| abstract |
Methods for maintaining patency in a bronchus of a patient are presented. A catheter is positioned within the bronchus. A target region of one or more of a bronchial wall, submucosa, media, and adventitia is punctured at or adjacent a location of a debulked bronchial carcinoma with an injection needle disposed on a distal end of the catheter. Such puncturing is achieved by expanding a balloon disposed on the distal end of the catheter. The balloon is comprised of at least two materials of different elastic modulus, which allows for a flexible but relatively non-distensible, unfolding component of the balloon as well as an elastomeric, inflatable component of the balloon. Through the injection needle, an amount of cytotoxic, cytostatic, or anti-neoplastic agent is delivered to the target region. The delivered amount is effective to limit by a therapeutically beneficial amount recurrent bronchial occlusion due to recurrence of the bronchial carcinoma. |