Method to remove common bile duct stones

A method for laparoscopically removing gallstones captively held in the common bile duct comprising the steps of:

• a) advancing a guidewire laparoscopically through the cystic duct and through the common bile duct and extending said guidewire into the duodenum;
• b) advancing a flexible catheter having an axis of elongation over said guidewire, said catheter having sufficient distal curvature to enable the passage of the distal end of said catheter through the cystic duct junction with said common bile duct, said catheter having an inflatable balloon adjacent said distal end where said inflatable balloon has first and second radiopaque markers defining the axial boundries of said balloon and an irrigation port located proximally of said balloon, said irrigation port having a third radiopaque marker located proximally of said first and second radiopaque markers and adjacent said irrigation port;
• c) visualizing the passage of said inflatable balloon through said cystic duct and into said common bile duct flouroscopically;
• d) positioning said balloon adjacent the juncture of said common bile duct and duodenum to permit dilation of the sphincter muscle;
• e) inflating said balloon sufficiently to dilate said sphincter muscle;
• f) injecting a solvent through said irrigation port into the common bile duct to sufficiently dissolve said gallstones;
• g) deflating said inflatable balloon;
• h) irrigating said common bile duct with a fluid to flush said common bile duct.