Lithotripsy Probes and Methods for Performing Lithotripsy

Abstract

Various medical devices are described herein. More particularly, various probes used for performing lithotripsy and methods of performing lithotripsy are described. In an example, a probe comprises an elongate member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion. The proximal portion has an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the distal portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of performing lithotripsy on a stone disposed in a bodily passage, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting a device having a first proximal end and a first distal end into said bodily passage such that the first distal end is disposed in said bodily passage, the device defining a first lumen having and a first lumen length;   inserting a lithotripter comprising a probe having a second proximal end and a second distal end through the first lumen such that the second distal end is disposed distal to the first distal end, the probe comprising:
 an elongate member comprising a third proximal end, a third distal end, a proximal portion, and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a first length and a first outer diameter, the distal portion having a second length and a second outer diameter, the first outer diameter being greater than the second outer diameter, the second length being greater than the first lumen length such that only the distal portion of the elongate member is inserted through the first lumen of the device; 
   navigating the second distal end of the probe towards said stone;   contacting the second distal end of the probe with said stone; and   activating the lithotripter to fragment said stone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member defines a shoulder between the third proximal end and the third distal end of the elongate member. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member has an intermediate portion disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the intermediate portion having a third length and a third outer diameter, the third outer diameter tapering from the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the probe further comprises:
 an elongate tubular member disposed over a portion of the first length of the proximal portion, the elongate tubular member comprising a fourth distal end disposed proximal to the intermediate portion; and   a handle disposed over the intermediate portion of the elongate member, the handle comprising a fifth proximal end and a fifth distal end, the fifth proximal end attached to the fourth distal end of the elongate tubular member.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the handle is moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration, in the first configuration the elongate tubular member and the handle are slidably disposed on the elongate member, in the second configuration the elongate tubular member and the handle are releasably attached to the elongate member. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the elongate tubular member has an elongate tubular member length; and
 wherein the handle has a handle length that is less than the elongate tubular member length.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third distal end of the elongate member is tapered. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first lumen has a first inner diameter; and
 wherein the first outer diameter is greater than first inner diameter.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first lumen has a first inner diameter; and
 wherein the second outer diameter is between about 0.01 millimeter and about 0.15 millimeters smaller than the first inner diameter.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second length is between about 0.5 centimeters and about 3.5 centimeters greater than the first lumen length. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second outer diameter is between about 0.1 millimeter and about 1.0 millimeter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 removing the lithotripter from the first lumen of the device;   inserting a medical device having a fourth proximal end and a fourth distal end through the first lumen of the device such that the fourth distal end of the medical device is disposed distal to the first distal end of the device;   activating the medical device to remove fragmented stone; and   removing the medical device from the first lumen of the device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a sheath. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a scope. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bodily passage is a salivary duct. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bodily passage is a portion of a urinary tract. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member has an intermediate portion disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the intermediate portion having a third length and a third outer diameter, the third outer diameter tapering from the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter; and
 wherein the probe further comprises a handle disposed over the intermediate portion of the elongate member.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lithotripter comprises a firing handle;
 wherein the probe comprises a fitting disposed on the third proximal end of the elongate member and adapted to attach the probe to the firing handle of the lithotripter; and   wherein activating the lithotripter to fragment said stone comprises activating the firing handle of the lithotripter to fragment said stone.   
     
     
         19 . A method of performing lithotripsy on a stone disposed in a bodily passage, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting a scope having a first proximal end and a first distal end into said bodily passage such that the first distal end is disposed in said bodily passage, the scope defining a first lumen having and a first lumen length;   inserting a lithotripter comprising a probe having a second proximal end and a second distal end through the first lumen such that the second distal end is disposed distal to the first distal end, the probe comprising:
 an elongate member comprising a third proximal end, a third distal end, a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a first length and a first outer diameter, the intermediate portion disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion and having a second length and a second outer diameter, the distal portion having a third length and a third outer diameter, the first outer diameter being greater than the third outer diameter, the second outer diameter tapering from the first outer diameter to the third outer diameter, the third length being greater than the first lumen length such that only the distal portion of the elongate member is inserted through the first lumen of the device; 
   navigating the second distal end of the probe towards said stone;   contacting the second distal end of the probe with said stone; and   activating the lithotripter to fragment said stone.   
     
     
         20 . A method of performing lithotripsy on a stone disposed in a salivary duct, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting a scope having a first proximal end and a first distal end into said salivary duct such that the first distal end is disposed in said salivary duct, the scope defining a first lumen having and a first lumen length;   inserting a lithotripter comprising a probe having a second proximal end and a second distal end through the first lumen such that the second distal end is disposed distal to the first distal end, the probe comprising:
 an elongate member comprising a third proximal end, a third distal end, a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a first length and a first outer diameter, the intermediate portion disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion and having a second length and a second outer diameter, the distal portion having a third length and a third outer diameter, the first outer diameter being greater than the third outer diameter, the second outer diameter tapering from the first outer diameter to the third outer diameter, the third length being greater than the first lumen length such that only the distal portion of the elongate member is inserted through the first lumen of the device; and 
 a handle disposed over the intermediate portion of the elongate member; 
   navigating the second distal end of the probe towards said stone;   contacting the second distal end of the probe with said stone; and   activating the lithotripter to fragment said stone.