# US 10,869,732 B2 · Spheric endo-luminal traction device for esophageal elongation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,732 B2 - Document ID: US10869732B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/624,677 - Filed: 2017-06-15 - Published: 2017-12-21 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-15 - Assignees: Children's Hospital Medical Center - Applicants: Children's Hospital Medical Center - Inventors: Jose Peiro Ibanez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869732B2 ## CPC - A61B 90/02: {Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue (implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00)} - A61B 17/06166: {Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M)} - A61B 17/1114: {of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus} - A61B 2017/00818: {Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system} - A61B 2017/0496: {for tensioning sutures} - A61B 2017/1103: {Approximator} - A61B 2017/1132: {End-to-end connections} - A61B 2090/3925: {ultrasonic} - A61B 2090/3966: {Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Methods and apparatuses for applying tensile force to one or more tissue regions within a body. Illustratively, an implant ball including a spherical side wall is received within a tubular organ, and tensile sutures extend through the implant ball for applying a tensile force to facilitate elongation of the tubular organ. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for lengthening a tubular organ by applying tensile force, the system comprising: a first implant configured to be received within a first pouch of the tubular organ, the first implant comprising a ball including an internal chamber and a spherical outer surface; a first tension suture extending through the first implant; an insertion device for placing the first implant within the first pouch, the insertion device including a proximal end and a distal end; a coupler for releasably coupling the first implant to the distal end of the insertion device; wherein tensile force applied to the first tension suture results in a semispherical distribution of force by the ball causing the first pouch to elongate; wherein the insertion device comprises a tube including a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximal end and the distal end, and the coupler comprises a placement suture extending through the lumen of the tube; and wherein the first implant includes a first opening and a second opening in spaced relation to the first opening, the placement suture extending through the first opening and the second opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the implant includes a marker element for at least one of radiology and ultrasonic detection. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the marker element is a radiopaque element including at least one of an internal radiopaque particle, and a radiopaque substance coating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the insertion device comprises a Replogle tube including at least one drainage opening configured to drain saliva. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, further comprising a malleable wire configured to be inserted within the lumen of the Replogle tube for facilitating placement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the ball of the first implant includes a side wall defining the internal chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the ball is formed of a polymer and has an outer diameter of between 5 millimeters and 10 millimeters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second implant configured to be received within a second pouch of the tubular organ, the second implant including an arcuate outer surface; and a second tension suture extending through the second implant; wherein tensile force applied to the first tension suture and the second tension suture cause the first pouch and the second pouch to elongate toward each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the tension suture provides external traction by extending through tissue adjacent the organ. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the tension suture provides internal traction by extending through the insertion device. ### Claim 11 An implant for lengthening a tubular organ by applying tensile force, the implant comprising: a ball including a side wall defining an internal chamber and a spherical outer surface, the ball being formed of a polymer and having a fixed outer diameter of between 5 millimeters and 15 millimeters; and a tension suture extending through a first location in the side wall of the ball, the internal chamber of the ball, and a second location in the side wall of the ball, wherein tensile force applied to the tension suture causes a semi-spherical distribution of force by the ball to a tubular organ for lengthening the tubular organ. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein the ball has a fixed outer diameter of between 8 millimeters and 10 millimeters. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, further comprising a coupler for releasably coupling the implant to an insertion device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein the ball includes a marker element for at least one of radiology and ultrasonic detection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The implant of claim 14, wherein the marker element is a radiopaque element including at least one of an internal radiopaque particle, and a radiopaque substance coating. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, further comprising a placement suture, wherein the ball includes a first opening and a second opening in spaced relation to the first opening, the placement suture extending through the first opening, the internal chamber and the second opening. ### Claim 17 A system for lengthening a tubular organ by applying tensile force, the system comprising: a first implant configured to be received within a first pouch of the tubular organ, the first implant comprising a first ball including a spherical outer surface; a first tension suture extending through the first implant in a distal direction; wherein tensile force applied to the first tension suture results in a semispherical distribution of force by the first ball causing the first pouch to elongate; a second implant configured to be received within a second pouch of the tubular organ, the second implant comprising a second ball including a spherical outer surface; a second tension suture extending through the second implant in a proximal direction; and wherein tensile force applied to the second tension suture results in a semispherical distribution of force by the second ball causing the second pouch to elongate toward the first pouch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, further comprising: an insertion device for placing the first implant within the first pouch, the insertion device including a proximal end and a distal end; and a coupler for releasably coupling the first implant to the distal end of the insertion device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the insertion device comprises a tube including a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximal end and the distal end, and the coupler comprises a placement suture extending through the lumen of the tube. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the first implant includes a first opening and a second opening in spaced relation to the first opening, the placement suture extending through the first opening and the second opening. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the insertion device comprises a tube, and the coupler comprises a threaded connection between the first implant and the tube. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the insertion device comprises a Replogle tube including at least one drainage opening configured to drain saliva. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the first ball of the first implant includes a side wall defining an internal chamber. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the first ball is formed of a polymer and has an outer diameter of between 5 millimeters and 10 millimeters.