Patent ID: 7527620
Filing Date: 2009-05-05
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a medical instrument, wherein the medical instrument includes a flexible catheter and a medical guidewire, wherein the flexible catheter has a distal end insertable into a body lumen of a patient, wherein the medical guidewire includes a working portion which is extendable as a loop track beyond the distal end of the catheter, wherein the working portion has a maximum loop-track length and includes first and second segments together having a length greater than ninety percent of the maximum loop-track length, wherein the first segment has a first bending moment of inertia and the second segment has a second bending moment of inertia, wherein the first bending moment of inertia is less than the second bending moment of inertia, wherein the medical guidewire includes a first guidewire leg having a free end disposed outside the patient and leading to the first segment and includes a second guidewire leg having a free end disposed outside the patient and leading to the second segment, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) manually inserting the distal end of the catheter an initial distance into the body lumen of the patient; b) manually pushing the first guidewire leg to extend at least some of the first segment beyond the distal end of the catheter; c) manually pushing the second guidewire leg to extend at least some of the second segment beyond the distal end of the catheter and to temporarily anchor the second segment against a wall of the body lumen; and d) immobilizing the first guidewire leg with respect to the catheter and manually pushing the catheter a further distance into the body lumen while pulling on the second guidewire leg to retract at least some of the second segment.