Patent ID: 8282622

Claim:
A ureteral access sheath adapted for insertion into a urethra having a diameter D 1 in combination with an obturator adapted for insertion into the sheath and the urethra, the access sheath being adapted for use by a person having a pair of adjacent fingers, the access sheath comprising: an elongate tube having an axis and being formed of a bio-compatible material and having a diameter D 2 and a lumen extending between an open proximal end and an open distal end, the diameter D 2 being smaller than the diameter D 1 of the urethra; a first handle being formed of a bio-compatible material and disposed at the proximal end of the tube and having an opening; portions of the first handle extending radially outwardly of the tube to provide the first handle with a diameter D 3 that is greater than the diameter D 1 of the urethra, the handle portions being defined by a first surface facing generally distally and a second surface facing generally proximally; and a second handle being formed of a bio-compatible material and disposed distally of the first handle, the second handle including a third surface facing generally proximally and having an opening, wherein the first surface and the third surface are concave, continuous and both sized and configured to receive the adjacent fingers of the user, wherein the first surface is continuous with the third surface so as to define an annular recess, wherein the second surface is convex so as to form a funnel leading into the lumen of the tube, and the obturator comprising a proximal and distal end and an elongate rod insertable through and removable from the lumen of the elongate tube and insertable through and removable from the openings in the first and second handles; whereby the handle portions inhibit distal migration of the proximal end of the tube and the proximal end of the obturator into the urethra.