Apparatus for positioning and maintaining the position of endoscopic instruments

An apparatus for use in a treatment modality including an enlargement procedure to be performed within a patient, said apparatus including a catheter (101) to be directed through internal passageways in the patient, said catheter (101) having a proximal end (103) and a distal end (104), a proximal portion (102) adjacent said proximal end (103) and a distal portion (105) adjacent said distal end (104), and first (201) and at least one second (203) lumen generally parallel, said first (201) and said second (203) lumen extending between said proximal and distal portions (102, 105), and a cutting wire (113) to perform the procedure extension extending through said second lumen (203) to operate in said distal portion (105) in response to manipulations at said proximal end (103), said cutting wire (113) having a distal end (401) attached to said catheter (101) at the distal end of said second lumen (203), a portion (405) thereof to the outside of said catheter (101) along a coextensive length with a portion of said distal portion (105) of said catheter (101) and a handle (111) for operating said cutting wire (113) from a point proximal of said catheter (101), characterized by a rotary coupling which joins said handle (111) to said catheter (101) allowing said handle rotating said proximal end (103) of said catheter (101) relative connecting and while rotating a proximal end of said cutting wire (113) through which said distal portion (105) of said catheter (101) rotates as result of said rotation of said handle (111); and a locking mechanism (901) for closing an orientation of said distal portion (405) of said cutting wire (113).