System and method for guided removal from an in vivo subject

Abstract

A device for removing objects from an in vivo subject includes vacuum tube adapted to be associated with a sheath sized to be inserted into a passageway of the subject. The vacuum tube provides a suction channel extending therethrough. A navigation mechanism is designed to guide the vacuum tube through the passageway. The removal device is designed to remove debris having an approximate diameter of between about 0.0001 mm to about 8 mm.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device for removing debris from a urinary tract, comprising:
 a vacuum tube adapted to be associated with a sheath sized to be inserted into a passageway associated with the urinary tract, the vacuum tube providing a suction channel extending therethrough; and   a navigation mechanism designed to guide the vacuum tube through the passageway,   wherein the removal device is designed to remove debris having an approximate diameter of between about 0.0001 mm to about 8 mm.   
     
     
         2 . The removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the urinary tract is a urinary tract of a human. 
     
     
         3 . The removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the removal device is configured to engage the urinary tract without a working channel arranged thereabout. 
     
     
         4 . The removal device of  claim 1  further including a valve. 
     
     
         5 . The removal device of  claim 4  wherein the valve is in communication with a suction source. 
     
     
         6 . The removal device of  claim 4  wherein the vacuum tube includes a first and a second passageway extending longitudinally therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The removal device of  claim 6  wherein the first passageway is designed to receive at least one of an introducer and suction. 
     
     
         8 . The removal device of  claim 6  wherein the second passageway is designed to receive the navigation mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The removal device of  claim 1  wherein the navigation mechanism is a guidewire. 
     
     
         10 . The removal device of  claim 1  wherein the vacuum tube is configured to receive a direct visualization device fed therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . A method for removing an object from a passageway within an in vivo subject, comprising the steps of:
 positioning a sheath in the passageway of the in vivo subject;   inserting a device into the passageway adjacent the object to break the object into fragments;   removing the device from the passageway;   guiding a vacuum tube through the sheath adjacent the fragments of the object; and   applying a suction to remove the fragments of the object.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the device is a ureterscope having a laser. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising guiding the vacuum tube to the fragments of the object using a navigation mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising controlling a valve configured to control suction supplied to the vacuum tube. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the fragments of the object is at least a portion of a kidney stone having a diameter greater than about 3 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the passageway is a urinary tract of a human. 
     
     
         17 . A removal device for use in a passageway of an in vivo patient, comprising:
 a vacuum tube configured to be disposed at least partially within the passageway, wherein the vacuum tube is characterized by a diameter of about 3 Fr. to about 30 Fr.; and   a valve in communication with a suction source, wherein the valve is adapted to regulate suction supplied to the vacuum tube.   
     
     
         18 . The removal device of  claim 17  wherein the vacuum tube includes a first passageway having a suction source in communication therewith, and further includes a second passageway designed to receive a navigation mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The removal device of  claim 17  wherein the passageway includes a urinary tract and further including a sheath designed to be positioned in the urinary tract and to receive the vacuum tube. 
     
     
         20 . The removal device of  claim 19  wherein the sheath and the vacuum tube each have diameters greater than about 8 Fr.