System and method for marking body cavities

Abstract

A surgical method, including inserting an internal viewing device via a ureter into a first calyx of a kidney, inspecting the first calyx with the internal viewing device, and determining whether the first calyx contains one or more stones. If the first calyx does contain one or more stones, it is marked with a first marking material, but if the first calyx does not contain one or more stones, it is marked with a second marking material different from the first marking material.

1 . A surgical method, comprising:
 inserting an internal viewing device via a ureter into a first calyx of a kidney, and inspecting the first calyx with the internal viewing device;   determining whether the first calyx contains one or more stones, and thereafter:
 if the first calyx does contain one or more stones, marking the first calyx with a first marking material, and removing the stones from the first calyx; and 
 if the first calyx does not contain one or more stones, marking the first calyx with a second marking material different from the first marking material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surgical method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 moving the internal viewing device from the first calyx to a second calyx of the kidney and inspecting the second calyx with the internal viewing device;   determining whether the second calyx contains one or more stones, and thereafter:
 if the second calyx does contain one or more stones, marking the second calyx with the first marking material, and removing the stones from the first calyx; and 
 if the second calyx does not contain one or more stones, marking the second calyx with the second marking material. 
   
     
     
         3 . The surgical method according to  claim 1 , wherein marking the first calyx with the first marking material includes filling the first calyx with the first marking material. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical method according to  claim 1 , wherein marking the first calyx with the first marking material includes filling only the entrance of the first calyx with the first marking material. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical method according to  claim 4 , wherein filling the entrance of the first calyx with the first marking material prevents objects from entering the first calyx. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first marking material and the second marking material comprises a colored dye. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical method according to  claim 6 , wherein the colored dye includes a methylene dye. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical method according to  claim 6 , wherein the first marking material comprises a first colored dye and the second marking material comprises a second colored dye different from the first colored dye. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first marking material and the second marking material comprises a contrast agent. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical method according to  claim 9 , wherein the first marking material comprises a contrast agent with a first concentration and the second marking material comprises a contrast agent with a second concentration different from the first concentration. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first marking material and the second marking material has an initial liquid form and a subsequent gel form. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical method according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the first marking material and the second marking material comprises a temperature-sensitive material that is in liquid form below normal body temperature and that is in gel form at or above body temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first marking material and the second marking material comprises two separate components that when mixed form a gel. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical method according to  claim 13 , further comprising contacting the gel with a third component that degrades the gel following removal of stones from the kidney. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical method according to  claim 1 , wherein the inserting an internal viewing device comprises inserting an endoscope or ureteroscope. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical method according to  claim 1 , wherein the removing comprises inserting a retrieval device through a working channel in the internal viewing device. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical method according to  claim 1 , wherein the removing comprises inserting a retrieval device into the kidney separate from the internal viewing device.