Percutaneous retrieval system

1 . A method for the percutaneous removal of solid deposits from an internal organ of a subject, the method comprising:

(a) accessing a percutaneous access tract into the internal organ;

(b) inserting a guidewire via the percutaneous access tract, into the internal organ, and into an exit channel for the internal organ;

(c) advancing an expandable occlusion element along the guidewire and positioning the expandable occlusion element within the exit channel;

(d) expanding the expandable occlusion element to obstruct outflow from the internal organ through the exit channel;

(e) inserting a sheath, into the internal organ via the percutaneous access tract;

(f) performing lithotripsy to degrade the stones into smaller fragments;

(g) advancing a separator through the sheath and into the internal organ;

(h) applying a high-pressure flush from the end of the sheath and creating currents within the internal organ that carry the stones and/or fragments thereof into the sheath; and

(i) retracting the separator into the distal end of the sheath, thereby trapping the stones and/or fragments thereof within the sheath.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of:

(j) retracting the sheath through the percutaneous access tract, thereby removing the trapped stones and/or fragments thereof from the internal organ; or retracting the separator through the sheath, thereby removing the trapped stones and/or fragments thereof from the internal organ.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

(k) collecting the stones or fragments thereof in a filter at the proximal end of the sheath.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

(l) collecting the liquid is a collection vessel.

5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising repeating steps (g)-(j) one or more times.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: the internal organ is a gallbladder, and the exit channel is a cystic duct and/or common bile duct; or the internal organ is a kidney, and the exit channel is a ureter.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising steps of advancing an expandable deformation element through the sheath; positioning it within the distal end of the sheath; expanding the expandable deformation element to deform the distal end of the sheath into a funnel shape; contracting the expandable deformation element into a low-profile conformation and retracting the expandable deformation element through the sheath, wherein the distal end of maintains the funnel shape upon contracting and retracting the expandable deformation element.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the expandable deformation element is a balloon or umbrella element.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising advancing an endoscope through the sheath and into the internal organ.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising visualizing the internal organ and/or the stones or smaller fragments thereof with a camera near the distal end of the endoscope.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein step (g) comprises advancing the separator through the endoscope and into the internal organ.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the separator is a balloon or umbrella element capable being advanced and retracted through the sheath and also capable of occluding the interior of the sheath to (i) prevent escape of the stones or fragments thereof from the sheath and (ii) to remove the stones or fragments thereof from the sheath as the separator is retracted through the sheath.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein creating a percutaneous access tract comprises creating incisions in the skin of the subject and the exterior surface of the internal organ.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the expandable occlusion element is a balloon or umbrella element capable of adopting a collapsed conformation for being advanced along the guidewire and an expanded conformation for obstructing the exit channel of the internal organ.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lithotripsy comprises extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, laser lithotripsy, or electrohydraulic lithotripsy.

16 . A system for the percutaneous removal of solid deposits from an internal organ within a subject, the system comprising:

(a) a guidewire;

(b) an expandable occlusion element capable of (1) being advanced along the guidewire, (2) being positioned at a desired position along the guidewire, and (3) adopting an expanded conformation at the desired positioned along the guidewire;

(c) a sheath comprising: (1) a proximal end configured to be positioned outside of the subject, (2) a distal end configured to be positioned within the internal organ, and (3) an inner lumen extending from there proximal end to the distal end;

(d) a lithotripsy generator;

(e) a separator element capable of (1) being advanced through the inner lumen of the sheath into the internal organ, (2) occluding the lumen of the sheath upon being retracted into the distal end of the sheath, and (3) withdrawing the contents of the inner lumen of the sheath from the subject upon being retracted through the inner lumen of the sheath.