BLOOD VESSEL SENSING CATHETER HAVING WORKING LUMEN FOR MEDICAL APPLIANCES

• US 20090275840A1
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broncus Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Broncus Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: ROSCHAK, Edmund J., KEAST, Thomas M., GWERDER, Eric J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/467
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/04 Endoscopic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0216 Sampling brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/045 Needles pointed biopsy devices with vacuum aspiration A61B10/0283
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00809 Lung operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments catheters A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed for providing a sensing element to scan tissue and detect the presence of structures within the tissue to avoid the structures when performing a procedure on the tissue. A catheter includes a blood vessel sensing assembly and a working lumen adapted to receive a medical appliance or instrument for performing various medical procedures.

Claims

1. A medical device for sensing structures beneath tissue, the device comprising:

a catheter member having a near end, a far end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough, where the catheter member is sufficiently flexible to navigate through tortuous anatomy;

a sensing element located at a distal tip, where the lumen exits at an opening that is spaced proximally from the sensing element by a gap; and

a handle portion having a first port in communication with the lumen, where the first port permits advancement of a medical appliance through the handle, into the lumen and out of the opening.

2. The medical device of claim 1 where the medical appliance comprises an aspiration needle, a transbronchial aspiration needle, a forceps, a brush, and a biopsy coring device.

3. The medical device of claim 1, where the sensing element comprises a transducer assembly.

4. The medical device of claim 3, where the transducer assembly further includes a blunted tip.

5. The medical device of claim 1, where the sensing element comprises a temperature detecting element.

6. The medical device of claim 1, where the sensing element comprises a light detecting element.

7. A method for performing a tissue biopsy on a tumor in a lung comprising:

advancing a far end of a catheter into an airway within the lung and in the vicinity of the tumor;

sensing for the absence of blood vessels along the airway using a Doppler ultrasound assembly associated with the far end of said catheter;

extending a working tip of a medical appliance from said far end of said catheter, through a wall of said airway, and into said tumor; and

removing a tissue sample from said tumor with said appliance.

8. The method of claim 7 where said medical appliance is a biopsy coring device.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of advancing a bronchoscope into the airway, and advancing said catheter through a lumen in said bronchoscope.

10. The method of claim 7 where the far end of the catheter comprises a distal opening for said working tip of said medical appliance to exit, and wherein said opening is beveled.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said Doppler ultrasound assembly is positioned distal to said distal opening.

12. A method for aspirating fluid from a target region of a lung comprising:

advancing a far end of a catheter into an airway within the lung and in the vicinity of the target region;

sensing for the absence of blood vessels along the airway using a Doppler ultrasound assembly associated with the far end of said catheter;

extending a working tip of a medical appliance from said far end of said catheter, through a wall of said airway, and into said target region; and

aspirating a fluid sample from said target region with said appliance.

13. The method of claim 12 where said medical appliance is an aspiration needle.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of advancing a bronchoscope into the airway, and advancing said catheter through a lumen in said bronchoscope.

15. The method of claim 12 where the far end of the catheter comprises a distal opening for said working tip of said medical appliance to exit, and wherein said opening is beveled.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said Doppler ultrasound assembly is positioned distal to said distal opening.

17. A medical kit for carrying out a medical procedure comprising:

a catheter, said catheter comprising a catheter member having a near end, a far end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough, where the catheter member is sufficiently flexible to navigate through tortuous anatomy;

a sensing element located at a distal tip, where the lumen exits at an opening that is spaced proximally from the sensing element by a gap; and

a handle portion having a first port in communication with the lumen;

a medical appliance that cooperates with said handle portion such that the appliance may be advanced through the handle, into the lumen and out of the opening; and

a controller to provide power and sensing capability to said sensing element, said controller being in electrical communication with said sensing element.

18. Use of said kit of claim 17 to obtain a biopsy sample, wherein said medical appliance is a coring instrument.

19. Use of said kit of claim 17 to aspirate fluid from a region of interest in the lung, wherein said medical appliance is an aspiration needle.

20. Use of said kit of claim 17 to create a collateral channel in said airway, wherein said medical appliance is a needle.