Abstract: A balloon catheter for delivering a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to tissue is described including an outer balloon having a wall with an opening therethrough and an inner surface, an inner balloon disposed in the outer balloon, enclosing an inflation chamber and having an outer surface defining a space between the outer surface of the inner balloon and the inner surface of the outer balloon, a catheter having a first lumen in fluid communication with the space between the inner balloon and the outer balloon for supplying the agent thereto, and a second lumen through which fluid is supplied to the inflation chamber for inflating the inner balloon to urge the agent out of the opening in the outer balloon, wherein the outer balloon and/or the inner balloon comprise at least one protrusion for directing the agent formed by an inner balloon wall and/or the outer balloon wall.

Abstract: An adjustable balloon catheter for extravasated drug delivery is disclosed generally including an outer catheter with a first balloon and an inner catheter with a second balloon. The inner catheter is moveably disposed in a lumen of the outer catheter such that the inner catheter moves relative to the outer catheter, changing the distance between the balloons. A fluid source supplies air to the catheters via lumens therein to inflate the balloons to create a chamber between them, and at least one of the catheters has a lumen for delivering a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to the chamber. The inner catheter is then moved relative to the outer catheter to decrease the size of the chamber between the balloons and decrease the fluid pressure therein such that the therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent is extravasated into the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A method of localized delivery of a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to nasal tissue or cavities includes inserting a catheter into a nasal cavity, the catheter having an outer balloon with at least one opening therethrough and an inner surface, and an inner balloon disposed in the outer balloon and at least partially enclosing an inflation chamber and having an outer surface defining a space between the outer surface of the inner balloon and the inner surface of the outer balloon, supplying the agent to the space between the outer surface of the inner balloon and the inner surface of the outer balloon via a first lumen of the catheter, and inflating the inner balloon by supplying fluid to the inflation chamber via a second lumen of the catheter to urge the agent out of the opening in the wall of the outer balloon and into nasal tissue.

Abstract: A system for visualization of eye anatomy includes at least one camera having a view vector along a first axis when in a first position, a housing to which the at least one camera is coupled, wherein the housing is configured to engage an eye of a patient such that the at least one camera is positioned adjacent the eye, and an actuator that moves the at least one camera from the first position to a second position, wherein the at least one camera, when in the second position, has a view vector along a second axis that is offset from the first axis.

Abstract: A resector balloon includes an outer wall having a resecting surface that resects biological material. The balloon also includes a woven sleeve including at least one woven thread disposed on at least a portion of the outer wall. The woven sleeve forms at least a portion of the resecting surface. In certain embodiments, the woven sleeve includes weft knit threads including crossover points where the threads overlap. In some embodiments, the woven sleeve includes electrically conductive threads.

Abstract: A system for treatment of tumors includes a vessel having a photosensitizing agent therein, a delivery device for communicating the photosensitizing agent from the vessel to tumor tissue, a light source for radiating the tumor tissue after the delivery device has delivered the photosensitizing agent to the tumor tissue, a catheter having at least one inflatable balloon positioned thereon, and a fluid source that repeatedly inflates and at least partially deflates the inflatable balloon such that a resecting outer surface of the balloon contacts the radiated tumor tissue and resects the tissue.

Abstract: A resector balloon includes an outer wall having a resecting surface that resects biological material. The balloon also includes a woven sleeve including at least one woven thread disposed on at least a portion of the outer wall. The woven sleeve forms at least a portion of the resecting surface. In certain embodiments, the woven sleeve includes weft knit threads including crossover points where the threads overlap. In some embodiments, the woven sleeve includes electrically conductive threads.

Abstract: A balloon resection method is disclosed generally including inserting a catheter with at least one balloon having an outer wall with a resecting, non-slip surface for resecting unwanted biological material, such as tissues or tumors, and supplying fluid thereto in pulsed fashion to repeatedly deflate and inflate the balloon. In certain embodiments, a pump controls the pulsed supply of fluid based on an established frequency or change in volume. In some embodiments, the a keyed connector is used to identify the balloon type, and in some cases, intra-lumen diameters and densities are calculated. In some embodiments, the balloon portion of the catheter includes multiple balloon segments, which in some cases, are inflatable separately from one another.

Abstract: A compact light source includes an LED for supplying light and an optical element that receives and transmits the light. The LED is disposed in an insulation housing to insulate the LED, which has a surface that conducts the heat it generates. A heat sink is coupled to the LED adjacent the conductive surface, and a thermal compound is sandwiched in between the heat sink and conductive surface in order to channel and dissipate the heat generated by the LED without heating up any surrounding structures. In some embodiments, the optical element is part of a collimator coupled to the insulation housing and is a doublet or plano convex lens.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a resector balloon catheter and a hub coupled to the proximal portion of the catheter. The hub includes an inflation port that supplies fluid to a first lumen of the catheter to inflate a resector balloon. The hub further includes a delivery port for delivering an agent, such as drugs, to a second lumen of the catheter for delivery to the distal end of the catheter. The hub also includes an aperture for inserting a device, such as an imaging device, into the second lumen of the catheter. In some embodiments, the catheter includes a third lumen, and the hub includes an additional port in fluid communication with the third lumen.

