Abstract: A blunt dissector instrument for laparoscopic surgical protocols is disclosed which is adapted for defining an anatomical structure from investment tissue. The dissector is formed from an elongate member which extends longitudinally between a working end and a control end, and is provided with a tip region having a blunt dissector tip and a lateral dissector region. A rough surface is circumferentially disposed about the tip portion and is effective for tactilely retaining and abrading the investment tissue for its substantially atraumatic removal from the anatomical structure.

Abstract: A guide instrument for cannulating a biliary duct with a flexible catheter, and a method of using the same as part of a laparoscopic cholangiographic surgical procedure. The guide instrument is provided as having a grasping forceps component formed of an elongate shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a first and a second end. A pair of jaws are positioned at the first end of the shaft and are mutually pivotally coupled thereat for movement between an opened and a closed orientation for selectively grasping the duct. An actuator positioned at the second end of the shaft is coupled in a drive relationship with the jaws for moving the jaws between the opened and closed orientations. An elongate, generally cylindrical guide tube is slidably supported along the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft and is formed as having an internal catheter channel therethrough.