Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
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 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 distal tip of the catheter and visualize said duct 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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
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 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 distal tip of the catheter and visualize said duct 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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises, more specifically, selecting a catheter wherein the first and second lumens end in independent axially facing ports in the distal end of the catheter.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
180 words
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.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
180 words
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.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises releasing contrast fluid into the duct through the second lumen while the balloon is inflated.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
166 words
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.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
166 words
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.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the method further comprises releasing contrast fluid into the duct through the second lumen while the balloon is inflated.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
105 words
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.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
105 words
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.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 7, further comprising actuating a cutting instrument in the third lumen to cut tissue.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises, more specifically, using a papillotome/sphincterotome in the third lumen to cut tissue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 7, wherein the method comprises, more specifically, selecting a catheter having a papillotome permanently disposed in the third lumen.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
109 words
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.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
109 words
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.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 11, further comprising actuating a cutting instrument in the third lumen to cut tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein the method comprises, more specifically, using a papillotome in the third lumen to cut tissue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according, to claim 11, wherein the method comprises, more specifically, selecting a catheter having a papillotome permanently disposed in the third lumen.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
116 words
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.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
116 words
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.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 15, further comprising actuating a cutting instrument in the third lumen to cut tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the method comprises, more specifically, selecting a catheter having a papillotome disposed in the third lumen and using the papillotome to cut tissue.