Minimally invasive methods and apparatus for target-tissue excision
AssigneePrecision Thoracic, LLC
InventorsEdward M. Boyle, JR., Kenneth Allan Beres, Richard Fischel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided to facilitate the minimally invasive removal of tissue and to facilitate the direct approach to anesthetizing a body wall of a patient. A pull-type cutting device also is disclosed to introduce an opening into the body wall to provide access for intra-chest surgical interventions, for example a minimally invasive biopsy technique as also described for excising target tissue from within a patient, including a nodule from within the patient's lung.
Claims22
A method of excising a target tissue, comprising:
- dilating a tissue tract that extends toward a target tissue via inflation of a dilation catheter;
- and
- advancing an excision device over the inflated dilation catheter toward the target tissue to excise the target tissue.
A method of excising a target tissue, comprising:
- tensioning a catch wire from a location adjacent a target tissue within a patient;
- dilating a tissue tract within the patient that extends toward the target tissue via inflation of a dilation catheter;
- advancing an excision device over the inflated dilation catheter and against a counterforce applied by tensioning the catch wire, thereby coring tissue surrounding the target tissue;
- and
- excising the target tissue by withdrawing the excision device through the tissue tract.
A method of excising a target tissue, comprising:
- advancing a tubular member having a series of openings in a circumferential wall thereof through a tract to a target tissue within a patient, the tubular member being in communication with a vacuum source;
- applying suction to said tubular member to draw a suction through said series of openings, thereby drawing a vacuum against tissue surrounding said tubular member along said tract;
- and
- performing an operation on said target tissue through said tubular member from a location outside said patient.
An apparatus for excising a target tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable dilation catheter configured to dilate a tissue tract that extends toward a target tissue;
- and
- an excision device configured and dimensioned to be advanced over the inflated dilation catheter to excise the target tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.