Cauterizing device for use with stents

Abstract

A lumen-apposing access system may include a catheter and a cauterization tip. The cauterization tip may include a biasing member and a cautery element. The cauterization tip may move relative to the catheter between a first position in which the cautery element is electrically inactive, and a second position in which the cautery element is electrically active. The biasing member biases the cautery element in the first position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of accessing a lumen through a wall of the lumen, comprising:
 advancing a distal end of a catheter to a lumen wall, the catheter including a cauterization tip disposed on the distal end of the catheter, the cauterization tip having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a biasing member, the distal portion including a cautery element, wherein the distal portion is moveable relative to the proximal portion between a first position in which the distal portion is spaced apart from the proximal portion and the cautery element is electrically inactive, and a second position in which the distal portion contacts the proximal portion and the cautery element is electrically active, wherein the biasing member biases the distal portion in the first position;   pushing the cauterization tip against a first side of the lumen wall, thereby applying a proximally directed force onto the distal portion which moves the distal portion into contact with the proximal portion and activates the cautery element; and   moving the cauterization tip through the lumen wall until the distal portion reaches a second side of the lumen wall, at which point the proximally directed force is removed and the biasing member moves the distal portion away from the proximal portion, into the first position, deactivating the cautery element.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the distal portion into the first position automatically deactivates the cautery element. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter includes a stent, the method further comprising expanding the stent across the lumen wall. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cauterization tip includes an electrical circuit that is completed when the distal portion is in the second position, and the electrical circuit is broken when the distal portion is in the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a wire extends through the catheter from a proximal end to the proximal portion of the cauterization tip, wherein the distal portion has a contact surface that contacts the wire when the distal portion is in the second position, completing the electrical circuit, and is spaced apart from the wire when the distal portion is in the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the distal portion and a distal end of the proximal portion include electrical contacts. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a helical spring having a plurality of helical windings. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a first wire extends through the catheter from a proximal end to the proximal portion of the cauterization tip, wherein the distal portion has a second wire extending from a distal tip cautery surface into the proximal neck, wherein when the spring is in a relaxed state and the distal portion is in the first position, the second wire is spaced apart from the first wire, wherein when the spring is compressed and the distal portion is in the second position, the second wire contacts the first wire, completing an electrical circuit between the first wire and the second wire. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when the proximally directed force is removed from the distal end of the distal portion, the biasing member expands and the distal portion moves from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
         10 . A method of accessing a lumen through a wall of the lumen, comprising:
 advancing a distal end of a catheter to a lumen wall, the catheter including a cauterization tip disposed on the distal end of the catheter, the cauterization tip having a proximal portion, a distal portion having a tapered distal tip portion, and a biasing member positioned within the tapered distal tip portion, the distal portion including a cautery element;   pushing the cauterization tip against a first side of the lumen wall, thereby applying a proximally directed force onto the distal portion which moves the distal portion into contact with the proximal portion and activates the cautery element; and   moving the cauterization tip through the lumen wall until the distal portion reaches a second side of the lumen wall, at which point the proximally directed force is removed and the biasing member moves the distal portion away from the proximal portion, into a first position, deactivating the cautery element;   wherein the biasing member is a helical spring having a plurality of helical windings.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the distal portion is moveable relative to the proximal portion between the first position in which the distal portion is spaced apart from the proximal portion and the cautery element is electrically inactive, and a second position in which the distal portion contacts the proximal portion and the cautery element is electrically active. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the biasing member biases the distal portion in the first position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cautery element is movable relative to the tapered distal tip portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the catheter includes a stent, the method further comprising expanding the stent across the lumen wall. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cauterization tip includes an electrical circuit that is completed when the distal portion is in the second position, and the electrical circuit is broken when the distal portion is in the first position. 
     
     
         16 . A method of accessing a lumen through a wall of the lumen, comprising:
 advancing a distal end of a catheter to a lumen wall, the catheter including an inner shaft axially moveable within a lumen of the catheter, and a cauterization tip disposed on a distal end of the inner shaft, the cauterization tip having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a biasing member, the distal portion including a cautery element, wherein the distal portion is moveable relative to the proximal portion between a first position in which the distal portion is spaced apart from the proximal portion and the cautery element is electrically inactive, and a second position in which the distal portion contacts the proximal portion and the cautery element is electrically active, wherein the biasing member biases the distal portion in the first position;   pushing the cauterization tip against a first side of the lumen wall, thereby applying a proximally directed force onto the distal portion which moves the distal portion into contact with the proximal portion and activates the cautery element;   moving the cauterization tip through the lumen wall until the distal portion reaches a second side of the lumen wall, at which point the proximally directed force is removed and the biasing member moves the distal portion away from the proximal portion, into the first position, deactivating the cautery element; and   deploying a stent from the catheter across the lumen wall.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the biasing member is a helical spring having a plurality of helical windings. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a wire extends along the inner shaft from a proximal end of the catheter to the proximal portion of the cauterization tip, wherein the distal portion has a contact surface that contacts the wire when the distal portion is in the second position, completing an electrical circuit, and is spaced apart from the wire when the distal portion is in the first position, breaking the electrical circuit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cauterization tip includes an electrical circuit that is completed when the distal portion is in the second position, and the electrical circuit is broken when the distal portion is in the first position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein moving the distal portion into the first position automatically deactivates the cautery element.