Medical device introduction system including medical introducer having a plurality of access ports and methods of performing medical procedures with same

A medical device introduction system comprising:

• a medical introducer having an introducer body and a plurality of lumen formed therein;
• an imaging device positioned in a predetermined one of the plurality of lumen of said medical introducer so that the imaging device is separately movable independent of said medical introducer;
• and
• a separate steerable working channel device positioned in at least one other of the plurality of lumen of said medical introducer so that the separate working channel device and the imaging device are separately controlled by a user thereof independent of each other, said separate working channel device including an elongate tube portion having at least one lumen formed therein which defines the working channel.

A medical introducer for introducing medical devices therethrough, the medical introducer comprising:

• an introducer body;
• a plurality of lumen formed in said introducer body;
• and
• imaging device position maintaining means associated with at least an inner surface of a predetermined one of the plurality of lumen for maintaining a rotational position of a distal end portion of an imaging device when positioned within the predetermined one of the plurality of lumen.

A medical introducer for introducing medical devices therethrough, the medical introducer comprising:

• an introducer body including at least one inflatable portion associated with the outer surface of a predetermined distal end portion thereof for inflating the outer surface of the predetermined distal end portion from a collapsed to an enlarged position;
• and
• a plurality of lumen formed therein, at least one of said plurality of lumen transitioning from a smaller inside diameter in a distal end portion of said introducer body to a larger inside diameter in a medial portion of said introducer body to thereby allow tissue such as removed during surgical procedures to more readily pass therethrough;
• wherein said body of said medical introducer includes an enlarged proximal body portion an a user interface formed at a proximal end of the enlarged proximal body portion, said user interface including a plurality of separate proximal tubes extending outwardly from the enlarged proximal body portion, each of the plurality of separate proximal tubes including a seal associated therewith for allowing medical devices or fluid to pass therethrough toward a distal end of said introducer body and for inhibiting fluid from passing therethrough toward the proximal end of the proximal tube.

A method of performing a medical procedure comprising the steps of:

• inserting an imaging device through a medical introducer having a proximal and distal end portion positioned within a portion of a patient's body;
• positioning the imaging device to produce an image from within the portion of the patient's body;
• inserting a steerable working channel device through the same medical introducer;
• and
• controlling the steering of the steerable working channel separately and independently from the positioning of the imaging device.

A method of performing a medical procedure comprising the steps of:

• positioning an imaging device through a first lumen of a medical introducer positioned within a uterine cavity of a patient's body to thereby produce an image from within the uterine cavity;
• inserting a steerable working channel device through a second lumen of the same medical introducer;
• and inserting at least one of the following through the steerable working channel device when inserted within the uterine cavity:
• at least one gamete, at least one sperm, at least one egg, at least one embryo, or at least one blastocyst.

A method of performing a medical procedure comprising the steps of:

• inserting an endoscopic device into a portion of a patient's body;
• inserting a medical introducer having a proximal and distal end portion and a plurality of lumen extending therethrough into the endoscopic device;
• inserting a steerable working channel device through one of the plurality of lumen of the same medical introducer;
• and
• controlling the steering of the steerable working channel;
• wherein the endoscopic device includes a cannula, and the method further comprising inserting an imaging device through another one of the plurality of lumen of the same medical introducer positioned within the cannula and positioning the imaging device to produce an image from within the portion of the patient's body.

A method of enhancing viewing within a portion of a patient's body comprising the steps of:

• inserting an imaging device through one of a plurality of lumen of a medical introducer positioned within a portion of a patient's body;
• moving the imaging device to a selected position;
• maintaining the position of the imaging device in the selected position without the necessity of a user thereof manually maintaining the position;
• producing an image from within the portion of the patient's body;
• inserting a steerable working channel device through another one of the plurality of lumen of the same medical introducer;
• and
• controlling the steering of the steerable working channel without moving the position of the imaging device.