Apparatus and methods for accessing the lymphatic system
First Claim
1. A system for performing a medical procedure via a thoracic duct of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
- a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a body lumen, an aspiration lumen extending from the proximal end to a port in the distal end, an expandable member on the distal end sized for substantially isolating the thoracic duct when expanded within the thoracic duct, and an actuator on the proximal end of the tubular member to selectively expand and collapse the expandable member when the proximal end is external to the patient'"'"'s body;
one or more external devices configured to be located external to the patient'"'"'s body for removing fluid within the thoracic duct from the patient'"'"'s body, comprising;
a detector for analyzing the fluid removed from the thoracic duct via the aspiration lumen to identify whether blood is present in the removed fluid;
a container coupled to the proximal end of the tubular member for collecting fluid removed from the thoracic duct via the aspiration lumen; and
a controller coupled to the detector for opening a fluid path between the aspiration lumen and the container when the detector confirms that the fluid removed via the aspiration lumen does not include whole blood.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for performing a medical procedure within a patient'"'"'s body that involves a thoracic duct including an ostium communicating with the patient'"'"'s venous system. A distal end of a catheter is introduced through the patient'"'"'s venous system into a body lumen adjacent the ostium of the thoracic duct. An expandable member on the distal end of the tubular may be expanded adjacent the ostium, e.g., within the body lumen or the thoracic duct itself, and used to isolate the thoracic duct from the body lumen, whereupon a medical procedure may be performed via the thoracic duct. For example, lymphatic fluid may be removed from the thoracic duct through a lumen of the tubular member and/or one or more agents may be introduced into the thoracic duct through the tubular member.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for performing a medical procedure via a thoracic duct of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a body lumen, an aspiration lumen extending from the proximal end to a port in the distal end, an expandable member on the distal end sized for substantially isolating the thoracic duct when expanded within the thoracic duct, and an actuator on the proximal end of the tubular member to selectively expand and collapse the expandable member when the proximal end is external to the patient'"'"'s body; one or more external devices configured to be located external to the patient'"'"'s body for removing fluid within the thoracic duct from the patient'"'"'s body, comprising; a detector for analyzing the fluid removed from the thoracic duct via the aspiration lumen to identify whether blood is present in the removed fluid; a container coupled to the proximal end of the tubular member for collecting fluid removed from the thoracic duct via the aspiration lumen; and a controller coupled to the detector for opening a fluid path between the aspiration lumen and the container when the detector confirms that the fluid removed via the aspiration lumen does not include whole blood. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for performing a medical procedure within a patient'"'"'s body, the body comprising a thoracic duct including an ostium communicating with the patient'"'"'s venous system, comprising:
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introducing a distal end of a tubular member through the patient'"'"'s venous system into a body lumen adjacent the ostium of the thoracic duct such that a proximal end of the tubular member remains external to the patient'"'"'s body; inserting the distal end into the thoracic duct such that an expandable member on the distal end of the tubular member is positioned beyond a valve of the thoracic duct; expanding the expandable member within the thoracic duct beyond the valve to substantially isolate the thoracic duct from the body lumen; and performing a medical procedure via the thoracic duct, wherein performing a medical procedure comprises; activating a source of vacuum to remove fluid within the thoracic duct via the tubular member; analyzing the removed fluid to determine whether the removed fluid contains whole blood; if the removed fluid includes whole blood, deactivating the source of vacuum to stop fluid flow from the thoracic duct; and if the removed fluid does not include whole blood, directing the removed fluid to a container external to the patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification