Guided access to lung tissues

• US 20050288549A1
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EKOS Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PneumRx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Mathis, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,775,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0014 Fastening element for attaching accessories to the outside of an endoscope, e.g. clips, clamps or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/045 Needles pointed biopsy devices with vacuum aspiration A61B10/0283

Abstract

This invention relates generally to lung access devices and methods of using the devices to gain access to the interior of a lung or to the mediastinal space around the lung. In particular, the invention relates to auxiliary access devices and tools for use with conventional bronchoscopes or other endoscopes to enable the delivery of more and larger devices to a target site than is currently possible through a typical endoscope or bronchoscope.

Claims

1. A method of providing a guided access to a subject'"'"'s lung or surrounding tissue of said subject'"'"'s lung, comprising:

(a) positioning a lung access assembly into an inner part of the lung or surrounding tissue, wherein said assembly comprises (i) an imaging device having a proximal end, a distal end, said distal end being adapted to be placed within a subject'"'"'s lung and said proximal end being adapted to be located outside of said subject'"'"'s lung; and

(ii) a guide element being operably connected to said distal end of said imaging device to direct delivery of an instrument outside said imaging device;

(b) controlling said guide element to effect said guided access with said instrument.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said imaging device comprises a working channel.

3. The lung access assembly of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said guide element is disposed inside said working channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said imaging device is a bronchoscope.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said lung access assembly comprises more than one guide element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said guide element has a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said distal end is adapted to be placed within a subject'"'"'s body and is to be connected to said instrument, and wherein said proximal end is adapted to be located outside of said subject'"'"'s body so as to effect said guided access with said instrument to the lung or surrounding tissue of the lung.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising an instrument connected to said guide element located outside said working channel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said instrument being connected to said guide element is located within or traversing said distal end of said working channel.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said instrument is adapted to perform biopsy.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said instrument is adapted to image bodily tissue.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said instrument is adapted to deliver a pharmaceutical composition to the lung.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said instrument comprises a needle guide.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said needle guide comprises a side port.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said guide element is an integral part of said instrument.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said guide element is connected to said instrument via a separable attachment device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said separable attachment device is selected from the group consisting of a clip, an adhesive, a strap, and a sleeve

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said separable attachment device further comprises a working channel.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said instrument is a balloon.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said balloon comprises a lumen with at least one side port.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said instrument comprises a catheter connected to a balloon.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said instrument comprises a plurality of needle guides covered by an extendable sleeve.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said guide element is a guide wire.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said guide element comprises a needle guide.