Apparatus and methods for accessing the lymphatic system
First Claim
1. A method for performing a medical procedure within a patient'"'"'s body, the body comprising a thoracic duct including a terminal valve and an ostium communicating with a patient'"'"'s venous system of the patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
- introducing a distal portion of a tubular member through the patient'"'"'s venous system into a body lumen adjacent the terminal valve and ostium of the thoracic duct, the distal portion biased to a curvilinear configuration;
manipulating the tubular member until a distal tip of the distal portion enters the ostium of the thoracic duct;
further manipulating the tubular member to direct the distal portion into the thoracic duct until an expandable member on the distal portion passes through the terminal valve;
expanding the expandable member within the thoracic duct beyond the terminal valve to substantially isolate the thoracic duct from the body lumen; and
performing a medical procedure via the thoracic duct,wherein the expandable member comprises a first balloon, the method further comprising expanding a second balloon on the distal portion adjacent the first balloon.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
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.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for performing a medical procedure within a patient'"'"'s body, the body comprising a thoracic duct including a terminal valve and an ostium communicating with a patient'"'"'s venous system of the patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
-
introducing a distal portion of a tubular member through the patient'"'"'s venous system into a body lumen adjacent the terminal valve and ostium of the thoracic duct, the distal portion biased to a curvilinear configuration; manipulating the tubular member until a distal tip of the distal portion enters the ostium of the thoracic duct; further manipulating the tubular member to direct the distal portion into the thoracic duct until an expandable member on the distal portion passes through the terminal valve; expanding the expandable member within the thoracic duct beyond the terminal valve to substantially isolate the thoracic duct from the body lumen; and performing a medical procedure via the thoracic duct, wherein the expandable member comprises a first balloon, the method further comprising expanding a second balloon on the distal portion adjacent the first balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for performing a medical procedure within a patient'"'"'s body, the body comprising a thoracic duct including a terminal valve and an ostium communicating with a patient'"'"'s venous system of the patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
-
introducing a distal portion of a tubular member through the patient'"'"'s venous system into a body lumen adjacent the terminal valve and ostium of the thoracic duct, the distal portion biased to a curvilinear configuration; manipulating the tubular member until a distal tip of the distal portion enters the ostium of the thoracic duct; further manipulating the tubular member to direct the distal portion into the thoracic duct until an expandable member on the distal portion passes through the terminal valve; expanding the expandable member within the thoracic duct beyond the terminal valve to substantially isolate the thoracic duct from the body lumen; and performing a medical procedure via the thoracic duct, wherein the distal portion of the tubular member has a curvilinear shape in a relaxed state and terminates in the distal tip, and wherein a proximal portion of the tubular member comprises a distal end including a transition that tapers such that the distal portion has a smaller outer diameter along its length than the proximal portion; wherein introducing the distal portion of the tubular member comprises; introducing the distal portion of the tubular member into a patient'"'"'s vasculature via a percutaneous access site in the patient'"'"'s left internal jugular vein; advancing the tubular member until the distal portion is disposed near a junction of the left internal jugular vein and the patient'"'"'s left subclavian vein and the proximal portion is disposed through the access site and in the left internal jugular vein; and manipulating the tubular member to orient the distal tip towards the thoracic duct; wherein further manipulating the tubular member comprises retracting the tubular member to direct the distal tip and the expandable member into the thoracic duct beyond a terminal valve of the thoracic duct; and wherein expanding the expandable member comprises; expanding a first balloon on the distal portion within the thoracic duct between the terminal valve and a next valve within the thoracic duct; and expanding a second balloon on the distal portion within the thoracic duct distally beyond the next valve. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
Specification