Lung access device

• US 7,670,282 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EKOS Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PneumRx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Mathis, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): KASZTEJNA, MATTHEW JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/153,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 600/116, 600/153, 600/104, 600106-107, 600114-115, 600/123, 600/127, 600/129, 600433-435, 604/509, 604/93.01, 604/164.04, 604/164.13, 604/523, 604/528, 604/533
• 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 lung access system comprising:

(a) an imaging device having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the 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;

(b) a guide element having a first end and a second end, the guide element being insertable through the lumen of the imaging device so that the guide element extends distally from the first end to the distal end of the imaging device, and proximally from the distal end of the imaging device outside of the imaging device back to the second end adjacent the proximal end of the imaging device with the first and second ends of the guide element located outside of said subjects lungs, and so that the guide element between the second end and the distal end of the imaging device is outside said imaging device and so that tensioning the second end of the guide element from outside the subject'"'"'s lungs can direct distal advancement of the imaging device within the subject'"'"'s lungs, wherein said guide element has a guide element lumen extending distally of the distal end of the imaging device so that tensioning of the second end of the guide element from outside the subject'"'"'s lungs laterally deflects the lumen of the guide element distally of the imaging device; and

(c) an instrument axially advanceable distally through the laterally deflected guide element lumen so that a distal end of the instrument is disposed outside the lumen and distally of the imaging device.

2. The lung access assembly of claim 1, wherein said lumen of said imaging device comprises a working channel.

3. The lung access assembly of claim 2, wherein said instrument being connected to said guide element is located within or traversing said distal end of said working channel.

4. The lung access assembly of claim 1, wherein said imaging device is a bronchoscope.

5. The lung access assembly of claim 1, wherein said guide element comprises a guide wire.

6. The lung access assembly of claim 1, wherein said guide element has a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end comprising said first 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 to direct delivery of said instrument.

7. The lung access assembly of claim 1, wherein said instrument is adapted to perform biopsy.

8. The lung access assembly of claim 1, wherein said instrument is adapted to image bodily tissue.

9. The lung access assembly of claim 1, wherein said instrument is adapted to deliver a pharmaceutical composition to the lung.

10. A lung access system comprising:

(a) an imaging device having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the 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

(b) a guide element having a first end and a second end, the guide element being insertable through the lumen of the imaging device so that the guide element extends distally from the first end to the distal end of the imaging device, and proximally from the distal end of the imaging device outside of the imaging device back to the second end adjacent the proximal end of the imaging device with the first and second ends of the guide element located outside of said subjects lungs, and so that the guide element between the second end and the distal end of the imaging device is accessible to direct delivery of an instrument outside said imaging device into said subject'"'"'s lung and so that tensioning the second end of the guide element from outside the subject'"'"'s lungs can direct distal advancement of the imaging device within the subject'"'"'s lungs;

wherein said guide element has a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end comprising said first end, wherein said distal end is adapted to be placed within a subject'"'"'s body and is to be connected to said instrument, wherein said proximal end is adapted to be located outside of said subject'"'"'s body to direct delivery of said instrument, and wherein said guide element comprises a needle guide.

11. The lung access assembly of claim 10, wherein said needle guide comprises a side port.

12. A lung access system comprising:

(a) an imaging device having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the 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

(b) a guide element having a first end and a second end, the guide element being insertable through the lumen of the imaging device so that the guide element extends distally from the first end to the distal end of the imaging device, and proximally from the distal end of the imaging device outside of the imaging device back to the second end adjacent the proximal end of the imaging device with the first and second ends of the guide element located outside of said subjects lungs, and so that the guide element between the second end and the distal end of the imaging device is accessible to direct delivery of an instrument outside said imaging device into said subject'"'"'s lung and so that tensioning the second end of the guide element from outside the subject'"'"'s lungs can direct distal advancement of the imaging device within the subject'"'"'s lungs;

wherein said lumen of said imaging device comprises a working channel, and wherein said instrument being connected to said guide element is located within or traversing said distal end of said working channel;

an instrument connected to said guide element located outside said working channel, wherein said instrument is a balloon.

13. The lung access assembly of claim 12, wherein said balloon comprises a lumen with at least one side port.

14. A lung access system comprising:

(a) an imaging device having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the 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

(b) a guide element having a first end and a second end, the guide element being insertable through the lumen of the imaging device so that the guide element extends distally from the first end to the distal end of the imaging device, and proximally from the distal end of the imaging device outside of the imaging device back to the second end adjacent the proximal end of the imaging device with the first and second ends of the guide element located outside of said subjects lungs, and so that the guide element between the second end and the distal end of the imaging device is accessible to direct delivery of an instrument outside said imaging device into said subject'"'"'s lung and so that tensioning the second end of the guide element from outside the subject'"'"'s lungs can direct distal advancement of the imaging device within the subject'"'"'s lungs;

wherein said lumen of said imaging device comprises a working channel, and wherein said instrument being connected to said guide element is located within or traversing said distal end of said working channel;

(c) an instrument connected to said guide element located outside said working channel, wherein said instrument comprises a catheter connected to a balloon.

15. A lung access assembly comprising:

(a) an imaging device having a proximal end, a distal end, and a working lumen extending between the proximal end and the 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;

(b) a guide element adapted and configured to position said distal end of said imaging device within an inner part of said lung or surrounding tissue and further adapted and configured to direct delivery of an instrument outside said imaging device to said subject'"'"'s lung, wherein the guide element has a first end and a second end, the guide element being insertable through the working lumen of the imaging device so that the guide element extends distally from the first end adjacent the proximal end of the imaging device through the working lumen toward the distal end of the imaging device, and proximally from the distal end of the imaging device outside of the imaging device back to the second end adjacent the proximal end of the imaging device with the first and second ends of the guide element located outside of said subject'"'"'s lungs; and

(c) an instrument disposed outside the working lumen of the imaging device, the instrument having a channel receiving the guide element between the second end and the distal end of the imaging device so that the guide element directs distal advancement of the instrument to the distal end of the imaging device, a cross-section of the instrument being larger than a cross-section of the working lumen of the imaging device.