Lung device with sealing features

• US 7,766,891 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EKOS Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PneumRx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Dieck, Ronald, Wartchow, Charles, Mathis, Mark, McGurk, Erin
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez; Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US11/178,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/164.01, 604/500, 604/506, 604/27, 604/28, 600/566, 600/567, 600/573, 600/579, 600/562, 606/214, 606/41, 606/45, 128/898
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00278 Transorgan operations, e.g. transgastric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00495 for two-component glue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00637 for sealing trocar wounds through abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00641 for closing fistulae, e.g. anorectal fistulae
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00809 Lung operations

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a design of lung devices for safely performing a transthoracic procedure. In particular, the invention provides devices and methods of using these devices to access the thoracic cavity with minimal risk of causing pneumothorax or hemothorax. More specifically, the invention enables diagnostic and therapeutic access to a thoracic cavity using large bore instruments. This invention also provides a method for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using a device capable of sealing the wound upon withdrawal of the device. The invention includes a device comprising an elongated body adapted to make contact with a tissue of a subject through an access hole, and a sealant delivery element. The invention also includes a method of performing tissue treatment or diagnosis in a subject.

Claims

1. A method of performing tissue treatment or diagnosis in a subject, comprising:

inserting a device into the subject and toward a lung along an entry path;

pre-applying a cross-linkable tissue sealant from a sealant delivery element of the device to a region disposed along an external surface of a parietal parenchyma, within a plural space, and/or along an interior surface of a visceral pleura of the lung of the subject;

advancing the device, after pre-applying the sealant, along the entry path and through the pre-applied sealant to a target site within the lung of the subject; and

performing treatment or diagnosis at the site.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the device while concurrently applying a biologically compatible tissue sealant to the lung.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant delivery element is adapted to mitigate air leakage into a space between the lung and pleural membrane.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant delivery element is adapted to mitigate pneumothorax.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant delivery element is adapted to mitigate hemothorax.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises an imaging element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a delivery element adapted to deliver a pharmaceutical composition to the lung.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a distal end comprising a cutting element for excising tissue, the method comprising removing tissue from the lung with the device so as to perform a lung biopsy.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant delivery element is a syringe.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant delivery element is a plunger.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the biologically compatible tissue sealant is tissue-bonding material.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant comprises material selected from the group consisting of hydrogels, proteins, polymers and cross-linking agents.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the hydrogel material comprises material selected from the group consisting of hyalurons, hyalyronic acid, alginates, chitins, chitosans, and derivatives thereof.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the protein material comprises material selected from the group consisting of albumins, porcine albumins, collagens and gelatins.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the polymer material comprises material selected from the group consisting of poly(lactic acid) and poly(glycolide).

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the cross-linking agent material comprises material selected from the group consisting of glutaraldehyde and stable polyaldehyde.