Claims
- 1. An access sheath, comprising:
a sheath assembly including sheath tubing, the sheath tubing having a main lumen and a secondary lumen that extends along the length of the main lumen, the main lumen being large enough to receive an endoscope.
- 2. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the main lumen is larger than the second lumen.
- 3. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the main lumen ranges from about 4 French to about 20 French in size.
- 4. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the main lumen ranges from about 10 French to about 12 French in size.
- 5. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the second lumen ranges from about 1 French to about 6 French in size.
- 6. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the second lumen ranges from about 2 French to about 4 French in size.
- 7. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the main lumen includes an outlet at a distal end of the sheath tubing and the secondary lumen includes an outlet that is proximally spaced from the main lumen outlet such that the secondary lumen does not traverse the entire length of the main lumen.
- 8. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the sheath tubing comprises a tube that defines the main lumen and a housing that defines the secondary lumen, the housing being integral to the tube.
- 9. The sheath of claim 8, wherein the housing comprises opposed side walls that connect with the tube to form joint portions, the opposed side walls and the joint portions increasing the structural integrity of the sheath tubing so as to reduce kinking.
- 10. The sheath of claim 9, wherein the housing terminates in an outlet of the secondary lumen, the opposed side walls of the housing at the outlet tapering toward a distal end of the sheath tubing.
- 11. The sheath of claim 10, wherein the tube includes an opening positioned at the outlet of the secondary lumen between the opposed side walls such that the opening is shielded by the side walls, wherein the opening provides a path into the main lumen for irrigation liquid flowing through the secondary lumen when the outlet of the secondary lumen is obstructed.
- 12. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the sheath assembly further comprises a hub that is coupled to a proximal end of the sheath tubing.
- 13. The sheath of claim 12, wherein the sheath assembly further comprises a leader tube that is coupled to the hub.
- 14. The sheath of claim 12, wherein the sheath assembly further comprises an elastomeric cover that at least partially encases the hub.
- 15. The sheath of claim 1, further comprising a dilator assembly including dilator tubing and a dilator luer.
- 16. The sheath of claim 15, wherein the dilator tubing includes a pliable tip that reduces the likelihood of patient tissue damage.
- 17. The sheath of claim 16, wherein the pliable tip has a Durometer hardness that ranges from about 50 A to about 65 D.
- 18. The sheath of claim 16, wherein the pliable tip has a Durometer hardness that ranges from about 90 A to about 55 D.
- 19. The sheath of claim 1, wherein the sheath is a ureteral access sheath that is sized and configured for insertion into a patient ureter.
- 20. A ureteral access sheath, comprising:
a sheath assembly including a sheath tubing having a proximal end and a distal end, the sheath tubing including a substantially cylindrical tube that defines a main lumen that is large enough to receive an endoscope and a U-shaped housing that is integrally formed with the substantially cylindrical tube and defining a secondary lumen that is smaller than the main lumen, the U-shaped housing extending along the length of the substantially cylindrical tube, the sheath assembly further including a hub that is coupled to the proximal end of the sheath tubing; and a dilator assembly including a dilator tubing that is configured for insertion into the main lumen, the dilator tubing having a proximal end and a distal end, the dilator assembly further including a luer that is coupled to the proximal end of the dilator tubing.
- 21. The sheath of claim 20, wherein the main lumen of the sheath tubing ranges from about 4 French to about 20 French in size.
- 22. The sheath of claim 20, wherein the main lumen of the sheath tubing ranges from about 10 French to about 12 French in size.
- 23. The sheath of claim 20, wherein the second lumen of the sheath tubing ranges from about 1 French to about 6 French in size.
- 24. The sheath of claim 20, wherein the second lumen of the sheath tubing ranges from about 2 French to about 4 French in size.
- 25. The sheath of claim 20, wherein the main lumen of the sheath tubing includes an outlet at a distal end of the sheath tubing and the secondary lumen includes an outlet that is proximally spaced from the main lumen outlet such that the secondary lumen does not traverse the entire length of the main lumen.
- 26. The sheath of claim 20, wherein the U-shaped includes opposed side walls that terminate at an outlet of the secondary lumen, the opposed side walls tapering toward a distal end of the sheath tubing.
- 27. A self-aligning access sheath, comprising:
sheath tubing having an elongated tube that defines a main lumen and a housing that defines a secondary lumen, the housing being integral with the elongated tube and extending along the length of the elongated tube, the housing including opposed side walls that connect with the elongated tube at joint portions, the side walls and the joint portions providing increased rigidity to the sheath tubing on a side of the sheath tubing that comprises the housing; wherein the increased rigidity on the side of the sheath tubing that comprises the housing causes the sheath tubing to self-align when the sheath tubing is passed through a serpentine vessel such that the housing naturally migrates toward the straightest path along the vessel.
