Patent ID: 6925323

Claim:
A system for enhancing visibility in the epidural space, the system comprising: a steerable catheter having a handle portion, a tube portion connected to the handle portion and extending outwardly therefrom, and steering means connected to at least the handle portion for steering distal end portions of the tube portion; said tube portion having a plurality of lumen formed therewithin, including at least a first working lumen and a second working lumen, each of said first and second working lumens having distinct, non-coincident longitudinal axes and being separated from each other by a portion of the elongate tube portion; each of said first and second working lumens being substantially symmetrically positioned along both sides of said tube diameter; a fiber optic scope positioned to extend through the second working lumen of the steerable catheter; and said first working lumen positioned within the steerable catheter for continuously supplying fluid under pressure to the epidural space and for distending the epidural space so that the epidural space is maintained in a distended state to enhance visibility when the fiber optic scope is positioned in the second working lumen of the steerable catheter.