Patent ID: 8100903

Claim:
A sphincterotome, comprising: a handle assembly; a flexible elongate shaft connected to the handle assembly and comprising a first lumen, a proximal end, and a distal end; an electroconductive filament comprising a proximal section and a distal section, the proximal section having a proximal attachment to the handle assembly, and the distal section having a distal end that is attached near the distal end of the shaft, wherein at least a portion of the proximal section of the filament is disposed through at least a portion of the first lumen, wherein at least a portion of the distal section of the filament is disposed outside the shaft for use as a cutting element; wherein the proximal attachment comprises a generally longitudinally disposed tensioning spring mechanism that compensates between a generally longitudinal tension in the filament and a generally longitudinal compression in the shaft without an actuation of the electroconductive filament and without bowing the distal end of the flexible elongate shaft; and wherein the tensioning spring mechanism is operatively connected to the proximal section of the filament such that the tensioning spring mechanism and the filament are moveable together without an actuation of the electroconductive filament and without bowing the distal end of the flexible elongate shaft.