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Steerable sphincterotome and methods for cannulation, papillotomy and sphincterotomy

  • US 6,676,659 B2
  • Filed: 08/14/2001
  • Issued: 01/13/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for use in a treatment modality including an enlargement procedure to be performed within a patient, said apparatus including a catheter for being directed through internal passageways in the patient, said catheter having proximal and distal ends, and proximal and distal portions adjacent to said proximal and distal ends respectively, and a first and at least second generally parallel lumens, said lumens extending between said proximal and distal portions, and a cutting wire for performing the enlargement procedure extending through said second lumen for operating at said distal portion in response to manipulations at said proximal end, said cutting wire having a distal end attached to said catheter at the distal end of said second lumen, a portion thereof external to said catheter along a length coextensive with a portion of said distal portion of said catheter and a handle for operating said cutting wire from a point proximal of said catheter, the improvement comprising:

  • a rotatable coupling attaching said handle to said catheter allowing said handle to rotate relative to said proximal end of said catheter while engaging and rotating a proximal end of said cutting wire whereby said distal portion of said catheter rotates as a result of said rotation of said handle.

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