Adjustable double balloon catheter with a through lumen for stone management

1. A method for removing an object from a body lumen, comprising:

dispensing fluid into a portion of the body lumen containing the object;

impeding a flow of the dispensed fluid at a distal end of the portion of the body lumen and at a proximal end of the portion of the body lumen; and

causing the dispensed fluid to propel the object along the body lumen,

wherein during the method for removing the object from the body lumen, a lithotripsy procedure is not performed.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning a fluid dispenser in the body lumen, and wherein dispensing comprises dispensing the fluid from the fluid dispenser.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the dispensed fluid to propel comprises releasing the flow of the fluid through the proximal end of the portion of the body lumen, to propel the object past the proximal end of the portion of the body lumen.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising reducing a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the portion of the body lumen to cause an increase in a fluid turbulence within the body lumen when the fluid is released.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein dispensing and causing the dispensed fluid to propel are repeated to dislodge the object from a wall of the body lumen.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein impeding comprises causing the portion of the body lumen to expand to ease a movement of the object.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the dispensed fluid to propel comprises dispensing fluid until a predetermined pressure level of the fluid is reached.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein dispensing comprises causing a pressure of the dispensed fluid to vary to dislodge the object from a wall of the body lumen.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: positioning a distal balloon within the body lumen at the distal end of the portion of the body lumen that contains the object; and positioning a proximal balloon within the body lumen at the proximal end of the portion of the body lumen, and wherein causing the dispensed fluid to propel comprises pressurizing the proximal balloon to a lower pressure than a pressure of the distal balloon to permit a flow of the fluid past the proximal balloon.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body lumen comprises a ureter, and wherein causing the dispensed fluid to propel includes causing the dispensed fluid to propel a kidney stone along the ureter into a bladder.

11. A method for removing an object from a body lumen, comprising:

inserting a medical device into the body lumen, the medical device having a fluid dispenser;

dispensing fluid into the body lumen;

causing the dispensed fluid to propel the object along the body lumen, and

impeding a flow of the dispensed fluid in at least one direction through the body lumen,

wherein during the method for removing the object from the body lumen, a lithotripsy procedure is not performed.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising confining a predetermined quantity of dispensed fluid within a portion of the body lumen that contains the object by positioning a portion of the medical device within the body lumen such that a distal expansible member is located distal of the object and a proximal expansible member is located proximal of the object; and wherein causing the dispensed fluid to propel includes releasing the fluid from the portion of the body lumen.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one direction is through a ureter towards a kidney.

14. A method of displacing an object within a body lumen, comprising:

inserting into the body lumen a medical device comprising:

a fluid dispenser defining an aperture for dispensing a fluid into the body lumen;

a distal expansible member connected to the fluid dispenser and located distal of the aperture; and

a proximal expansible member located proximal of the aperture, both the distal and proximal expansible members configured for deployment between a collapsed state and an expanded state;

positioning a portion of the medical device within the body lumen such that the distal expansible member is located distal of the object;

expanding the distal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the body lumen;

dispensing fluid through the aperture and into the body lumen; and

wherein the dispensed fluid causes displacement of the object such that the object and a portion of the fluid flows proximally past the proximal expansible member and in between the wall of the body lumen and an outer surface of the proximal expansible member, wherein during the method for displacing the object within the body lumen, a lithotripsy procedure is not performed.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, prior to dispensing fluid:

positioning the proximal expansible member proximal of the object; and

expanding the proximal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the body lumen.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the proximal expansible member is expanded before the distal expansible member is expanded.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the proximal expansible member is expanded approximately simultaneous with the expansion of the distal expansible member.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the proximal expansible member is expanded after the distal expansible member is expanded.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising, after dispensing the fluid, partially collapsing the proximal expansible member.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the proximal expansible member is expanded to a lower pressure than that of the distal expansible member.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the fluid is dispensed such that a pressure of the fluid exceeds a pressure of the proximal expansible member.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the proximal and distal expansible members are slidable relative to each other, and wherein positioning the proximal expansible member comprises sliding the proximal expansible member relative to the distal expansible member.

23. The method of claim 14 , further comprising repeatedly dispensing fluid into the body lumen in order to further displace the object.

24. The method of claim 14 , wherein the distal and proximal expansible members comprise balloons, each balloon being individually inflated and configured for inflation to different pressures.

25. The method of claim 14 , wherein the object comprises a kidney stone.

26. The method of claim 14 , wherein the body lumen comprises a ureter.

27. A method of displacing an object within a body lumen, comprising:

inserting into the body lumen a medical device comprising:

a fluid dispenser defining an aperture for dispensing a fluid into the body lumen;

a distal expansible member connected to the fluid dispenser and located distal of the aperture; and

a proximal expansible member located proximal of the aperture, both the distal and proximal expansible members configured for deployment between a collapsed state and an expanded state;

positioning a portion of the medical device within the body lumen such that the distal expansible member is located distal of the object;

expanding the distal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the body lumen;

positioning the proximal expansible member proximal of the object;

expanding the proximal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the body lumen;

after positioning the proximal expansible member proximal of the object and expanding the proximal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the body lumen, dispensing fluid through the aperture and into the body lumen;

releasing the dispensed fluid to cause displacement of the object such that object and a portion of the fluid flows proximally past the proximal expansible member and in between the wall of the body lumen and an outer surface of the proximal expansible member,

wherein the distal and proximal expansible members are expanded to substantially the same extent and wherein the dispensed fluid distends the body lumen in order to stretch the body lumen and dislodge an embedded object from the body lumen, and

wherein during the method for displacing the object within the body lumen, a lithotripsy procedure is not performed.

