Method for removing kidney stones

1. A method for removing a kidney stone from a ureter, the method comprising:

advancing a distal end of an elongate, flexible kidney stone removal device into the ureter to a location near the kidney stone;

advancing a shaft of an expandable stone retention member through an inner shaft of the device to expose an expandable, stone retention portion of the stone retention member out of a distal end of the inner shaft;

visualizing at least part of the stone retention member with a camera disposed coaxially within the shaft of the stone retention member;

trapping the kidney stone in the stone retention portion of the stone retention member;

inflating an inflatable balloon ureteral wall protection member disposed on the distal end of the kidney stone removal device, after trapping the kidney stone in the stone retention portion, wherein a first end of the wall protection member is attached to an outer shaft of the device and a second end of the wall protection member is attached to an additional shaft disposed between the inner and outer shafts;

surrounding at least a portion of the stone retention member and the trapped kidney stone with the ureteral wall protection member; and

removing the kidney stone removal device from the ureter while the stone retention member and the kidney stone are at least partially surrounded by the wall protection member.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the camera is disposed in the stone retention member shaft such that a distal end of the camera is located at or near a distal end of the inner shaft.

3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the surrounding step comprises pulling the stone retention portion and the trapped kidney stone proximally into the wall protection member.

4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein surrounding at least part of the stone retention member and the trapped kidney stone invaginates the balloon.

5. A method as in claim 4 , wherein the surrounding step automatically partially deflates the balloon and thus causes a plunger of an inflation syringe used to inflate the balloon to retract.

6. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the kidney stone removal device is advanced at least part of the way to the location with the inner shaft extended out of the outer shaft and the additional shaft of the device.

7. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising inflating the balloon at least one additional time during the step of removing the device from the ureter to dilate at least one of a stricture or a narrowing of the ureter.

8. A method as in claim 7 , further comprising at least partially deflating the balloon at least one time during the step of removing the device from the ureter.

9. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising passing at least one of irrigation fluid, lubrication fluid or anesthetic out of the kidney stone removal device in an area near the kidney stone.

10. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising removing the camera from the device after use.

11. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising, before the trapping step:

advancing the inner shaft through the ureter, past the kidney stone; and

advancing the stone retention portion of the stone retention member out of the inner shaft.

12. A method as in claim 11 , wherein trapping the stone comprises pulling back the device to trap the stone in the stone retention portion of the stone retention member.

13. A method as in claim 12 , wherein the surrounding step comprises pulling back the stone retention member, with the stone retained in the stone retention portion, into the wall protection member.

14. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising visualizing at least one of the trapping, surrounding or removing steps, using the camera.

15. A method for removing a kidney stone from a ureter, the method comprising:

advancing a distal end of an elongate, flexible kidney stone removal device into the ureter to a location near the kidney stone;

advancing an expandable stone retention member out of an inner shaft of the device;

visualizing at least part of the stone retention member with a camera disposed coaxially within the stone retention member;

trapping the kidney stone in the stone retention member;

surrounding at least a portion of the stone retention member and the trapped kidney stone with a ureteral wall protection member disposed on the distal end of the kidney stone removal device; and

removing the kidney stone removal device from the ureter while the stone retention member and the kidney stone are at least partially surrounded by the wall protection member; and

inflating the balloon at least one additional time during the step of removing the device from the ureter to dilate at least one of a stricture or a narrowing of the ureter.

16. A method as in claim 15 , further comprising at least partially deflating the balloon at least one time during the step of removing the device from the ureter.