# US 11,998,437 B2 · Methods for lengthening tubular organs

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- Number: US 11,998,437 B2
- Document ID: US11998437B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/321,277
- Filed: 2021-05-14
- Published: 2022-03-03
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-08-25
- Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
- Applicants: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
- Inventors: James C. Y. Dunn; Thomas M. Krummel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998437B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/04: Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts (A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95)
- A61F 2002/045: {Stomach, intestines}
- A61F 2210/0057: stretchable
- A61F 2220/0008: Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
- A61F 2230/0091: helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
- A61F 2250/0007: for adjusting length
- A61F 2250/0059: temporary
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

Described herein are methods for lengthening tubular organs using expandable implants. The expandable implants may be secured along a length of a tubular organ by forming a plication at each end of the implant. Securing the expandable implants in this manner may be used to treat short bowel syndrome. Methods for selecting and implanting an expandable implant suitable for lengthening a tubular organ according to predetermined patient parameters are further described herein.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of selecting or making an expandable implant for lengthening a segment of an elongate tubular organ in a subject, comprising:
determining at least two parameters related to the elongate tubular organ of the subject at a target location, wherein the at least two parameters are the radius of the elongate tubular organ of the subject at the target location and the wall thickness of the elongate tubular organ at the target location;
determining a target amount of force capable of lengthening the elongate tubular organ at the target location using the at least two parameters; and
selecting or making the expandable implant having one or more characteristics capable of producing the target amount of force.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising implanting the selected or made expandable implant into the target location of the elongate tubular organ.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the expandable implant has a proximal end, a distal end, an expanded configuration, and a compressed configuration, and wherein the implanting comprises forming a plication in the elongate tubular organ adjacent to the proximal end and the distal end of the expandable implant when implanted into the elongate tubular organ at the target location in the compressed configuration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the expandable implant comprises a self-expanding spring.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein an uncompressed spring length ranges from 5 cm to 8 cm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the target amount of force ranges from 0.3 N to 0.8 N.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein two or more expandable implants are selected or made, the method comprising:
determining the at least two parameters related to the elongate tubular organ of the subject, wherein the parameter is selected from one or more of weight of the subject, height of the subject, age of the subject, a radius of the elongate tubular organ of the subject at the two or more target locations, a diameter of the elongate tubular organ at the two or more target locations, and a wall thickness of the elongate tubular organ at the two or more target locations;
determining the target amount of force capable of lengthening the elongate tubular organ at the two or more target locations; and
selecting or making the two or more expandable implants, each having one or more characteristics capable of producing the target amount of force.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising implanting the two or more expandable implants at a respective one of the two or more target locations.