Apparatus for puncturing balloon in airway dilation shaft

A puncturing assembly, wherein the puncturing assembly comprises:

• (a) a dilation catheter, wherein the dilation catheter comprises:
• (i) a shaft, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis, and
• (ii) a dilator coupled to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the dilator is configured dilate from a collapsed state to an expanded state,
• (b) a puncturing assembly, wherein the puncturing assembly is located external to the shaft, wherein the puncturing assembly operable to puncture the dilator, wherein the puncturing assembly is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

A puncturing assembly, wherein the puncturing assembly comprises:

• (a) a dilation assembly, wherein the dilation assembly comprises:
• (i) a shaft, wherein the shaft defines a lumen, wherein the shaft further defines a longitudinal axis,
• (ii) a dilator coupled to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the lumen extends through an interior region of the dilator;
• (b) a tube, wherein the tube is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
• and
• (c) at least one puncturing member, wherein the at least one puncturing member is configured to be positioned within the tube, wherein the at least one puncturing member is movable from a first position to a second position, wherein the at least one puncturing member is configured to create an opening to drain fluid from the dilator upon movement of the at least one puncturing member from the first position to the second position.