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A new-design basket for stone removal uses a standard Teflon catheter with radially positioned holes at its tip to hold either monofilament or soft wire. The strands are positioned to form a basket that will change in both size and shape simply by advancing or retracting these strands. This basket is much safer, can be changed in size during maneuvering , will transmit instruments for stone fragmentation, and can be advanced over a guide wire. It has been effective both in vitro and in the retrieval of biliary and urinary tract stones in 20 patients, several of which could not be retrieved by standard methods.

The "accordion" catheter was developed as an adjunct to the Hawkins needle guide to provide safe single-step percutaneous drainage. The Hawkins needle guide is a long, 22-gauge "skinny" needle-cannula system that can be used like any other skinny needle. It can also be used for drainage catheter placement. The accordion catheter is a 6.5 French Teflon catheter with a sigmoid tip. With the use of monofilament, the sigmoid tip can be retracted into a "T" configuration to prevent dislodgment. The 22-gauge needle guide, preloaded with an accordion catheter, can be manipulated safely while the drainage target is located. Then the accordion catheter can be advanced into the target over the needle guide. The "accordion" is easily formed, even in small targets. Successful drainage was achieved in 127 of 131 drainage procedures in which this technique was used. Sepsis did not occur as a complication in any of these procedures.