Multi-lumen endoscopic catheter

A method of dilating a duct of a patient using a catheter having at least three lumens, a first of said lumens having a distally facing distal opening at a distal tip of said catheter, a second of said lumens having a generally distal facing distal opening adjacent the distal tip of the catheter and a third lumen communicating with a balloon disposed proximal to said distal end of said catheter, a first lumen of said catheter having a wire threaded therethrough, comprising the steps of:

• threading said catheter and said wire guide through an endoscope and into said duct to a desired position;
• infusing a contrast medium through a second lumen of said catheter to release contrast fluid from the catheter and visualize said duct distally of the balloon through the use of said contrast medium while maintaining said wire guide in said first lumen of said catheter;
• and
• inflating said balloon to dilate said duct by infusing a fluid through a third lumen of said catheter while maintaining said wire guide in said first lumen of said catheter.

A method of dilating a duct of a patient using a catheter having at least three lumens, two of said lumens having a distal opening at a distal tip of said catheter, and a third lumen communicating with a balloon disposed proximal to said distal tip of said catheter, a first lumen of said catheter having a wire guide threaded therethrough, comprising the steps of:

• threading said catheter and said wire guide through an endoscope and into said duct to a desired position;
• infusing a contrast medium through a second lumen of said catheter to visualize said duct through the use of said contrast medium while maintaining said wire guide substantially within said first lumen of said catheter such that said duct may be visualized through the use of said contrast medium without requiring the removal of said wire guide from said duct or said first lumen;
• and
• inflating said balloon to dilate said duct by infusing a fluid through a third lumen of said catheter.

A method of visualizing a duct of the biliary tree, the method comprising:

• (a) selecting a catheter having a first lumen configured for receiving a wire guide, a second lumen configured for injecting contrast fluid, the first and second lumens terminating at the distal end of the catheter, and a third lumen configured for receiving a cutting instrument;
• (b) threading said catheter and a wire guide through an endoscope and into said duct to a desired position;
• and
• (c) infusing a contrast medium through a second lumen of said catheter to release contrast fluid from the catheter and visualize said duct distally of the catheter.

A method of visualizing a duct of the biliary tree, the method comprising:

• (a) selecting a catheter having a first lumen configured for receiving a wire guide, a second lumen configured for injecting contrast fluid, the first and second lumens terminating at the distal tip of the catheter, and a third lumen configured for receiving a cutting instrument;
• (b) threading said catheter and a wire guide through an endoscope and into said duct to a desired position;
• and
• (c) infusing a contrast medium through a second lumen of said catheter to release contrast fluid from the distal tip of the catheter and visualize said duct distally of the catheter.

A method of visualizing a duct of the biliary tree, the method comprising:

• (a) selecting a catheter having a first lumen configured for receiving a wire guide, a second lumen configured for injecting contrast fluid, the first and second lumens each terminating in an independent axially facing port in the distal end of the catheter, and a third lumen configured for receiving a cutting instrument;
• (b) threading said catheter and a wire guide through an endoscope and into said duct to a desired position;
• and
• (c) infusing a contrast medium through a second lumen of said catheter to release contrast fluid from the distal tip of the catheter and visualize said duct distally of the catheter.