- 28. The sheath of claim 27, wherein the increased rigidity on the side of the sheath tubing that comprises the housing causes the sheath tubing to twist in a direction away from walls that define bends in the vessel.
- 29. The sheath of claim 27, wherein the main lumen is large enough to receive an endoscope.
- 30. The sheath of claim 27, wherein the main lumen ranges from about 4 French to about 20 French in size.
- 31. The sheath of claim 27, wherein the main lumen ranges from about 10 French to about 12 French in size.
- 32. The sheath of claim 27, wherein the second lumen ranges from about 1 French to about 6 French in size.
- 33. The sheath of claim 27, wherein the second lumen ranges from about 2 French to about 4 French in size.
- 34. The sheath of claim 27, wherein the access sheath is a ureteral access sheath that is sized and configured for insertion into a patient ureter.
- 35. Surgical apparatus, comprising:
a sheath assembly including sheath tubing having a main lumen and a secondary lumen that extends along the length of the main lumen, the main lumen being sized to receive an endoscope and the secondary lumen being sized to receive a guidewire; and a guidewire disposed within the secondary lumen; wherein presence of the guidewire within the secondary lumen prevents the secondary lumen from collapsing so as to prevent kinking of the sheath tubing during surgical procedures.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the main lumen of the sheath tubing ranges from about 4 French to about 20 French in size.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the main lumen of the sheath tubing ranges from about 10 French to about 12 French in size.
- 38. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second lumen of the sheath tubing ranges from about 1 French to about 6 French in size.
- 39. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second lumen of the sheath tubing ranges from about 2 French to about 4 French in size.
- 40. A surgical method, comprising:
inserting a sheath tubing into a serpentine vessel, the sheath tubing including an elongated tube that defines a main lumen that is large enough to receive an endoscope and a housing that defines a secondary lumen, the housing providing increased rigidity to the sheath tubing on a side of the sheath tubing that comprises the housing; and permitting the sheath tubing to self-align within the vessel such that the housing of the sheath tubing naturally migrates toward the straightest path along the vessel.
- 41. A surgical method, comprising:
inserting an access sheath into a patient vessel, the access sheath including a sheath tubing having a main lumen and a secondary lumen that extends along the length of the main lumen, the main lumen being sized to receive an endoscope and the secondary lumen being sized to receive a guidewire; inserting a guidewire along the secondary lumen; wherein presence of the guidewire within the secondary lumen prevents the secondary lumen from collapsing so as to prevent kinking of the sheath tubing within the vessel.
- 42. A surgical method, comprising:
inserting an access sheath into an interior space of a patient, the access sheath including a sheath tubing having a main lumen and a secondary lumen that extends along the length of the main lumen; irrigating the interior space by passing liquid through the secondary lumen; and removing material from the interior space via the main lumen.
- 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the main lumen ranges from about 4 French to about 20 French in size.
- 44. The method of claim 42, wherein inserting an access sheath into an interior space comprises inserting the access sheath into a ureter or a kidney of the patient.
- 45. The method of claim 42, wherein removing material comprises removing stone fragments.
- 46. The method of claim 42, wherein irrigating the interior space and removing material are performed simultaneously.
- 47. An access sheath, comprising:
a sheath assembly including a sheath tubing having a first lumen that is configured to receive a dilator; and a dilator assembly including a dilator tubing that is configured for insertion into the first lumen of the sheath tubing, the dilator tubing having a pliable tip that reduces the likelihood of patient tissue damage.
- 48. The sheath of claim 47, wherein the pliable tip has a Durometer hardness that ranges from about 50 A to about 65 D.
- 49. The sheath of claim 47, wherein the pliable tip has a Durometer hardness that ranges from about 90 A to about 55 D.
- 50. The sheath of claim 47, wherein the sheath is a ureteral access sheath that is sized and configured for insertion into a patient ureter.
- 51. The sheath of claim 47, wherein the sheath tubing further comprises a secondary lumen that extends along the length of the first lumen, the secondary lumen being smaller than the first lumen.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. utility application entitled, “URETERAL ACCESS SHEATH,” having Ser. No. 10/409,527 filed Apr. 8, 2003, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10409527 |
Apr 2003 |
US |
Child |
10840882 |
May 2004 |
US |