Importance

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Abstract

A combination laparoscopic T-tube, drain and balloon instrument comprises T-tube means, drain means, and balloon means and is insertable into a common bile duct and operable to evacuate fluids therefrom. The drain means is adjacent the T-tube means and is operable to evacuate fluids from the abdominal cavity and the balloon means is adjacent the T-tube means and drain means and is operable to fixate the T-tube within the common bile duct. To insert the instrument through a cannula and into a common bile duct, a V-tip stylet is provided which is a slender rigid rod with a V-tip on a distal end of the rod. A method is provided whereby the V-tip stylet is utilized to introduce the instrument through a cannula and into a common bile duct. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a T-tube, a drain adjacent the T-tube, and a flexible resilient member connected to the ends of the T-tube for configuring the T-tube generally straight for insertion into a bile duct, and for configuring the T-tube into a generally T configuration within the bile duct. The T-tube and drain are joined so as to function as an integral instrument.

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First Claim