Patent ID: 6589208
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A method of inserting a medical instrument through a body conduit and for anchoring the medical instrument in a body cavity, comprising the steps of:providing an elongate tube having a shaft proximal end and a shaft distal end; affixing a stop along the tube at an anchoring position; forming an anchoring device with an anchor proximal end and an anchor distal end; providing the anchoring device with characteristics including a high-profile state when the anchor proximal end and the anchor distal end are in a generally proximate relationship, and a low-profile state when the anchor proximal end and the anchor distal end are in a generally spaced relationship; mounting the anchoring device relative to the tube with the anchor distal end movable between a distal end proximal position distal of the stop and a distal end distal position distal of the tube, and with the anchor proximal end movable between a proximal end proximal position and a proximal end distal position proximal of the stop; inserting the tube into the body conduit toward the body cavity; and during the inserting step, moving the anchor proximal end to the proximal end proximal position with the anchor distal end at the distal end proximal position to maintain the anchoring device in the low-profile state.