Method and apparatus for introducing endolymphatic instrumentation
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- introducing a catheter having a lymphatic instrument incorporated therein into a patient'"'"'s venous system;
advancing the catheter through the venous system to reach the thoracic duct;
advancing the catheter through the thoracic duct into a lymphatic vessel;
fluoroscopically imaging the patient'"'"'s lymphatic vessel as the lymphatic instrument is guided therethrough;
opening lymphatic valves by drawing a vacuum through a lumen of the catheter in order to create a negative pressure gradient within the lymphatic vessel;
simultaneously pushing the catheter through the lymphatic valves as they are opened by the negative pressure gradient; and
positioning the lymphatic instrument at a selected location within the patient'"'"'s lymphatic vessel to deliver therapy or sense one or more physiological variables.
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Abstract
Described herein are a method and apparatus for introducing instrumentation into the lymphatic system that can be used for physiological monitoring and/or delivery of therapy. Such instrumentation, for example, may include one or more sensors for measuring physiological variables and/or one or more instruments for delivering therapy that is adapted to be disposed within a lymphatic vessel.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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introducing a catheter having a lymphatic instrument incorporated therein into a patient'"'"'s venous system; advancing the catheter through the venous system to reach the thoracic duct; advancing the catheter through the thoracic duct into a lymphatic vessel; fluoroscopically imaging the patient'"'"'s lymphatic vessel as the lymphatic instrument is guided therethrough; opening lymphatic valves by drawing a vacuum through a lumen of the catheter in order to create a negative pressure gradient within the lymphatic vessel; simultaneously pushing the catheter through the lymphatic valves as they are opened by the negative pressure gradient; and positioning the lymphatic instrument at a selected location within the patient'"'"'s lymphatic vessel to deliver therapy or sense one or more physiological variables. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for introducing endolymphatic instrumentation, comprising:
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a stent incorporating a lymphatic instrument configured to measure a physiological variable and that is configured to communicate wirelessly with an external or implantable device; a catheter configured to implant the stent; a catheter controller configured to mechanically push the catheter into the lymphatic system of a patient; a vacuum actuator configured to draw a vacuum through a lumen of the catheter in order to create a pressure gradient within a lymphatic vessel and open lymphatic valves as the catheter is pushed therethrough by the catheter controller; wherein the system is configured to operate the catheter controller to simultaneously push the catheter as vacuum is drawn through the lumen of the catheter; and
,a workstation that provides a user interface configured to control operation of the system and which provides an output configured to actuate the catheter controller and vacuum actuator. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification