Adjustable double balloon catheter with a through lumen for stone management

Abstract

A method for removing an object from a body lumen includes dispensing fluid into the body lumen, and causing the dispensed fluid to propel the object along the body lumen. A device for removing an object from a body lumen includes a fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid into the body lumen, and a pump in fluid communication with the dispenser.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for removing an object from a body lumen, comprising: 
 dispensing fluid into the body lumen;    confining a predetermined quantity of the dispensed fluid within a portion of the body lumen that contains the object by impeding a flow of the fluid at a distal end and at a proximal end of the portion of the body lumen; and    releasing the predetermined quantity of fluid through the proximal end of the portion of the body lumen to propel the object past the proximal end of the portion of the body lumen.    
     
     
         2 . A method for removing an object from a body lumen, comprising: 
 dispensing fluid into the body lumen; and    causing the dispensed fluid to propel the object along the body lumen.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising positioning a fluid dispenser in the body lumen, and wherein dispensing comprises dispensing the fluid from the fluid dispenser.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising impeding a flow of the dispensed fluid in at least one direction through the body lumen.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein impeding comprises impeding the flow of the dispensed fluid through a ureter towards a kidney.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising confining a predetermined quantity of dispensed fluid within a portion of the body lumen that contains the object; and wherein causing the dispensed fluid to propel comprises releasing the fluid from the portion of the body lumen.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein confining comprises impeding a flow of the fluid at a distal end and at a proximal end of the portion of the body lumen, and wherein causing the dispensed fluid to propel comprises releasing the flow of the fluid through the proximal end of the portion of the body lumen, to propel the object past the proximal end of the portion of the body lumen.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising reducing a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the portion of the body lumen to cause an increase in a fluid turbulence within the body lumen when the fluid is released.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein dispensing and causing the dispensed fluid to propel are repeated to dislodge the object from a wall of the body lumen.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein impeding comprises causing the portion of the body lumen to expand to ease a movement of the object.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein dispensing comprises dispensing the fluid into a ureter, and causing the dispensed fluid to propel comprises causing the dispensed fluid to propel a kidney stone along the ureter into a bladder.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein causing the dispensed fluid to propel comprises dispensing fluid until a predetermined pressure level of the fluid is reached.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein dispensing comprises causing a pressure of the dispensed fluid to vary to dislodge the object from a wall of the body lumen.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: positioning a distal balloon within the body lumen at a distal end of a portion of the body lumen that contains the object; and positioning a proximal balloon within the body lumen at the proximal end of the portion of the body lumen, and wherein causing the dispensed fluid to propel comprises pressurizing the proximal balloon to a lower pressure than a pressure of the distal balloon to permit a flow of the fluid past the proximal balloon.  
     
     
         15 . A device for removing an object from a body lumen, comprising: 
 a fluid dispenser for dispensing a fluid into the body lumen; and    a pump in fluid communication with the fluid dispenser, the pump comprising a fluid volume controller configured to provide a sufficient quantity of fluid to cause the object to move through the body lumen.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  further comprising a distal expansible member in mechanical communication with the fluid dispenser to stabilize the location of the fluid dispenser within the body lumen when the distal expansible member is in an expanded state.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the fluid dispenser defines an aperture through which the fluid is dispensed into the body lumen, and further comprising a proximal expansible member in mechanical communication with the fluid dispenser, the aperture disposed between the distal and proximal expansible members, wherein an expansion and a contraction of the proximal expansible member controls a flow of the fluid past the proximal expansible member.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the proximal expansible member and the distal expansible member have a fixed spatial separation.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the proximal expansible member is in slidable communication with the fluid dispenser.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the proximal expansible member comprises a balloon, and the distal expansible member comprises a balloon that has a greater pressure than an a pressure of the proximal expansible member to permit the fluid to flow past the proximal expansible member.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the distal expansible member comprises a balloon.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the distal expansible member comprises a gel.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the fluid dispenser comprises a first catheter defining a fluid lumen for conveying the fluid from the pump to the body lumen.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23  further comprising a second catheter in slidable communication with the first catheter, and in fixed physical communication with a proximal expansible member, to permit a variation in a spacing between the distal and proximal expansible members by sliding the first and second catheters relative to each other.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the fluid dispenser is configured to dispense the fluid into the body lumen on a proximate side of the distal expansible member, and the distal expansible member is expanded to impede a flow of the fluid in a distal direction through the body lumen.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid dispenser comprises an electroactive material to assist positioning of the fluid dispenser within the body lumen.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid is a saline solution.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the pump comprises a non-positive displacement pump having a preset pressure limit.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the pump comprises a positive displacement pump comprising a relief valve having a preset pressure limit.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a handle that mechanically supports the pump.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the pump further comprises a pressure controller that is configured to provide a sufficient pressure to displace the object in the body lumen.