Claims
- 1. A method of placing a conduit within lung tissue comprising: feeding a guide-wire to a site within the lung; advancing a conduit to the site using the guide-wire; and placing the conduit within lung tissue at the site.
- 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting an access device within the lung, the access device adapted to locate the site prior to the feeding step, wherein the access device includes at least one lumen.
- 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the access device comprises a bronchoscope.
- 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
feeding a blood-vessel detection device through the lumen of the access device; and selecting the site within the lungs using the blood-vessel detection device to avoid blood vessels within the lung.
- 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
feeding a guide-wire through the lumen of the access device; and creating a collateral channel with the guide-wire at the site prior to placing the conduit.
- 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
leaving the guide-wire extending through the collateral channel and withdrawing the access device from the lung
- 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
returning the access device to a point near the collateral channel to allow visualization of the collateral channel
- 8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
feeding a hole-making device through the lumen of the access device; and creating a collateral channel with the hole-making device at the site prior to placing the conduit.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein feeding the guide-wire to the site comprises feeding the guide-wire through the collateral channel.
- 10. The method of claim 2, wherein advancing the conduit comprises feeding a catheter having a conduit attached thereto over the guide-wire to the collateral channel.
- 11. The method of 10, wherein placing the conduit within lung tissue
further includes expanding the conduit within the collateral channel.
- 12-37. (canceled)
- 38. The method of claim 1, further compromising visualizing the placement of the conduit using radiological imaging.
- 39. The method of claim 38, further compromising various agents are used to enhance the visibility of hyperinflated portions of the lung.
- 40. The method of claim 2, further comprising creating a collateral channel at the site and feeding a balloon device through the access device to dilate the collateral channel.
- 41. The method of claim 2, further compromising feeding a drug delivery device through the access device; and to the formed collateral channel.
- 42. The method of claim 41, further compromising drugs or medicines are delivered through the device.
- 43. The method of claim 41, further compromising bio-compatible adhesives are delivered through the device.
- 44. The method of claim 1, further compromising determination of collateral ventilation used to aid in creating a collateral channel at the site.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/269,130 filed on Feb. 14, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60269130 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09947144 |
Sep 2001 |
US |
Child |
10862933 |
Jun 2004 |
US |