METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTROSURGICALLY OBTAINING ACCESS TO THE BILIARY TREE AND PLACING A STENT THEREIN

摘要

This invention is a method of electro-surgically obtaining access to the biliary tree of a patient and visualizing a duct (40) thereof using a catheter (10) having at least a first lumen (32), and a second lumen (34). The first lumen (32) has a needle knife (206) disposed therein, which knife (206) may be moved between a deployed position and a sheathed position, and is in electrical communication with a power source. The method includes the steps of (a) inserting the catheter (10) through an endoscope (36) and into the duodenum (38) of a patient proximal to the entrance to the common bile duct (40); (b) deploying the needle knife (206); (c) manipulating the needle knife (206) and applying current thereto to incise tissue proximal to the entrance to the common bile duct (40); (d) withdrawing the needle knife (206) into the sheathed position; (e) advancing the catheter (10) into the common bile duct to a desired location within said duct (40); and (f) infusing a contrast medium through the second lumen (34) of the catheter (10) to visualize the common bile duct (40) through the use of the contrast medium while the needle knife (206) remains in the first lumen (32) of the catheter.