Abstract: The catheter includes an outer tube with an inlet end portion and a stop formed on the inlet end portion. The stop, which normally assumes a collapsed orientation, is moveable between a collapsed orientation and a deployed orientation. The catheter may include at least one of a diagnostic port disposed on the outer tube proximate the bottom of the stop, a locking device proximate the bottom of the catheter for securing the stop in the deployed orientation, and an actuator for operatively moving the stop between collapsed and deployed orientations. Applying force to the actuator moves the stop from the collapsed orientation to the deployed orientation. The actuator may also include a fail-safe mechanism designed to fail when a predetermined amount of force is applied to the actuator.

Abstract: The catheter includes an outer tube with an inlet end portion and a stop formed on the inlet end portion. The stop, which normally assumes a collapsed orientation, is moveable between a collapsed orientation and a deployed orientation. The catheter may include at least one of a diagnostic port disposed on the outer tube proximate the bottom of the stop, a locking device proximate the bottom of the catheter for securing the stop in the deployed orientation, and an actuator for operatively moving the stop between collapsed and deployed orientations. Applying force to the actuator moves the stop from the collapsed orientation to the deployed orientation. The actuator may also include a fail-safe mechanism designed to fail when a predetermined amount of force is applied to the actuator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating kidney stones in the urinary tract uses a surgical assembly to remove kidney stones. The surgical assembly is inserted into the urinary tract along a guide wire positioned in the surgical assembly. Fluid, such as lidocaine gel and contrast solution, and a stone-removing device enter the urinary tract via channels located in the surgical assembly. Once the surgical assembly is proximate the stone, the physician engages and retains the stone with the stone-removing device. An exemplary stone-removing device includes an expandable spacer and an adjustable stone retainer. When in an expanded position, the spacer engages a portion of the urinary tract. The stone retainer, confined within the expanded spacer, engages and retains the stone while the spacer spaces the urinary tract from the stone retainer. The stone is removed by removing the surgical assembly containing the stone from the urinary tract.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating urinary tract stones in the urinary tract uses an adjustable stone retainer to engage and retain a urinary tract stone and a central electrode to apply disintegrating energy to the retained urinary tract stone. A physician inserts a collapsed retainer assembly, including the adjustable stone retainer and the central electrode enclosed in an outer sheath, into the urinary tract. Once the probe is proximate the urinary tract stone, the physician extends the stone retainer relative to the outer sheath and engages and retains the urinary tract stone in the stone retainer. While retaining the urinary tract stone in the stone retainer, the physician applies disintegrating energy with the central electrode to the urinary tract stone until the urinary tract stone disintegrates. Once the treatment is complete, the physician retracts the stone retainer into the outer sheath and removes the collapsed retainer assembly from the urinary tract.