Urethrotome-dilator

A method of providing a urethrotome dilator, the method comprising:

• forming a dilating head having a first region with a round surface that tapers to a vertex at a distal end that forms a tip and a base at a proximal end of the dilating head a second region with a flat surface and a blade for cutting and stretching tissue, and channel formed longitudinally through the center of the dilating head for receiving a guidewire, the blade being integrally formed within the second region and extending from the flat surface, the blade having a distal blade end, a proximal blade end, a top edge, and two opposing sides, wherein the top edge of the blade is blunt, and the top edge of the blade and the two opposing sides of the blade form sharp corners for cutting tissue, and the height of the blade is tapered from the proximal blade end to the distal blade end;
• forming a handle for controlling movement and orientation of the dilating head;
• forming a stem for connecting the handle to the dilating head and providing haptic feedback of resistance encountered by the dilating head;
• and
• coupling the dilating head to the handle,
• wherein the flat surface extends from the vertex to the base of the dilating head and abuts the blade so that the blade is configured to stretch and cut tissue,
• wherein the first region and second region have a proximal end that forms a rear of the dilating head, the rear having a curved edge for dilating an urethral stricture while removing the urethrotome,
• wherein the channel extends through the geometric center of the dilating head from the tip through the base, and
• wherein the dilating head further comprises a recess for affixing the dilating head to the stem, the recess formed in the first region below the geometric center of the channel.

A method of dilating and cutting an urethral stricture with a urethrotome dilator, wherein the urethrotome dilator has a first distal end including a dilating head, a second proximal end including a handle for controlling movement and orientation of the urethrotome dilator, and a stem that couples the first distal end to the second proximal end the dilating head, wherein the dilating head of the first distal end forms a first region having a round surface that tapers to a vertex at a distal end that forms a tip and a base at a proximal end of the dilating head, a second region having a flat surface and a blade for stretching tissue, and a channel formed longitudinally through the center of the dilating head for receiving a guidewire, the blade being integrally formed within the second region and extending from the flat surface, the blade having a distal blade end, a proximal blade end, a top edge, and two opposing sides, wherein the top edge of the blade is blunt, and the top edge of the blade and the two opposing sides of the blade form sharp corners for cutting tissue, and the height of the blade is tapered from the proximal blade end to the distal blade end, wherein the steps comprise:

• inserting the dilating head of the urethrotome dilator into the urethral stricture;
• dilating the urethral stricture with the dilating head;
• receiving haptic feedback in response to the step of insertion, the haptic feedback indicative of a level of resistance encountered by the dilating head;
• and
• controlling the movement and orientation of the urethrotome dilator based on the haptic feedback,
• wherein the flat surface extends from the vertex to the base of the dilating head and abuts the blade so that the blade is configured to stretch and cut tissue,
• wherein the first region and second region have a proximal end that forms a rear of the dilating head, the rear having a curved edge for dilating the urethral stricture while removing the urethrotome,
• wherein the channel extends through the geometric center of the dilating head from the tip through the base, and
• wherein the dilating head further comprises a recess for affixing the dilating head to the stem, the recess formed in the first region below the geometric center of the channel.