Medical Devices and Methods for Providing Access to a Bodily Passage During Dilation

Abstract

Medical devices and methods of treatment are described herein. More particularly, medical devices and methods for providing access to a bodily passage during dilation are described herein. An exemplary medical device comprises an elongate member and a balloon. The elongate member is moveable between a first, non-expanded configuration and a second, expanded configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing access to a bodily passage during dilation of a point of treatment within said bodily passage, the method comprising the steps of:
 introducing a wire guide having a wire guide proximal end and a wire guide distal into said bodily passage such that the wire guide distal end is disposed within said bodily passage;   advancing the wire guide distal end distal to said point of treatment;   introducing a medical device having a medical device proximal end and a medical device distal end over the wire guide and into said bodily passage such that the medical device distal end is disposed within said bodily passage, the medical device comprising:
 an elongate member having an elongate member proximal end, an elongate member distal end, a device lumen extending through the elongate member, and an inflation lumen; and 
 a balloon disposed on the elongate member and having a balloon axial length, a balloon chamber, and a gripping surface, the balloon axial length having a first portion and a second portion, the balloon chamber in communication with the inflation lumen and adapted to move between a first, deflated configuration and a second, inflated configuration as fluid moves into and out of the balloon chamber, the gripping surface disposed on the first portion of the balloon axial length; 
   advancing the medical device distally over the wire guide and into said bodily passage such that the medical device distal end is disposed distal to said point of treatment;
 passing fluid into the balloon chamber to move the balloon to the second, inflated configuration; 
   ventilating said bodily passage using the medical device such that a fluid is provided to a portion of said bodily passage distal to the balloon and while the balloon is in the second, inflated configuration;   removing a portion of the fluid from the balloon chamber;   withdrawing the wire guide from said bodily passage; and   withdrawing the medical device from said bodily passage.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of advancing the medical device distally over the wire guide and into said bodily passage such that the medical device distal end is disposed distal to said point of treatment is accomplished under direct visualization. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of confirming placement of the balloon prior to completing the step of passing fluid into the balloon chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of advancing the wire guide distal end distal to said point of treatment is accomplished using direct visualization. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the balloon has a maximum diameter; and
 wherein the first portion of the balloon axial length contains the maximum diameter.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the balloon axial length has a first coefficient of friction; and
 wherein the second portion of the balloon axial length has a second coefficient of friction that is less than the first coefficient of friction.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bodily passage is an airway; and
 wherein said point of treatment is a stricture within an airway.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of passing fluid into the balloon chamber to move the balloon to the second, inflated configuration comprises passing fluid into the balloon chamber to move the balloon to the second, inflated configuration such that the gripping surface contacts said stricture. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is moveable between a first, non-expanded configuration and a second, expanded configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device comprises a ventilation tube having a ventilation tube proximal end, a ventilation tube distal end, and a ventilation tube body that defines a ventilation tube lumen;
 further comprising the step of advancing the ventilation tube over the wire guide and through the device lumen such that the ventilation tube distal end is disposed distal to the elongate member distal end.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of attaching the ventilation tube to a ventilation device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device comprises a dilator having a dilator proximal end, a dilator distal end, a dilator tip, and a dilator body that defines a dilator lumen;
 further comprising the step of advancing the dilator distally though the device lumen such that a portion of the dilator tip is disposed distal to the elongate member distal end.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of attaching the dilator to a ventilation device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the elongate member defines a ventilation port in communication with the device lumen. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of attaching a ventilation device to the ventilation port. 
     
     
         16 . A method of providing access to an airway during dilation of a stricture within said airway, the method comprising the steps of:
 introducing a wire guide having a wire guide proximal end and a wire guide distal into said airway such that the wire guide distal end is disposed within said airway;   advancing the wire guide distal end distal to said stricture;   introducing a medical device having a medical device proximal end and a medical device distal end over the wire guide and into said airway such that the medical device distal end is disposed within said airway, the medical device comprising:
 an elongate member having an elongate member proximal end, an elongate member distal end, a device lumen extending through the elongate member, and an inflation lumen; 
 a balloon disposed on the elongate member and having a balloon axial length, a balloon chamber, and a gripping surface, the balloon axial length having a first portion and a second portion, the balloon chamber in communication with the inflation lumen and adapted to move between a first, deflated configuration and a second, inflated configuration as fluid moves into and out of the balloon chamber, the gripping surface disposed on the first portion of the balloon axial length; and 
 a ventilation tube having a ventilation tube proximal end, a ventilation tube distal end, and a ventilation tube body that defines a ventilation tube lumen; 
   advancing the medical device distally over the wire guide and into said airway such that the medical device distal end is disposed distal to said stricture;
 advancing the ventilation tube over the wire guide and through the device lumen such that the ventilation tube distal end is disposed distal to the elongate member distal end; 
   passing fluid into the balloon chamber to move the balloon to the second, inflated configuration such that the gripping surface contacts said stricture;   ventilating said airway using the medical device such that a fluid is provided to a portion of said airway distal to the balloon and while the balloon is in the second, inflated configuration;   removing a portion of the fluid from the balloon chamber;   withdrawing the wire guide from said airway; and   withdrawing the medical device from said airway.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of attaching the ventilation tube to a ventilation device. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing access to an airway during dilation of a stricture within said airway, the method comprising the steps of:
 introducing a wire guide having a wire guide proximal end and a wire guide distal into said airway such that the wire guide distal end is disposed within said airway;   advancing the wire guide distal end distal to said stricture;   introducing a medical device having a medical device proximal end and a medical device distal end over the wire guide and into said airway such that the medical device distal end is disposed within said airway, the medical device comprising:
 an elongate member having an elongate member proximal end, an elongate member distal end, a device lumen extending through the elongate member, and an inflation lumen; 
 a balloon disposed on the elongate member and having a balloon axial length, a balloon chamber, and a gripping surface, the balloon axial length having a first portion and a second portion, the balloon chamber in communication with the inflation lumen and adapted to move between a first, deflated configuration and a second, inflated configuration as fluid moves into and out of the balloon chamber, the gripping surface disposed on the first portion of the balloon axial length; and 
 a dilator having a dilator proximal end, a dilator distal end, a dilator tip, and a dilator body that defines a dilator lumen; 
   advancing the medical device distally over the wire guide and into said airway such that the medical device distal end is disposed distal to said stricture;   advancing the dilator distally though the device lumen such that a portion of the dilator tip is disposed distal to the elongate member distal end;
 passing fluid into the balloon chamber to move the balloon to the second, inflated configuration; 
   ventilating said airway using the medical device such that a fluid is provided to a portion of said airway distal to the balloon and while the balloon is in the second, inflated configuration;   removing a portion of the fluid from the balloon chamber;   withdrawing the wire guide from said airway; and   withdrawing the medical device from said airway.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of attaching the dilator to a ventilation device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the elongate member defines a ventilation port in communication with the device lumen; and
 further comprising the step of attaching a ventilation device to the ventilation port.