Patent ID: 11911066
Assignee: INDIAN WELLS MEDICAL, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 6:
7. A method of penetrating tissue, comprising the steps of:
providing an endoluminal punch system comprising:
an axially elongate sheath having a distal end and a proximal end, and a lumen extending from said proximal end to said distal end,
a dilator further comprising a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, a tapered dilator tip at said distal end, and a dilator lumen extending therethrough, said dilator slidably disposed within the lumen of the sheath to position the tapered dilator tip to extend distally from the distal end of the sheath;
an endoluminal punch slidably disposed within the dilator, said endoluminal punch having a distal end configured to penetrate tissue;
wherein the dilator lumen is configured to accommodate passage of the endoluminal punch;
an electrode suitable for emission of radiofrequency energy, said electrode disposed proximate the distal end of the dilator;
advancing the endoluminal punch system to place the tapered dilator tip and surrounding sheath against the tissue;
holding the tapered dilator tip and distal end of the sheath against the tissue;
advancing the distal end of the punch distally into the dilator tip to perforate the tissue;
energizing the electrode with radiofrequency energy to create or enlarge a hole in the tissue to permit advancement of the dilator tip through the tissue; and
advancing the dilator tip through tissue.