28. A method of displacing an object within a body lumen, comprising:

inserting into the body lumen a medical device comprising:

a fluid dispenser defining an aperture for dispensing a fluid into the body lumen;

a distal expansible member connected to the fluid dispenser and located distal of the aperture; and

a proximal expansible member located proximal of the aperture, both the distal and proximal expansible members configured for deployment between a collapsed state and an expanded state;

positioning a portion of the medical device within the body lumen such that the distal expansible member is located distal of the object;

expanding the distal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the body lumen;

positioning the proximal expansible member proximal of the object;

expanding the proximal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the body lumen;

after positioning the proximal expansible member proximal of the object and expanding the proximal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the body lumen, dispensing fluid through the aperture and into the body lumen;

partially collapsing the proximal expansible member, after dispensing the fluid;

wherein the dispensed fluid causes displacement of the object such that the object and a portion of the fluid flows proximally past the proximal expansible member and in between the wall of the body lumen and an outer surface of the proximal expansible member,

wherein during the method for displacing the object within the body lumen, a lithotripsy procedure is not performed, and

wherein the body lumen comprises a ureter, and the fluid displaces the object closer to the bladder.

29. A method of displacing an object within a body lumen, comprising:

inserting into the body lumen a medical device comprising:

a fluid dispenser defining an aperture for dispensing a fluid into the body lumen;

a distal expansible member connected to the fluid dispenser and located distal of the aperture; and

a proximal expansible member located proximal of the aperture, both the distal and proximal expansible members configured for deployment between a collapsed state and an expanded state;

positioning a portion of the medical device within the body lumen such that the distal expansible member is located distal of the object;

expanding the distal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the body lumen;

positioning the proximal expansible member proximal of the object;

expanding the proximal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the body lumen;

after positioning the proximal expansible member proximal of the object and expanding the proximal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the body lumen, dispensing fluid through the aperture and into the body lumen;

wherein the proximal expansible member is expanded to a lower pressure than that of the distal expansible member,

wherein the fluid is dispensed such that a pressure of the fluid exceeds a pressure of the proximal expansible member,

wherein the dispensed fluid causes displacement of the object such that the object and a portion of the fluid flows proximally past the proximal expansible member and in between the wall of the body lumen and an outer surface of the proximal expansible member,

wherein during the method of displacing the object within the body lumen, a lithotripsy procedure is not performed; and

wherein the body lumen comprises a ureter, and the fluid displaces the object closer to the bladder.

30. A method of displacing an object within a ureter, comprising:

inserting into the ureter a medical device comprising:

a fluid dispenser defining an aperture for dispensing a fluid into the ureter;

a distal expansible member connected to the fluid dispenser and located distal of the aperture; and

a proximal expansible member located proximal of the aperture, both the distal and proximal expansible members configured for deployment between a collapsed state and an expanded state;

positioning a portion of the medical device within the ureter such that the distal expansible member is located distal of the object;

expanding the distal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the ureter;

dispensing fluid through the aperture and into the ureter; and

wherein the dispensed fluid causes displacement of the object such that the object and a portion of the fluid flows proximally past the proximal expansible member, and

wherein during the method of displacing the object within the ureter, a lithotripsy procedure is not performed.

31. The method of claim 30 , further comprising, prior to dispensing fluid: positioning the proximal expansible member proximal of the object; and

expanding the proximal expansible member until it seals against a wall of the ureter.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the proximal expansible member is expanded before the distal expansible member is expanded.

33. The method of claim 31 , wherein the proximal expansible member is expanded approximately simultaneous with the expansion of the distal expansible member.

34. The method of claim 31 , wherein the proximal expansible member is expanded after the distal expansible member is expanded.

35. The method of claim 31 , wherein the distal and proximal expansible members are expanded to substantially the same extent and wherein the dispensed fluid distends the ureter in order to stretch the ureter and dislodge an embedded object from the ureter.

36. The method of claim 31 , further comprising, after dispensing the fluid, partially collapsing the proximal expansible member.

37. The method of claim 31 , wherein the proximal expansible member is expanded to a lower pressure than that of the distal expansible member.

38. The method of claim 37 , wherein the fluid is dispensed such that a pressure of the fluid exceeds a pressure of the proximal expansible member.

39. The method of claim 31 , wherein the proximal and distal expansible members are slidable relative to each other, and wherein locating the proximal expansible member comprises sliding the proximal expansible member relative to the distal expansible member.

40. The method of claim 30 , further comprising repeatedly dispensing fluid into the ureter in order further displace the object.

41. The method of claim 30 , wherein the distal and proximal expansible members comprise balloons, each balloon being individually inflated and configured for inflation to different pressures.

42. The method of claim 30 , wherein the dispensed fluid flows proximally past the proximal expansible member and in between the wall of the ureter and an outer surface of the proximal expansible member.