Patent ID: 7811245

Claim:
An object-transport device for shuttling an object along an elongate medical device within an internal lumen of a patient body, said object-transport device comprising: a body including a leading portion and a trailing portion, each comprising a minimally traumatic profile including a rounded external end surface configured for entry into and passage through a patient gastrointestinal tract; a lumen configured for slidably mounting the body onto one of a wire guide, catheter, or stylet and the lumen configured for the body to be shuttled along a complete length thereof, wherein said complete length is sufficient to be directed through an endoscope to a biliary tree of a patient; a cargo-carrying portion configured to releasably receive at least one object to be transported in, and released intact from, a substantially open region of the cargo-carrying portion defined on at least one end by at least one of a proximal surface of the leading portion and a distal surface of the trailing portion; and at least one object configured to be transported in the substantially open region and to be released intact therefrom.