Abstract: A handheld resector balloon system includes a balloon catheter with a resecting surface and hub coupled to a handheld pump. The hub includes an inflation port that supplies fluid to a first lumen of the catheter to repeatedly inflate and deflate the balloon in pulsed fashion to resect biological material. The hub may also include a delivery port for delivering an agent, such as drugs, to a second lumen of the catheter for delivery to the distal end of the catheter. The hub may also include an aperture for inserting a device, such as an imaging device, into the second lumen of the catheter. In some embodiments, an imaging module is coupled to a handheld pump, which may include a light source for supplying light, and image circuitry for converting an optical signal from the imaging device to electrical data to be output to a computer.

Abstract: An imaging stylet is provided, including a deformable outer housing having a proximal end and a distal end with a longitudinal axis, and an opening provided at the distal end, an imaging device disposed at the distal end of the outer housing, a deformable support member disposed in the outer housing, and an actuator disposed in the outer housing and coupled to the imaging device. The imaging device is movable by the actuator from an inactivated position, in which the imaging device is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the distal end, to an activated position, in which the imaging device extends out of the opening at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the distal end.

Abstract: Methods and systems for treatment of hypoxic tumors are provided, including the steps of positioning a delivery device in a bodily cavity adjacent to tumor tissue, delivering an oxygenating agent to the tumor tissue via the delivery device and radiating the tumor tissue with radiation. Methods and systems of treatment of tumors are also provided, including the steps of positioning a delivery device in a bodily cavity adjacent to tumor tissue, delivering a photosensitizing agent to the tumor tissue via the delivery device, and radiating the tumor tissue with light.

Abstract: A balloon resection method is disclosed generally comprising inserting a catheter with at least one balloon having an outer wall with a resecting, non-slip surface for resecting unwanted biological material, such as tissues or tumors, and supplying fluid thereto in pulsed fashion to repeatedly deflate and inflate the balloon. In certain embodiments, a pump controls the pulsed supply of fluid based on an established frequency or change in volume. In some embodiments, the a keyed connector is used to identify the balloon type, and in some cases, intra-lumen diameters and densities are calculated. In some embodiments, the balloon portion of the catheter includes multiple balloon segments, which in some cases, are inflatable separately from one another.

Abstract: A system for delivering a medical instrument into a bodily cavity is provided, including an outer shaft having an aperture in a side wall thereof, wherein the aperture is provided at a distal portion of the outer shaft, an inner shaft positioned inside the outer shaft and having an inflatable balloon disposed at a distal portion thereof, and a needle member movably disposed in the outer shaft, wherein the needle member extends outwardly from the outer shaft through the aperture when the balloon is inflated.

Abstract: A resector balloon system is disclosed generally comprising a catheter with at least one balloon having an outer wall with a resecting, non-slip surface for resecting unwanted biological material, such as tissues or tumors, and a pump that supplies fluid thereto in pulsed fashion to repeatedly deflate and inflate said balloon. In certain embodiments, the pump includes a processor that controls the pulsed supply of fluid based on an established frequency or change in volume. In some embodiments, the system includes a keyed connector with which the pump identifies the balloon type, and in some cases, the system calculates intra-lumen diameters and densities. In some embodiments, the balloon portion of the catheter includes multiple balloon segments, which in some cases, are inflatable separately from one another.

Abstract: A system for gathering biological material in a biological cavity comprising a catheter having a first lumen, a balloon, and a second lumen in fluid communication with said balloon. The balloon has a textured outer surface for collecting biological material. At least one device for sampling a bodily tissue, such as a needle, optic or forceps, is disposed in the first lumen. A fluid source in fluid communication with the balloon supplies fluid to the second lumen to inflate the balloon such that the textured outer surface collects additional biological material. The system is particularly useful for collecting samples in the lungs or bronchial airways, such as at a bronchial junction.

Abstract: A method of extravasated drug delivery is disclosed, including inserting a catheter with a first balloon, a second balloon, and a third balloon positioned between the first and second balloons and having a wall with an abrasive outer surface, into a bodily cavity, inflating the first and second balloons to create a chamber therebetween, stimulating a flow of blood cells by inflating the third balloon until the abrasive outer surface abrades tissue, and delivering the agent to the chamber. A balloon catheter system is also provided including a balloon having a wall with an abrasive outer surface for abrading tissue, a catheter having a first lumen for supplying fluid to the balloon to inflate the balloon such that the abrasive surface stimulates a flow of blood cells, and a second lumen for supplying an agent to tissue.

Abstract: A method of extravasated drug delivery is disclosed, including inserting a catheter with a first balloon, a second balloon, and a third balloon positioned between the first and second balloons and having a wall with an abrasive outer surface, into a bodily cavity, inflating the first and second balloons to create a chamber therebetween, stimulating a flow of blood cells by inflating the third balloon until the abrasive outer surface abrades tissue, and delivering the agent to the chamber. A balloon catheter system is also provided including a balloon having a wall with an abrasive outer surface for abrading tissue, a catheter having a first lumen for supplying fluid to the balloon to inflate the balloon such that the abrasive surface stimulates a flow of blood cells, and a second lumen for supplying an agent to tissue.