Methods and systems for performing a medical procedure

Abstract

Method and system for treating a patient using a compressible, pressure-attenuating device. According to one embodiment, the system is used to treat urinary tract disorders and comprises an access device, a delivery device, a pressure-attenuating device, and a removal device. The access device may be used to create a passageway to an anatomical structure, such as the patient's bladder. The delivery device may be inserted through the passageway created by the access device and may be used to deliver the pressure-attenuating device to the anatomical structure. The removal device may be inserted through the passageway created by the access device and may be used to view the bladder and/or to capture, to deflate and to remove the pressure-attenuating device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A delivery device for use in delivering a medical device to an anatomical structure within a patient, the delivery device comprising:
 (a) a housing;   (b) a tube extending from a distal end of the housing, the tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one longitudinal channel;   (c) a catheter that is mounted coaxially around at least the distal end of the tube,
 (i) the catheter having a channel and a window, the channel being dimensioned to receive the medical device, the window communicating with the channel and being dimensioned for passage of the medical device there through; and 
   (d) a cover slidably mounted over the catheter for selectively covering and uncovering the window.   
     
     
         22 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the housing is a gun-shaped housing comprising a barrel portion and a handle portion, and the tube extending from a distal end of the barrel portion. 
     
     
         23 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 22  further comprising:
 (a) a connection system, the connection system connecting a first fluid supply and a second fluid supply to the at least one longitudinal channel of the tube and 
 (b) wherein the barrel portion comprises a first opening and a second opening,
 (i) the first opening receiving the first fluid supply, the first fluid supply comprising a volume of a first fluid, and 
 (ii) the second opening receiving the second fluid supply, the second fluid supply comprising a volume of a second fluid. 
 
 
     
     
         24 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the first fluid supply is a first syringe and wherein the second fluid supply is a second syringe. 
     
     
         25 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the first fluid is air and wherein the second fluid is at least one liquid perfluorocarbon. 
     
     
         26 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the connection system comprises a fluid connector, the fluid connector comprising a pair of fluid input channels and a single fluid output channel. 
     
     
         27 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the connection system further comprises a first check valve and a second check valve, the first check valve being fluidly connected to one of the fluid input channels by a first fluid line, the second check valve being fluidly connected to the other of the fluid input channels by a second fluid line. 
     
     
         28 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 21  further comprising a push-off member, the push-off member being slidably mounted over the tube to decouple the tube from the therapeutic and/or diagnostic object. 
     
     
         29 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 28  further comprising a trigger, the trigger being pivotally mounted to the housing and being mechanically coupled to the push-off member so as to cause the push-off member to slide relative to the tube. 
     
     
         30 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the trigger comprises a tab, wherein the housing comprises a rib, and wherein the tab and the rib are constructed so that the tab and the rib produce an audible click when the trigger is squeezed, the rib preventing the trigger from returning to an unsqueezed state after having been squeezed. 
     
     
         31 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 29  further comprising a safety, the safety having a first end coupled to the trigger and a second end coupled to the housing, the safety being transformable from a locked state in which squeezing of the trigger is prevented and an unlocked state in which the squeezing of the trigger is enabled. 
     
     
         32 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the medical device is an inflatable medical device and wherein the inflatable medical device may be released in the window. 
     
     
         33 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the catheter has a distal end, the window being spaced proximally from the distal end. 
     
     
         34 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the window is a top window. 
     
     
         35 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the window has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion, the proximal portion and the distal portion being comparatively narrower and comparatively shallower than the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         36 . The delivery device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the delivery device further comprises:
 (a) an inflation tube extending from the housing, the inflation tube comprising a distal end adapted for coupling to an inflatable medical device; and   (b) a decoupling member for decoupling the distal end of the inflation tube from the inflatable medical device,   (c) wherein the housing is marked with markings communicating a sequence of steps for operation of the delivery device.