What is claimed is:
1. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:
a body;
a one-way valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient’s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 10 inch water.
2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 5 inch water.
3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 1 inch water.
4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the body has a sealing portion which seals against the wall of the pulmonary passageway.
5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the sealing portion is deflectable to permit the passage of air in an expiratory direction.
6. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the sealing portion is a ring.
7. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the sealing portion is made of a resilient material.
8. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the body includes an expandable support structure.
9. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the body is made of an elastomeric material.
10. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein the body covers only part of the expandable support structure.
11. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve is integrally formed with the body.
12. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve has a first lip and a second lip, the first and second lips engaging one another when the valve is in a closed position, and wherein the first and second lips form a duckbill valve.
13. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:
a body;
a one-way valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient’s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve, wherein a pressure differential of 10 inch water or less opens the valve.
14. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein a pressure differential of 5 inch water or less opens the valve.
15. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein a pressure differential of 1 inch water or less opens the valve.
16. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the body has a sealing portion which seals against the wall of the pulmonary passageway.
17. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein the sealing portion is deflectable to permit the passage of air in an expiratory direction.
18. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein the sealing portion is a ring.
19. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein the sealing portion is made of a resilient material.
20. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the body includes an expandable support structure.
21. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the body is made of an elastomeric material.
22. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein the body covers only part of the expandable support structure.
23. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the valve is integrally formed with the body.
24. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the valve has a first lip and a second lip, the first and second lips engaging one another when the valve is in a closed position, and wherein the first and second lips form a duckbill valve.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of performing a biopsy of a lesion near to a patient’s skin, comprising:
translating a cutter tube distally in a cutter lumen to a distal-most position blocking a side aperture proximate to a distal end of the cutter lumen, wherein the side aperture is formed in a cannula defining the cutter lumen, wherein the cutter lumen is part of a probe assembly having a distal end;
inserting the distal end of the probe assembly through the patient’s skin with the side aperture aligned with the lesion, wherein the act of inserting the distal end of the probe assembly comprises inserting the distal end of the probe assembly through the patient’s skin to a point where a distal portion of the side aperture is positioned distal to an outer surface of the patient’s skin while a proximal portion of the side aperture is positioned proximal to the outer surface of the patient’s skin, wherein the act of inserting the distal end of the probe assembly is ceased while the proximal portion of the side aperture is still positioned proximal to the outer surface of the patient’s skin;
retracting the cutter tube proximally to a position between the distal and proximal ends of the side aperture and distal to the outer surface of the patient’s skin, wherein the proximal portion of the side aperture remains positioned proximal to the outer surface of the patient’s skin during the act of retracting the cutter tube, wherein the distal end of the probe assembly maintains a consistent position relative to the skin of the patient during the act of retracting the cutter tube;
prolapsing tissue into the side aperture, wherein the proximal portion of the side aperture remains positioned proximal to the outer surface of the patient’s skin during the act of prolapsing the tissue, wherein the distal end of the probe assembly maintains a consistent position relative to the skin of the patient during the act of prolapsing tissue; and
translating the cutter tube distally to cut a tissue sample, wherein the proximal portion of the side aperture remains positioned proximal to the outer surface of the patient’s skin during the act of translating the cutter tube, wherein the distal end of the probe assembly maintains a consistent position relative to the skin of the patient during the act of translating the cutter tube.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein retracting the cutter tube further comprises receiving a value corresponding to a position to which the cutter tube is to be retracted, and retracting the cutter tube in accordance with the value.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising directing a pneumatic vacuum pressure through the probe assembly to prolapse tissue into the side aperture.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising directing a positive pneumatic pressure through a vacuum lumen to the distal end of the cutter lumen into the distal end of the cutter tube and applying a pneumatic vacuum pressure to a proximal end of the cutter tube to effect retraction of a tissue sample through the cutter tube.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
repositioning the probe assembly and thereby distally fully encompassing the side aperture of the probe;
retracting the cutter tube to a position proximate to the proximal end of the side aperture fully exposing the side aperture to tissue;
prolapsing tissue into the side aperture; and
translating the cutter tube distally to cut a tissue sample.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing current cutter tube position and closed loop controlling the position of the cutter tube in response to the sensed position.