Claims
- 1. A locking device for use with an elongated tube, the elongated tube having a shaft with a lumen extending therethrough and an access port for accessing the lumen, the lumen adapted for receiving an elongated member with an outside portion of the elongated member extending outside of the lumen via the access port and an inside portion of the elongated member extending inside the lumen, the locking device comprising:
a substantially rigid body member having a wall; attachment means for operatively attaching the body member to the elongated tube; and securing means for selectively securing at least part of the outside portion of the elongated member to the body member, wherein the securing means includes an opening in the wall of the body member for selectively receiving the elongated member.
- 2. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the elongated member is a guide wire.
- 3. The locking device of claim 2 wherein the opening is J-shaped with a locking slot.
- 4. The locking device of claim 3, wherein the locking slot has a reduced dimension relative to the outside portion of the guide wire so that the guide wire can be selectively frictionally fit in the locking slot.
- 5. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the elongated member is a catheter.
- 6. The locking device of claim 5 wherein the opening is boot shaped having a locking slot.
- 7. The locking device of claim 6, wherein the locking slot has a reduced dimension relative to the outside portion of the catheter so that the catheter can be selectively frictionally fit in the locking slot.
- 8. The locking device of claim 5 wherein the catheter is a single-operator-exchange type catheter.
- 9. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the elongated tube is an endoscope.
- 10. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the elongated tube is a guide catheter.
- 11. The locking device of claim 1, wherein the body member is funnel shaped including a horn and a neck with a lumen extending therethrough, the horn having a side wall with an elongated member receiving opening provided therein, the neck being operatively attached to the elongated tube proximate the access port so that at least part of the outside portion of the elongated member extends through the lumen of the body member.
- 12. The locking device of claim 11, wherein the body member further comprises sealing means for providing a seal between the body member and the elongated member.
- 13. The locking device of claim 12, wherein the sealing means provides a seal between the side wall of the horn and the elongated member.
- 14. The locking device of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a proximal end and distal end, the access port accessing the lumen of the shaft through a side wall of the shaft at a location distal of the proximal end of the shaft, an access port opening being axially spaced from the shaft and in fluid communication with the lumen of the shaft via a connection tube, wherein the connection tube extends away from the shaft at an angle.
- 15. The locking device of claim 14 wherein the attachment means comprises at least one hook member that extends at least half-way around the circumference of the shaft.
- 16. The locking device of claim 15 wherein the body member extends from the at least one hook member to a position proximate the access port opening, and the securing means is positioned proximate the access port opening.
- 17. The locking device of claim 1 further comprising another securing means includes another opening in the body member for selectively receiving another elongated member.
- 18. A method comprising the steps of:
providing an elongated tube with a lumen extending therethrough and an access port for accessing the lumen; inserting an elongated member at least partially into the lumen via the access port such that the elongated member has an outside portion that extends outside of the lumen and an inside portion that extends inside the lumen; providing a locking device that is operatively attached to the elongated tube, the locking device having a wall with an opening therein wherein the opening is positioned proximate the access port, the opening having a locking slot that has a reduced dimension relative to the outside portion of the elongated member; and selectively securing the elongated member to the locking device by positioning at least part of the outside portion of the elongated member in the locking slot of the opening.
- 19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the elongated member is a guide wire.
- 20. A method according to claim 18 wherein the elongated member is a catheter.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/926,200, filed on Sep. 9, 1997, entitled “Single Operator Exchange Biliary Catheter”, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to provisional application U.S. Serial No. 60/025,235, filed Sep. 13, 1996, entitled “Single Operator Exchange Biliary Catheter”.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60025235 |
Sep 1996 |
US |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09512997 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Child |
10723053 |
Nov 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09080520 |
May 1998 |
US |
Child |
09512997 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08926200 |
Sep 1997 |
US |
Child |
09080520 |
May 1998 |
US |