Methods and devices for diagnosing, monitoring, or treating medical conditions through an opening through an airway wall
Methods and devices for diagnosing, monitoring, and/or treating tissue through an opening or port through an airway wall are provided herein.
1. A method of accessing and treating a target tissue in a lung, the method comprising:
creating an opening through an airway wall at a target site with a hole-making instrument, the opening leading to the target tissue;
tunneling from the opening in the airway wall to the target tissue by advancing an elongate instrument and a dissector positioned therein from the opening to the target tissue;
removing the dissector from the elongate instrument such that the elongate instrument defines an access channel to the target tissue; and
treating the target tissue through the access channel defined by the previously positioned elongate instrument leading to the target tissue.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of treating comprises removing the target tissue.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the removing is carried out by snaring the target tissue with a tissue-snare catheter.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the removing is carried out by morcellating the target tissue with a morcellating-tip catheter.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of treating comprises ablating the target tissue with an energy-delivering catheter.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of treating comprises destroying the target tissue.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the destroying comprises injecting an agent into the target tissue.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the agent comprises at least one of a chemotherapy drug and a radioactive substance.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the destroying comprises advancing an implant into the target tissue.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the implant is one selected from the group consisting of a capsule, coil, and electrode.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the implant is a capsule, and the capsule is configured to release radiation.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the capsule is activated by a mechanism selected from the group consisting of chemical and electronic mechanisms.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the capsule is activated electronically from an energy source outside the body.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the implant is an electrode and configured to deliver alternating current to the tumor.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the electrode is activated from an external source selected from the group consisting of an electromagnetic and magnetic field.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the electrode is excited repeatedly.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dilating the opening with a balloon catheter; and performing imaging to guide the elongate instrument to the target tissue.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target tissue is a tumor.
19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising locating the target site on the airway wall, wherein the target site is in a location that allows for creation of the opening leading to the target tissue and for advancement of the elongate instrument through the opening to the target tissue along a substantially straight path.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising articulating the elongate instrument.