APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR EVERTING CATHETERS WITH EXPANDABLE LUMENS
An everting catheter with an expandable inner lumen for the passage of instruments or other devices is described. The catheter can have an inflatable everting balloon. When inflated, the everting balloon can define a channel or passageway, via an inner balloon lumen, into a target site. Instruments can be delivered to the target site through the channel defined by the inflated everting balloon.
1 . A system for accessing a body cavity or body lumen comprising:
an everting catheter system comprising an inner catheter, an outer catheter, and an everting balloon,
wherein the inner catheter defines an inner lumen that accesses the body cavity or body lumen, and wherein the inner catheter has a first profile and a second profile, and wherein the first profile is smaller than the second profile, wherein the inner catheter is pleated when the inner catheter is in the first profile; and
an instrument placed through the inner lumen, and wherein when the instrument is in the inner lumen, the inner catheter is in the second profile around the instrument.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner catheter is radially unexpanded in the first profile and radially expanded in the second profile.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises an endoscope.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises a cytology brush.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises an IUD inserter.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises a shaver.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises an aspiration-type biopsy device.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein when the inner catheter is in the second profile, the everting balloon is torn at an intentional weakness in the wall of the everting balloon.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the intentional weakness comprises a perforation.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the tearing of the everting balloon requires the use of a mechanical implement that is active when the instrument is placed through the inner balloon lumen.
11 . A system for accessing a body cavity or body lumen comprising:
an everting catheter system comprising an inner catheter, an outer catheter, and an everting balloon,
wherein the inner catheter defines an inner lumen that accesses the body cavity or body lumen, and wherein the inner catheter has a first profile and a second profile, and wherein the first profile is smaller than the second profile, wherein the inner catheter is folded when the inner catheter is in the first profile; and
an instrument placed through the inner lumen, and wherein when the instrument is in the inner lumen, the inner catheter is in the second profile around the instrument.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instrument comprises an endoscope.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instrument comprises a cytology brush.
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instrument comprises an IUD inserter.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instrument comprises a shaver.
16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instrument comprises an aspiration-type biopsy device.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein when the inner catheter is in the second profile, the everting balloon is torn at an intentional weakness in the wall of the everting balloon.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the intentional weakness comprises a perforation.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the tearing of the everting balloon requires the use of a mechanical implement that is active when the instrument is placed through the inner balloon lumen.
20 . A method for accessing a body cavity or lumen comprising:
inserting an everting catheter system into the body, wherein the everting catheter system comprises an inner catheter defining an inner lumen, an outer catheter, and an everting balloon defining a balloon lumen, and wherein the inner catheter is in the balloon lumen;
deploying the everting balloon out of the distal end of the everting catheter system and into the body cavity or lumen, wherein deploying comprises positioning the inner catheter in the body cavity or lumen in a first profile that is smaller than a second profile, wherein the inner catheter is pleated or folded when the inner catheter is in the first profile;
inserting an instrument through the inner lumen, and wherein the inner catheter has the second profile around the instrument when the instrument is inserted in the inner lumen; and
tearing the everting balloon.