Patent ID: 6022319
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A method for sequentially imaging and dilating a region of a subject:using an ultrasound probe, a guidewire, and a catheter, wherein the catheter comprises an elongate, flexible member having a lumen in its distal length; a dilation balloon attached to the distal length, the outside of the distal length and the balloon being sized for passage into the region of the subject and the lumen having a diameter sized to accept either the guidewire or the ultrasound probe, wherein the lumen splits into a dual lumen proximal of said balloon, the dual lumen comprising a guidewire lumen sized to accept the guidewire and a probe lumen sized to accept the ultrasound probe, the flexible member further comprising a third lumen wherein the third lumen communicates with the balloon, the method comprising the steps of:advancing the guidewire through the subject until a distal tip of the guidewire is distal of the region of the subject to be imaged;advancing the catheter along the guidewire until the distal portion has passed into the region to be imaged;pulling the guidewire proximally while holding the catheter relatively stationary in the distal and proximal directions within the subject, and leaving the distal tip of the guidewire within the wire lumen;advancing the ultrasound probe tip into the distal lumen portion of the catheter;preventing the ultrasound probe from extending distally beyond the catheter;activating the probe to obtain pre-dilation ultrasound images of the region;retracting the probe into the probe lumen;advancing the guidewire distally of the catheter tip;moving the catheter distally until the balloon passes into said region of the subject; andinflating and then deflating the balloon.