Bipolar sphincterotome

A bipolar sphincterotome comprising:

• an elongate tubular member;
• a cutting wire disposed within the elongate tubular member;
• a wire guide lumen disposed and longitudinally extending within the elongate tubular member;
• and
• a return path comprising:
• a conductive ink portion covering an outer surface at a distal portion of the elongate tubular member;
• and
• a return wire electrically coupled to the conductive ink portion,
• wherein a circumferential disposition of the conductive ink portion about the outer surface of the distal portion comprises the conductive ink portion being circumferentially offset by a non-zero angle relative to a circumferential orientation that is perpendicular to a radial orientation of a cutting edge of the cutting wire.

A bipolar sphincterotome to perform a sphincterotomy at a treatment site, the bipolar sphincterotome comprising:

• an elongate tubular member;
• a cutting wire disposed within the elongate tubular member;
• a wire guide lumen disposed and longitudinally extending within the elongate tubular member, the cutting wire disposed outside of the wire guide lumen;
• a return path comprising:
• a conductive material portion covering an outer surface at a distal portion of the elongate tubular member, the conductive material portion having a circumferential disposition about the outer surface that provides visual access to the wire guide lumen;
• and
• a return wire electrically coupled to the conductive material portion, the return wire disposed within the elongate tubular member and outside of the wire guide lumen;
• and
• a conductive cannula disposed about the outer surface of the elongate tubular member, the conductive cannula electrically coupling the conductive material portion to the return wire,
• wherein the conductive material portion comprises a conductive ink portion.