Ureteral access sheath

A method for inserting a medical instrument into a urethra, comprising the steps of:

• providing a urethral access device having an elongate tube with a lumen extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end, and a handle at the proximal end of the tube;
• configuring the handle with a distally-facing surface and proximally-facing surface, the distally-facing surface being sized and configured to receive two adjacent fingers of a user's hand;
• inserting the distal end of the tube into the urethra to an operating position in order to provide access for the medical device;
• moving the medical device distally into the proximal end of the lumen of the tube and through the lumen of the tube into the urethra;
• during the moving step creating a distal force on the urethral access sheath;
• and
• applying a proximal force on the distally-facing surface of the handle to oppose the distal force and maintain the access sheath in the operative position.

A method for providing a surgical access with a desirable length, comprising steps of:

• providing an elongate tube having a working channel and a handle assembly having an engagement apparatus adapted to fit over the tube, the handle having a movable relationship with the tube when the engagement apparatus is in a first state and a fixed relationship with the tube when the engagement apparatus is in a second state;
• placing the engagement apparatus in the first state;
• removing a portion of the elongate tube to shorten the length of the tube generally to the desired length;
• moving the handle to a predetermined location along the tube;
• and
• placing the engagement apparatus in the second state to fix the handle to the tube at the predetermined location and provide the access device with the desired length.