The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 16, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 01, 1994
George W Weaver, East Earl, PA (US);
Damond C Holsinger, New Holland, PA (US);
David F Leighton, West Lawn, PA (US);
Harold Jacob, Lawrence, NY (US);
Arrow Precision Products, Inc., Reading, PA (US);
Abstract
A method of electrosurgically obtaining access to the biliary tree of a patient and visualizing a duct thereof using a catheter having a least a first lumen and a second lumen. The first lumen has a needle-knife disposed therein, which knife may be moved between a deployed position and a sheathed position and is in electrical communication with a power source. The method includes the steps of (1) inserting the catheter through an endoscope and into the duodenum of a patient proximal to the entrance to the common bile duct, (2) deploying the needle-knife, (3) manipulating the needle-knife and applying current thereto to incise tissue proximal to the entrance to the common bile duct, (4) withdrawing the needle-knife into the sheathed position, (5) advancing the catheter into the common bile duct to a desired location within said duct; and (6) infusing a contrast medium through a second lumen of the catheter to visualize the common bile duct through the use of the contrast medium while the needle-knife remains in the first lumen of the catheter.