Introduction of shaped medical instruments into the body of a subject

Abstract

A method for introducing a shaped portion of an elongate medical instrument into a body of a subject includes at least partially straightening the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument. A retention element may be introduced into an interior of the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument to place and/or maintain the shaped portion in an at least partially straightened configuration. Such straightening may be accomplished without application of external force to an exterior of the shaped portion. With the retention element in place, the shaped portion may be introduced to a desired location within a hollow interior of an internal organ. The retention element may then be removed to enable the shaped portion to return to its desired shape. A straightening apparatus includes a retention element that can place and/or maintain a shaped portion of an elongate medical instrument in an at least partially straightened configuration without assistance of external force.

1 . A method for introducing a shaped portion of an elongate medical instrument into a hollow interior of an internal organ of a body of a subject, comprising:
 introducing an elongate element into an interior of the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument to at least partially straighten the shaped portion;   introducing at least the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument into a hollow interior of an internal organ of a body of a subject while the elongate element resides within the interior of the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument; and   removing the elongate element from the interior of the elongate medical instrument to enable the shaped portion to assume a desired shape within the hollow interior of the internal organ.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing the elongate element comprises enabling at least part of the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument to contact in inner surface of the internal organ. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, upon removing the elongate element, the shaped portion modifies a shape of the internal organ as the shaped portion assumes the desired shape. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein introducing the elongate element comprises introducing the elongate element into an entirety of the interior of the shaped portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein introducing the elongate element comprises introducing a wire into the interior of the shaped portion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing the elongate element comprises removing an entirety of the elongate element from the interior of the elongate medical instrument. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein introducing at least the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument into the interior of the internal organ comprises introducing a temperature sensing device into an esophagus. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein introducing the temperature sensing device comprises introducing a temperature sensing catheter into the esophagus. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein introducing the temperature sensing device comprises introducing the shaped portion of the temperature sensing device to a location along the esophagus adjacent to a left atrium of a heart. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for straightening a shaped portion of an elongate medical instrument, comprising:
 an internal element including an elongate element that retains the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument in an at least partially straightened configuration while present within a lumen of the elongate medical instrument:
 while the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument is introduced into a hollow organ of a subject, 
 the internal element being completely removable from the lumen of the elongate medical instrument. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the internal element is capable of retaining a tortuous shaped portion of an elongate medical instrument in an at least partially straightened configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the internal element is capable of retaining a serpentine portion of an elongate medical instrument in an at least partially straightened configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the internal element has a length sufficient to reside within an entirety of the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the internal element is substantially linear. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the internal element is curvilinear. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the internal element comprises a wire. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a rigidity of the internal element exceeds a rigidity of at least the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for straightening a shaped portion of an elongate medical instrument, comprising an internal element:
 comprising an elongate element having sufficient flexibility to follow a curvilinear path but having sufficient rigidity to resist conformation to a shape of the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument;   positionable within at least a portion of a lumen extending through the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument to place the shaped portion in an at least partially straightened configuration and removable from the lumen to enable the shaped portion to assume a relaxed configuration; and   the internal holding the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument in the at least partially straightened configuration while the shaped portion of the elongate medical instrument is introduced into a body of a subject.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the internal element at least partially places the shaped portion in the at least partially straightened configuration upon introduction of the internal element into the portion of the lumen of the elongate medical instrument extending through the shaped portion. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the internal element is insertable into a lumen of a shaped portion of an esophageal temperature sensing device.