INTEGRATED MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC TOOL
A system for extending the visual capabilities and working channel of a bronchoscope including a probe having optic and/or tracking capabilities at a distal tip thereof and capable of being advanced through the working channel of a standard bronchoscope. The probe also includes a working channel through which various diagnostic and treatment tools may be advanced.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A catheter system for performing a lung procedure, comprising:
a bronchoscope;
a flexible catheter configured to be received through the bronchoscope and into a patient's lung, the flexible catheter having a lumen configured to receive a biopsy tool for removing tissue from the patient's lung;
an electromagnetic navigation sensor disposed within the flexible catheter; and
an optic system disposed within the flexible catheter.
3 . The catheter system according to claim 2 , wherein the optic system is permanently disposed within the flexible catheter.
4 . The catheter system according to claim 2 , further comprising a camera disposed within the flexible catheter for visualizing airways of the patient's lung during navigation of the flexible catheter through the airways of the patient's lung.
5 . The catheter system according to claim 4 , wherein the optic system and the camera are disposed at a distal end portion of the flexible catheter adjacent to a distal end of the lumen.
6 . The catheter system according to claim 2 , wherein the outer diameter of the lumen is greater than 1 millimeter.
7 . The catheter system according to claim 2 , wherein the outer diameter of the lumen is less than 2.2 millimeters.
8 . The catheter system according to claim 2 , further comprising an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field.
9 . The catheter system according to claim 8 , wherein the electromagnetic navigation sensor is configured to sense the electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic field generator for determining a location of the electromagnetic navigation sensor within the airways of the patient's lung.
10 . The catheter system according to claim 2 , further comprising a fluid irrigation and aspiration system configured to deliver fluid to the patient's lung and to aspirate fluid from the patient's lung.
11 . The catheter system according to claim 2 , wherein the electromagnetic navigation sensor is permanently disposed within the flexible catheter.
12 . The catheter system according to claim 2 , wherein the optic system includes at least one light source configured to emit light from the flexible catheter during navigation of the flexible catheter through the airways of the patient's lung.
13 . The catheter system according to claim 2 , wherein the outer diameter of the flexible catheter is greater than 2.5 millimeters.
14 . The catheter system according to claim 2 , wherein the optic system is configured to illuminate airways of the patient's lung during navigation of the flexible catheter through the airways of the patient's lung.
15 . A catheter system for performing a lung procedure, comprising:
a flexible catheter configured to be received within a patient's lung, the flexible catheter having a lumen configured to receive a biopsy tool for removing tissue from the patient's lung;
a light disposed within the flexible catheter and configured to illuminate airways of the patient's lung during navigation of the flexible catheter through the airways of the patient's lung; and
an electromagnetic navigation sensor disposed within the flexible catheter.
16 . The catheter system according to claim 15 , further comprising a camera disposed within the flexible catheter and configured to visualize the airways of the patient's lung during navigation of the flexible catheter through the airways of the patient's lung.
17 . The catheter system according to claim 15 , further comprising a fluid irrigation and aspiration system configured to deliver fluid to the patient's lung and to aspirate fluid from the patient's lung.
18 . The catheter system according to claim 15 , wherein the electromagnetic navigation sensor is configured to sense an electromagnetic field generated by an electromagnetic field generator for determining a location of the electromagnetic navigation sensor within the patient's lung.
19 . The catheter system according to claim 15 , wherein the electromagnetic navigation sensor is permanently disposed within the flexible catheter.
20 . The catheter system according to claim 15 , wherein the outer diameter of the flexible catheter is greater than 2.5 millimeters.
21 . The catheter system according to claim 15 , wherein the light is permanently disposed within the flexible catheter.
22 . The catheter system according to claim 15 , further comprising a bronchoscope, wherein the flexible catheter is configured to be received through the bronchoscope and into the patient's lung.
23 . A catheter system for performing a lung procedure, comprising:
a flexible catheter configured to be received within a patient's lung, the flexible catheter having a lumen configured to receive a biopsy tool;
an electromagnetic navigation sensor disposed within the flexible catheter and configured to sense an electromagnetic field for determining a location of the flexible catheter within the patient's lung; and
an optic system disposed within the flexible catheter.
24 . The catheter system according to claim 23 , further comprising a camera disposed within the flexible catheter and configured to visualize airways of the patient's lung during navigation of the flexible catheter through the airways of the patient's lung.
25 . The catheter system according to claim 23 , further comprising a fluid irrigation and aspiration system configured to deliver fluid to the patient's lung and to aspirate fluid from the patient's lung.
26 . The catheter system according to claim 23 , wherein the optic system is permanently disposed within the flexible catheter.
27 . The catheter system according to claim 23 , wherein the electromagnetic navigation sensor is permanently disposed within the flexible catheter.
28 . The catheter system according to claim 23 , wherein the optic system includes at least one light source configured to emit light from the flexible catheter to illuminate airways of the patient's lung during navigation of the flexible catheter through the airways of the patient's lung.
29 . The catheter system according to claim 23 , further comprising an electromagnetic field generator.
30 . The catheter system according to claim 23 , further comprising a bronchoscope, wherein the flexible catheter is configured to be received through the bronchoscope and into the patient's lung.