US 5,599,300 AGranted

Method for electrosurgically obtaining access to the biliary tree with an adjustably positionable needle-knife

AssigneeArrow Precision Products, Inc.

InventorsGeorge W. Weaver, Damond C. Holsinger, David F. Leighton, Harold Jacob

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Abstract

A method of electrosurgically obtaining access to the biliary tree of a patient and visualizing a duct thereof using a catheter having at least a first lumen and a second lumen defined therethrough, each lumnen terminating in an opening defined at a distal end of the catheter, the first lumen of the catheter having a needle-knife disposed therein and the second lumen of the catheter enabling infusion of a contrast medium to visualize the duct of the patient while the needle-knife remains in the first lumen of the catheter, the needle-knife having a distal end and being connected to a deployment mechanism at a proximal end of the catheter for extending and retracting the needle-knife between a deployed position and a fully sheathed position relative to the distal end of the catheter, the deployment mechanism having an adjustable stop for adjusting the distance between the distal end of the needle-knife and the distal end of the catheter, the needle-knife electrically communicating with a power source to enable the operator to electrosurgically incise tissue in the duct of the patient.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A method of electrosurgically obtaining access to the biliary tree of a patient and visualizing a duct thereof using a catheter having at least a first lumen and a second lumen defined therethrough, each lumen terminating in an opening defined at a distal end of said catheter, said first lumen of said catheter having a needle-knife disposed therein, said needle-knife having a distal end and being connected to a deployment means at a proximal end of said catheter for extending and retracting said needle-knife between a deployed position and a fully sheathed position relative to said distal end of said catheter, said deployment means having adjustable stop means for adjusting the distance between said distal end of said needle-knife and said distal end of said catheter, said needle-knife electrically communicating with a power source, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting said catheter and said needle-knife in said sheathed position through an endoscope and into the duodenum of the patient proximal to the entrance to the common bile duct;
deploying said needle-knife from said sheathed position relative to said distal end of said catheter and positioning said distal end of said needle-knife relative to said distal end of said catheter by manipulating said adjustable stop means;
manipulating said needle-knife and applying current thereto to incise tissue proximal to said entrance to said common bile duct;
withdrawing said needle-knife into said sheathed position relative to said distal end of said catheter;
advancing said catheter into said common bile duct to a desired location within said duct;
and
infusing a contrast medium through said second lumen of said catheter to visualize said common bile duct through the use of said contrast medium while said needle-knife remains in said first lumen of said catheter.

4 more elements

A method of electrosurgically obtaining access to a duct of a patient using a catheter having at least a first lumen and a second lumen defined therethrough, each lumen terminating in an opening defined at a distal end of said catheter, said first lumen of said catheter having an elongated sheath threaded therethrough, said sheath having a needle-knife disposed therein, said needle-knife having a distal end and being connected to a deployment means at a proximal end of said sheath for extending and retracting said needle-knife between a fully deployed position and a sheathed position relative to a distal end of said sheath, said deployment means having adjustable stop means for adjusting the distance between said distal end of said needle-knife and said distal end of said catheter, said needle-knife electrically communicating with a power source, said method comprising:

inserting said catheter containing said needle-knife and said sheath through an endoscope and into a position proximal to an entrance to a duct of the patient;
deploying said needle-knife from said sheathed position relative to said distal end of said sheath and positioning said distal end of said needle-knife relative to said distal end of said catheter by manipulating said adjustable stop means;
manipulating said needle-knife and applying current thereto to incise tissue proximal to said entrance to said duct;
withdrawing said needle-knife into said sheathed position relative to said distal end of said sheath while said sheath remains in said first lumen of said catheter;
advancing said catheter into said duct to a desired location within said duct while said sheath remains in said first lumen of said catheter;
and
infusing a contrast medium through said second lumen of said catheter to visualize said duct while said sheath and said needle-knife remain in said first lumen of said catheter.

4 more elements

inserting said catheter containing said needle-knife and said sheath through an endoscope and into a position proximal to an entrance to a duct of the patient;
deploying said needle-knife from said sheathed position relative to said distal end of said sheath and positioning said distal end of said needle-knife relative to said distal end of said catheter by manipulating said adjustable stop means;
manipulating said needle-knife and applying current thereto to incise tissue proximal to said entrance to said duct;
withdrawing said sheath and said needle-knife through said first lumen of said catheter and then threading a wire guide through said first lumen of said catheter while said catheter remains in said position proximal to said entrance of said duct;
advancing said wire guide through said opening defined in said distal end of said catheter and along said duct;
advancing said catheter over said wire guide to a desired location within said duct;
and
infusing a contrast medium through said second lumen of said catheter to visualize said duct while said wire guide remains in said first lumen of said catheter.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/440,562Filed 12 May 1995 · continuation in part
Priority: 11 May 1992
Granted: 4 Feb 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification25 codes

A61M 25/0026
By the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter: multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements
A61B 18/1492
Probes or electrodes therefor: having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation
A61B 18/1477
Probes or electrodes therefor: needle-like probes
A61B 90/03
Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00,…

Family

Serial880,842Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 11 May 1992
Serial60,434Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 11 May 1993
Serial189,317Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Jan 1994
Serial332,836Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 1 Nov 1994
US 5,397,302 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,599,300 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.