ERCP catheter with a removable handle for lithotriptor compatible basket

1. A method of removing a stone from a duct of a patient comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus comprising:

a catheter;

a connector attached to the catheter; and

a removable handle assembly attached to the connector;

a drive cable having a proximal end, a distal end and a basket assembly formed at the drive cable distal end and a coating along at least a portion of the drive cable proximal the basket assembly;

wherein the catheter further comprises a catheter drive cable lumen,

wherein the connector further comprises a connector drive cable lumen axially aligned with the catheter drive cable lumen and an injection port;

wherein the removable handle assembly comprises a handle lumen axially aligned with the connector drive cable lumen, a control handle member slidably and detachably associated with a gripping handle member, a tightening mechanism and a detachable cable loop;

wherein the drive cable extends through the catheter drive cable lumen, the connector drive cable lumen, the handle lumen, the control handle member, the gripping handle member, the tightening mechanism and into the detachable cable loop;

wherein the tightening mechanism releasably affixes the axial position of the drive cable relative to the control handle member such that axial movement of the control handle member relative to the gripping handle member drives the drive cable and causes the basket assembly to expand and collapse as the basket assembly moves into and out of the catheter;

tightening the tightening mechanism to affix the axial position of the drive cable relative to the control handle member;

pulling the control handle member proximally such that the basket assembly is collapsed and retracted within the catheter;

inserting the catheter to the proximity of the stone;

pushing the control handle member distally so as to extend and expand the basket assembly relative to the catheter and pulling the control handle member proximally so as to retract and collapse the basket assembly relative to the catheter to thereby capture the stone;

at least partially retracting the catheter from the duct and determining that the stone is too large to remove from the duct in one piece;

loosening the tightening mechanism and removing the catheter over the drive cable; and

feeding a lithotriptor over the drive cable to crush the stone.

2. A method of removing a stone from a duct of a patient comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus comprising:

a catheter;

a connector attached to the catheter; and

a removable handle assembly attached to the connector;

a drive cable having a proximal end, a distal end and a basket assembly formed at the drive cable distal end and a coating along at least a portion of the drive cable proximal the basket assembly;

wherein the catheter further comprises a catheter drive cable lumen,

wherein the connector further comprises a connector drive cable lumen axially aligned with the catheter drive cable lumen and an injection port;

wherein the removable handle assembly comprises a handle lumen axially aligned with the connector drive cable lumen, a control handle member slidably and detachably associated with a gripping handle member, a tightening mechanism and a detachable cable loop;

wherein the drive cable extends through the catheter drive cable lumen, the connector drive cable lumen, the handle lumen, the control handle member, the gripping handle member, the tightening mechanism and into the detachable cable loop;

wherein the tightening mechanism releasably affixes the axial position of the drive cable relative to the control handle member such that axial movement of the control handle member relative to the gripping handle member drives the drive cable and causes the basket assembly to expand and collapse as the basket assembly moves into and out of the catheter;

tightening the tightening mechanism to affix the axial position of the drive cable relative to the control handle member;

pulling the control handle member proximally such that the basket assembly is collapsed and retracted within the catheter; inserting the catheter to the proximity of the stone; pushing the control handle member distally so as to extend and expand the basket assembly relative to the catheter and pulling the control handle member proximally so as to retract and collapse the basket assembly relative to the catheter to thereby capture the stone;

at least partially retracting the catheter from the duct and determining that the stone is too large to remove from the duct in one piece;

detaching the cable loop;

loosening the tightening mechanism and removing the catheter over the drive cable; and

feeding a lithotriptor over the drive cable to crush the stone.

3. A method of removing a stone from a duct of a patient comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus comprising:

a catheter;

a connector attached to the catheter;

a removable handle assembly attached to the connector; and

a drive cable comprising a basket assembly formed at a drive cable distal end, at least a portion of the drive cable extending through the catheter, the connector and the handle assembly;

wherein the handle assembly is configured for removal from the apparatus over the drive cable without cutting the drive cable;

pulling a portion of the handle assembly proximally such that the basket assembly is collapsed and retracted within the catheter;

inserting the catheter to the proximity of the stone;

pushing the portion of the handle assembly distally so as to extend and expand the basket assembly relative to the catheter and pulling the portion of the handle assembly proximally so as to retract and collapse the basket assembly relative to the catheter to thereby capture the stone;

at least partially retracting the catheter from the duct and determining that the stone is too large to remove from the duct in one piece;

loosening the handle assembly and removing the handle assembly over the drive cable; and

feeding a lithotriptor over the drive cable to crush the stone.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising detaching a cable loop from the handle assembly.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising removing the catheter over the drive cable.