Patent ID: 9533128
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61M

Claim:
1. A hole-making catheter for creating and dilating an opening within tissue, the catheter comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and at least one lumen extending through the proximal end, said shaft having a flexibility and diameter to slidably fit within a working channel of a bronchoscope; a nondistensible balloon having an interior in fluid communication with the lumen, the nondistensible balloon located on the distal portion of the elongate shaft; a piercing member located at the distal portion of the elongate shaft; the piercing member being extendable and retractable within the elongate shaft; and a depth limiting feature wherein the depth limiting feature cooperates with the elongate shaft to halt distal movement of the distal portion of the elongate shaft beyond a fixed distance.