Method of employing a medical apparatus with translatable imaging device for real-time confirmation of interception of target tissue

A medical assembly comprising:

• a catheter comprising:
• an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion,
• a first working channel extending from the proximal end portion to a side exit defining an exit angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter, wherein the side exit is located at an outer wall of the catheter proximate from a distal face of the catheter and comprises a side exit ramp having a fixed sloped surface that curves the working channel towards the side exit at the exit angle, and
• a second working channel extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion;
• a medical instrument assembly disposed within the first working channel, the medical instrument assembly comprising:
• a handle assembly disposed at a proximal end of the medical instrument assembly, and
• a needle disposed at a distal end of the medical instrument assembly, the needle having a needle tip that is extendable through the side exit at the exit angle toward a target, wherein the side exit ramp causes the needle tip to curve at the exit angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter as it exits through the outer wall;
• and
• an imaging device disposed within the second working channel, the imaging device comprising an ultrasound transducer configured to generate an image of the needle when the needle tip is extended through the side exit at the exit angle toward the target.

A method of generating an image of a medical instrument using a medical apparatus comprising:

• providing the medical apparatus, the medical apparatus comprising:
• a catheter comprising an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion comprising a port that is fixed in relation to a first catheter handle, the distal end portion comprising a side exit located at an outer wall of the catheter proximate from a distal face of the catheter, wherein a working channel extends between the port and the side exit, and wherein the side exit comprises a side exit ramp having a fixed sloped surface that curves the working channel towards the side exit at an exit angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter;
• a medical instrument comprising a proximal end and a distal end and housed within the working channel, the proximal end of the medical instrument comprising a medical instrument handle, the distal end of the medical instrument comprising a needle, the needle having a needle tip that is extendable through the side exit at an exit angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter to an extended position beyond the side exit, wherein the side exit ramp causes the needle tip to curve at the exit angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter as it exits through the outer wall;
• and
• an imaging device positioned near the distal end portion of the elongate flexible shaft, and wherein the imaging device comprises an ultrasound transducer configured to image the needle in the extended position;
• navigating a medical apparatus through an airway of a patient to a position proximate to a target;
• extending the needle tip from within the working channel through the side exit;
• and
• generating an image of the needle extended beyond the side exit using the imaging device.