Sheath and method for reconfiguring lung viewing scope
AssigneePulmonx Corporation
InventorsRobert Kotmel, Hiep Nguyen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus, methods, and kits, are provided for use in combination with a conventional bronchoscope or other lung viewing scope. In particular, sheaths having an inflatable cuff at their distal end are provided to receive a viewing scope through a lumen thereof. The sheaths thus provide an inflatable cuff on a viewing scope assembly so that the scope can be used in procedures which require selective isolation of regions of a patient's lungs. In particular embodiments, the sheaths may include stop elements for properly positioning a viewing scope therein, pressure transducers for providing accurate lung pressure information during procedures, and the like. Methods for using and forming sheaths having inflatable cuffs are also described.
Claims60
A method for accessing and occluding a lung passageway, said method comprising:
- providing a viewing scope comprising a flexible elongated body, an optical viewing element, and a light transmitting bundle;
- providing a sheath comprising a flexible tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, at least a first lumen therethrough, and at least a first inflatable cuff disposed near the distal end;
- introducing the viewing scope into the lumen of the flexible tubular body of the sheath to form an assembly where a viewing end of the viewing scope is located at the distal end of the sheath;
- introducing the assembly of the viewing scope and sheath to a lung passageway so that the inflatable cuff lies adjacent to a target location in the passageway;
- inflating the cuff to temporarily occlude the target location;
- and
- advancing a plug element through a lumen of the view scope to the target location.
A sheath for use in combination with a viewing scope, said sheath comprising:
- a flexible tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen therethrough;
- and
- a first inflatable cuff at the distal end of the flexible tubular body;
- wherein the flexible tubular body has a length in the range from 40 cm to 70 cm, an inside lumen diameter in the range from 1.5 mm to 10 mm, a wall thickness in the range from 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm, and the lumen of the flexible tubular body is textured to reduce friction.
A method for accessing and occluding a lung passageway, said method comprising:
- providing a viewing scope comprising a flexible elongated body, an optical viewing element, and a light transmitting bundle;
- providing a sheath comprising a flexible tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, at least a first lumen therethrough, and at least a first inflatable cuff disposed near the distal end;
- introducing the viewing scope into the lumen of the flexible tubular body of the sheath to form an assembly where a viewing end of the viewing scope is located at the distal end of the sheath;
- introducing the assembly of the viewing scope and sheath to a lung passageway so that the inflatable cuff lies adjacent to a target location in the passageway;
- inflating the cuff to temporarily occlude the target location;
- withdrawing the viewing scope from the sheath;
- and
- advancing a plug element through the first lumen of the sheath to the target location.
A method for accessing and occluding a lung passageway, said method comprising:
- providing a viewing scope comprising a flexible elongated body, an optical viewing element, and a light transmitting bundle;
- providing a sheath comprising a flexible tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, at least a first lumen therethrough, at least a first inflatable cuff disposed near the distal end of the tubular body, and a sleeve slidably disposed over the flexible tubular body and having at least a second inflatable cuff thereon;
- introducing the viewing scope into the lumen of the flexible tubular body of the sheath to form an assembly where a viewing end of the viewing scope is located at the distal end of the sheath;
- introducing the assembly of the viewing scope and sheath to a lung passageway in one lung so that the first inflatable cuff lies adjacent to a target location in the passageway and positioning the sleeve so that the second inflatable cuff is in a lung passageway at the entrance to the one lung;
- inflating the second cuff to isolate the one lung and permit ventilation of the other lung;
- and
- inflating the first cuff to temporarily occlude the target location.
A sheath for use in combination with a viewing scope, said sheath comprising:
- a flexible tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen therethrough;
- a sleeve slidably mounted over the flexible tubular body;
- a first inflatable cuff at the distal end of the flexible tubular body;
- and
- a second inflatable cuff disposed on the sleeve and spaced apart axially for the first inflatable cuff;
- wherein the flexible tubular body has a length in the range from 40 cm to 70 cm, an inside lumen diameter in the range from 1.5 mm to 10 mm, and a wall thickness in the range from 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.