to said tubular member proximal end and disposed about said displacement rod to create a liquid seal between the inside of said tubular member and said displacement rod.
3. A device for treating a body vessel region as recited in claim 1, wherein said first catheter has a length and said elongate fluid displacement rod has a length at least half said catheter length disposed within said first catheter lumen.
4. A device for treating a body vessel region as recited in claim 1, wherein said second catheter includes a second inflatable balloon disposed near said second catheter shaft distal region.
5. A method for treating a body vessel target region comprising the steps of:
providing a first catheter including a first elongate tubular shaft having a proximal region, a distal region, and a first lumen therethrough, an inflatable balloon disposed near said first shaft distal region and having an interior in fluid communication with said first lumen, and a fluid displacement rod having a portion thereof slidably disposed in said tubular shaft such that said balloon may be expanded upon longitudinal actuation of said rod;
providing a second catheter having a second elongate tubular shaft having a distal region and a second lumen therethrough and having means for treating said vessel region disposed near said second shaft distal region;
advancing said first catheter to a position distally past said target region;
inflating said first catheter balloon by inserting said fluid displacement rod into said first catheter lumen and forcing fluid into said first catheter balloon;
maintaining said first catheter balloon inflation by maintaining fluid pressure in said first catheter shaft lumen;
advancing said second catheter over said first catheter shaft by inserting said first catheter shaft proximal end into said second catheter shaft lumen distal end; and
treating said vessel site with said second catheter treating means.
6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said treating means is selected from the group consisting of angioplasty balloons and atherectomy devices.
7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said inflating step is performed before said second catheter advancing step.
8. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said inflating step is performed after said second catheter advancing step.
9. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising a deflating step including deflating said balloon caused by retracting said fluid displacement rod.
10. A device for injecting fluid into a catheter shaft proximal port, said device having a distal end and a proximal end comprising:
at least two jaws sized for grasping said catheter shaft, said jaws disposed about a longitudinal axis;
a hypodermic needle disposed along said longitudinal axis, said hypodermic needle having a lumen therethrough, a sharp distal end, and a proximal end; and
a fitting disposed near said device proximal end for coupling to a syringe, said fitting having a lumen in fluid communication with said hypodermic needle lumen.
11. A device as recited in claim 10, wherein said jaws have a portion having distally increasing outer extent and said device includes a slidable sleeve having an inner wall disposed proximal of said jaw increasing outer extent portion and dimensioned such that sliding said sleeve distally causes said sleeve inner wall to contact said jaw outer extent and force said jaws together about said catheter tube.
12. A method for treating a body vessel target region comprising the steps of:
providing a first catheter including a first elongate tubular shaft having a proximal region, a distal region, and a first lumen therethrough, an inflatable balloon disposed near said first shaft distal region and having an interior in fluid communication with said first lumen, and a self-sealing seal disposed in said first catheter shaft proximal region adapted to receive a hypodermic needle and reseal after retraction of said hypodermic needle;
providing a second catheter having a second elongate tubular shaft having a distal region and a second lumen therethrough and having means for treating said vessel region disposed near said second shaft distal region;
providing an alignment device for aligning said hypodermic needle with said first catheter lumen, wherein said alignment device includes at least two jaws for grasping said catheter shaft and having said hypodermic needle disposed between said jaws;
advancing said first catheter to a position distally past said target region;
aligning said needle with said first lumen, wherein said aligning step includes grasping said catheter shaft between said jaws, and aligning said catheter with said hypodermic needle;
advancing said hypodermic needle into said first lumen using said alignment device;
inflating said first catheter balloon by inserting said hypodermic needle into said first catheter seal and providing fluid to said first catheter balloon;
retracting said hypodermic needle from said first catheter seal;
maintaining said first catheter balloon inflation by maintaining fluid pressure in said first catheter balloon;
advancing said second catheter over said first catheter shaft by inserting said first catheter shaft proximal end into said second catheter shaft lumen distal end; and
treating said vessel site with said second catheter treating means.
13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said alignment device includes a clamp for forcing said jaws together about said catheter shaft, and said method further includes clamping said jaws together about said catheter shaft using said clamp.
14. A device for injecting fluid into a catheter shaft proximal port comprising:
a first surface and a second surface, said first and second surfaces being movable relative to each other from an open configuration to a closed opposing configuration;
means for holding said catheter shaft laterally immobile, said holding means affixed to at least one of said surfaces; and
means for holding a hypodermic needle laterally immobile and directing a sharp distal end of a hypodermic needle into said catheter shaft proximal port.
15. A device as recited in claim 14, wherein said means for holding said catheter shaft laterally immobile includes a longitudinal channel affixed to at least one of said surfaces.
16. A device as recited in claim 14, wherein said first and second surfaces are hinged to each other and where said device includes means for holding said catheter shaft longitudinally immobile.
17. A device as recited in claim 16, wherein said device includes a longitudinal slot in one of said surfaces for receiving said hypodermic needle inserted transversely to said slotted surface, such that when said hypodermic needle has a sufficient curve, said hypodermic needle can be inserted through said slotted surface and wherein said hypodermic needle sharp distal end can be slid longitudinally toward said catheter proximal port.
18. A device as recited in claim 17, wherein said device includes a longitudinally slidable carrier slidably coupled to at least one of said surfaces for carrying said curved hypodermic needle and longitudinally directing said curved hypodermic needle toward said catheter proximal port.
19. A method for treating a body vessel target region comprising the steps of:
providing a first catheter including a first elongate tubular shaft having a proximal region, a distal region, and a first lumen therethrough, an inflatable balloon disposed near said first shaft distal region and having an interior in fluid communication with said first lumen, and a self-sealing seal disposed in said first catheter shaft proximal region adapted to receive a hypodermic needle and reseal after retraction of said hypodermic needle;
providing a second catheter having a second elongate tubular shaft having a distal region and a second lumen therethrough and having means for treating said vessel region disposed near said second shaft distal region;
providing an alignment device for aligning said hypodermic needle with said first catheter lumen, wherein said alignment device includes a pair of opposing surfaces, at least one of said pair of surfaces having means for holding said shaft and said hypodermic needle laterally immobile and along the same longitudinal axis and means for sliding said hypodermic needle and catheter shaft together;
advancing said first catheter to a position distally past said target region;
aligning said needle with said first lumen, wherein said aligning step includes placing said catheter shaft into said alignment device, and aligning said catheter with said hypodermic needle;
advancing said hypodermic needle into said first lumen using said alignment device;
inflating said first catheter balloon by inserting said hypodermic needle into said first catheter seal and providing fluid to said first catheter balloon;
retracting said hypodermic needle from said first catheter seal; and
maintaining said first catheter balloon inflation by maintaining fluid pressure in said first catheter balloon.
20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said alignment device holds said catheter shaft longitudinally immobile and allows said hypodermic needle to move longitudinally.