Wilson-cook Medical Incorporated

Mark C Martel

John A Karpiel

Rebecca C Gibbs

Zdenek A Fremund

Eugene C Morris

A package 10 for maintaining the predetermined desired non-planar, three-dimensional shape of the distal tip 14 of a flexible catheter, cannula, sphincterotome or the like 12 includes a non-relaxing mounting tray 18 with a non-planar, three-dimensional structure 20 restricting movement of the distal tip 14, and a non-relaxing cover 26 detachably secured to the tray 18, trapping part and only part of the distal tip 14 against the three-dimensional structure 20 of the tray 18. The package 10 also includes a particularly configured non-relaxing insert 38 removably received in a bore 16 in the distal tip 14. The tray 18, cover 26 and insert 38 together support the distal tip 14 throughout its entire length. The structure 20 of the tray 18 includes a ramped, relatively tightly arced groove 24 on which the distal tip 14 lies. The cover 26 lies over at least the ramped, arced groove 24 and includes a pair of notches 30 receiving the distal tip 14 therethrough. When the cover 26 is detached from the tray 18, at least the distal tip 14 can be freely perpendicularly withdrawn from the tray 18. The package is particularly useful for maintaining the distal tip 14 in a shape particularly adapted for the performance of a sphincterotomy. The package 12 prevents the relaxation or change of the predetermined desired non-planar, three-dimensional shape of the distal tip 14 of the catheter, cannula, sphincterotome or the like 12 during sterilization and storage. The insert 38 and the combination of the tray 18 and the cover 26 are separately useful for this purpose.

Package for sphincterotome or catheter including structure maintaining

Disclosed herein is an endoscopic extraction device which retains its operative usefulness for longer periods of time, and therefore need to be replaced less frequently. This extended instrument life is accomplished through the use of a composite wire construction, which includes, an inner monofilament wire of nitinol material surrounded by six stranded stainless steel wires. A wire construction in which a nitinol wire is surrounded by five stranded stainless steel wires is also disclosed. After constructing a wire basket in the normal manner using this material, heat is applied to the formed basket in its pre-formed shape to set the memory characteristics of the inner nitinol core.

Endoscopic extraction devices, wire basket stone extractors, stent

A stylet wire assembly is disclosed which sealingly engages the proximal end of a medical catheter, and allows the unobstructed injection or evacuation of fluids into or from a patient's body through the catheter while the stylet wire is in place therein. The disclosed assembly includes a stylet wire and a housing. The housing has a catheter fluid communication port at its distal end and anchors the stylet wire into its closed proximal end with the stylet wire extending through the catheter fluid communication port at the distal end of the housing. This anchoring is accomplished by means of a plug which has been injection molded about the crimped proximal end of the stylet wire and bonded to the distal end of the remainder of the housing. An external fluid communication port allows for fluid communication into and out of said housing in transverse orientation relative to the axis of said stylet wire within said housing and distally of the anchoring of the stylet wire into the proximal end of the housing. The distal end of the housing sealingly engages the proximal end of a medical catheter in fluid communication between the catheter fluid communication port of the housing and the fluid conduit of the catheter by means of the combined effect of a female threaded portion which advances over the end of the catheter and an inner sealing tubular portion which advances within the fluid conduit of the catheter. A fluid conduit provides fluid communication within the housing between the catheter fluid communication port and the external fluid communication port. Upon removal of the stylet wire assembly, the proximal end of the medical catheter can be connected directly to an infusion/evacuation tube without the need for sealing the second port of the standardly used T-fitting.

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Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

Mark C Martel