Biliary Catheter Systems Including Stabilizing Members

Abstract

Medical devices including devices and systems for endoscopic interventions that may access the biliary tree. An example biliary catheter system may include an endoscope having a working channel formed therein. An endoscopic instrument may be disposed in the channel. The endoscopic instrument may have a tool channel formed therein, a distal end, and a plurality of stabilizing members extending from the distal end. The plurality of stabilizing members may be configured to surround the ampulla of Vater during a biliary tract intervention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biliary catheter system, comprising:
 an endoscope having a working channel extending therethrough;   an endoscopic instrument disposed in the working channel, the endoscopic instrument having a tool channel;   a cannulation toll disposed within the tool channel; and   a stabilizing system extending through the endoscopic instrument and extending out a distal end of the endoscopic instrument, the stabilizing system designed to surround the ampulla of Vater during an endoscopic intervention.   
     
     
         2 . The biliary catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing system comprises a plurality stabilizing members that can be individually manipulated. 
     
     
         3 . The biliary catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing system comprises a plurality of vacuum lumens. 
     
     
         4 . The biliary catheter system of  claim 3 , further comprising a vacuum source coupled to the vacuum lumens. 
     
     
         5 . The biliary catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing system comprises three or more stabilizing members. 
     
     
         6 . The biliary catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing system comprises a plurality of stabilizing legs. 
     
     
         7 . The biliary catheter system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the stabilizing legs have a point formed thereon. 
     
     
         8 . The biliary catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing system comprises a clip. 
     
     
         9 . The biliary catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing system comprises three stabilizing members having distal end ends arranged in a substantially triangular configuration when deployed. 
     
     
         10 . The biliary catheter system of  claim 1 , the endoscopic instrument further comprising a single stabilizing member channel, and the stabilizing system extends through the single stabilizing member channel. 
     
     
         11 . The biliary catheter system of  claim 1 , the endoscopic instrument further comprising a plurality of stabilizing member channels, and the stabilizing system comprises a plurality of stabilizing members, with each of the stabilizing members disposed in one of the plurality of stabilizing member channels. 
     
     
         12 . A cannulation system for cannulating an ampulla of Vater of a patient, the cannulation system comprising:
 an endoscopic instrument designed to be disposed in a channel of an endoscope, the endoscopic instrument having a cannulation tool channel formed therein, a proximal end, a distal end, and a stabilizing assembly extending axially through the endoscopic instrument and comprising a plurality of stabilizing members extending from within a distal end of the endoscopic instrument for stabilizing the endoscopic instrument relative to the ampulla of Vater during a biliary tract intervention, the stabilizing members designed to surround the ampulla of Vater during the intervention; and   a cannulation tool disposed in the cannulation tool channel.   
     
     
         13 . The cannulation system of  claim 12 , wherein the stabilizing members comprise vacuum lumens. 
     
     
         14 . The cannulation system of  claim 12 , wherein the stabilizing members include three or more stabilizing legs that each have a point formed thereon. 
     
     
         15 . The cannulation system of  claim 12 , wherein the stabilizing members include a clip. 
     
     
         16 . The cannulation system of  claim 12 , wherein the stabilizing members each have a distal end, and wherein the distal ends are arranged in a substantially triangular configuration when deployed. 
     
     
         17 . The cannulation system of  claim 12 , wherein the endoscopic instrument has a stabilizing member channel formed therein, and wherein all of the stabilizing members extend through the stabilizing member channel. 
     
     
         18 . The cannulation system of  claim 12 , wherein the endoscopic instrument includes a plurality of stabilizing member channels formed therein, and wherein each of stabilizing members is disposed in one of the stabilizing member channels. 
     
     
         19 . A method for cannulating an ampulla of Vater of a patient, the method comprising:
 advancing an endoscope having a channel formed therein to a position adjacent to the ampulla of Vater;   advancing a stabilization and cannulation tool through the channel of the endoscope, the tool comprising:
 an endoscopic instrument having a cannulation tool channel formed therein and a stabilization assembly extending from a distal end of the endoscopic instrument; and 
 a cannulation tool disposed in the cannulation tool channel; 
   extending the stabilizing assembly from the distal end of the endoscopic instrument so that the stabilizing assembly surrounds and stabilizes the ampulla of Vater relative to the endoscopic instrument; and   delivering the cannulation tool to the ampulla of Vater.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the stabilizing members include one or more of a vacuum lumen, a lever having a point formed thereon, and a clip.