Methods and devices for diagnosing, monitoring, or treating medical conditions through an opening through an airway wall
First Claim
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1. A method of accessing target tissue in a lung, the method comprising:
- locating a target site on an airway wall, wherein the target site is in a location that allows for creation of an opening leading to the target tissue and for advancement of an elongate instrument through the opening to the target tissue;
creating an opening through the airway wall at the target site with a hole-making instrument, the opening leading to the target tissue;
advancing the elongate instrument through the opening created in the airway wall;
providing an atraumatic tipped dissector, the dissector positioned within the elongate instrument;
tunneling from the opening in the airway wall to the target tissue with the elongate instrument and the dissector positioned therein;
removing the dissector from the elongate instrument such that the elongate instrument provides access to the target tissue for performing monitoring, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures through the elongate instrument; and
performing a procedure on the target tissue with a procedure instrument through the previously positioned elongate instrument leading to the target tissue.
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Abstract
Methods and devices for diagnosing, monitoring, and/or treating tissue through an opening or port through an airway wall are provided herein.
715 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of accessing target tissue in a lung, the method comprising:
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locating a target site on an airway wall, wherein the target site is in a location that allows for creation of an opening leading to the target tissue and for advancement of an elongate instrument through the opening to the target tissue; creating an opening through the airway wall at the target site with a hole-making instrument, the opening leading to the target tissue; advancing the elongate instrument through the opening created in the airway wall; providing an atraumatic tipped dissector, the dissector positioned within the elongate instrument; tunneling from the opening in the airway wall to the target tissue with the elongate instrument and the dissector positioned therein; removing the dissector from the elongate instrument such that the elongate instrument provides access to the target tissue for performing monitoring, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures through the elongate instrument; and performing a procedure on the target tissue with a procedure instrument through the previously positioned elongate instrument leading to the target tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of accessing target tissue in a lung, the method comprising:
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advancing a flexible elongate instrument to a target site in an airway of the lung; creating an opening through the airway wall at the target site with a hole-making instrument; advancing the elongate instrument through the opening; urging the elongate instrument and a dissector positioned within the elongate instrument forward through lung tissue, thereby creating a tunnel from the opening in the airway wall to the target tissue; removing the dissector from the elongate instrument such that the elongate instrument provides access to the target tissue for performing monitoring, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures through the elongate instrument; and performing a procedure on the target tissue with a procedure instrument through the previously positioned elongate instrument leading to the target tissue. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of accessing target tissue in a lung, the method comprising:
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selecting a target site in an airway of the lung wherein the target site is in a location that allows for creation of an opening through the airway wall, the opening leading to the target tissue, and wherein the target site is in a location that allows for advancement of a flexible elongate instrument through the opening to the target tissue along a substantially straight path; advancing the elongate instrument to a target site in an airway of the lung; creating an opening through the airway wall at the target site with a hole-making instrument; advancing the elongate instrument through the opening created in the airway wall; urging the elongate instrument and a dissector positioned within the elongate instrument forward through lung tissue, thereby creating a tunnel from the opening in the airway wall to the target tissue; removing the dissector from the elongate instrument such that the elongate instrument provides access to the target tissue for performing monitoring, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures; and performing a procedure on the target tissue with a procedure instrument through the previously positioned elongate instrument leading to the target tissue. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification