DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of medical devices.
More specifically, the present invention relates a double lumen shaft tube that
5 facilitates the simultaneous use of a stone basket and a laser fibre, streamlining
the stone extraction process.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Kidney stones (known as ureteral calculi, renal calculi, nephrolithiasis, or
urolithiasis in medical terminology) are a common medical problem that
10 negatively impacts millions of individuals worldwide. Kidney stones include one
or more solid masses of material that are usually made of crystals and form in
parts of the urinary tract including in the ureter, the kidney, and/or the bladder of
the individual. Kidney stones range in size from smaller (less than about 1 cm) to
very large (more than 4 cm) and may cause significant pain to the individual and
15 damage to the kidney. The overwhelming majority of stones that are treated by
surgeons are less than 1 cm.
[0003] The recommended treatment for removal of the kidney stones varies
according to numerous factors including the size of the kidney stones, the
number of kidney stones, and the location of the kidney stones. The most
20 common treatments for kidney stones are shock wave Lithotripsy, Ureteroscopy,
Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS) and Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy. The
largest kidney stones are usually removed through Percutaneous
Nephrolithotomy or Nephrolithotripsy, or through other similar procedures.
[0004] Traditionally, smaller kidney stones have been treated using other, less
25 invasive techniques including through ureteroscopy. In ureteroscopy, the surgeon
typically inserts a ureteroscope into the urethra through the bladder and the
ureter to provide the surgeon with a direct visualization of the kidney stone(s)
which may reside in the ureter or kidney. The surgeon then removes the kidney
stone directly using a basketing or a grasper device if the kidney