ACCESS CATHETER AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING SEPARATION BETWEEN A FALLOPOSCOPE AND A TUBAL WALL

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for imaging a narrow body lumen (16), the method comprising maintaining separation between a distal end (20) of an optical viewing scope (14) and a lumen wall (16) with a spacing structure (74) which extends distally from the distal end of an access catheter (72). Optional spacing structures include distal cages (74) and a guidewire (122) which is fixed to and extends distally from the access catheter body. The invention is beneficial during retrograde imaging of the fallopian tube, and also allows antigrade imaging and advancing the access catheter and scope under the direction of the image provided, as it prevents the tubal wall from coming into such close proximity to a falloposcope as to produce "white-out" on the imaging monitor.