Method of introducing a tubular member at a site in the body

Abstract

An endoscopic instrument for controlled introduction of tubular members in the body includes a blade assembly having a blade for being introduced in the body to retract or manipulate anatomical tissue for introduction of a tubular member at a site in the body, a tubular member assembly having a tubular member with a distal end for being introduced at the site in the body and a remote viewing assembly having a distal end for being positioned in the body to permit introduction of the tubular member at the site in the body to be confirmed visually at a location remote from the site in the body. The distal end of the tubular member and the distal end of the remote viewing device are movable along the blade to introduce the tubular member distal end at the site in the body. A method of introducing a tubular member at a site in the body includes the steps of inserting a blade of an instrument in the body, retracting anatomical tissue with the blade, moving a distal end of a tubular member of the instrument distally along the blade to introduce the distal end of the tubular member at the site in the body and visualizing introduction of the tubular member at the site in the body with a remote viewing device from a location remote from the site in the body.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.