Method for treating muscle in wall and apparatus for same

A method for treating muscle in a body of a mammal having an esophagus extending through a lower esophageal sphincter to a stomach and formed by a wall having a muscle layer comprising the step of forming at least one tightening in the wall in the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter whereby the at least one tightening inhibits opening of esophagus at the lower esophageal sphincter.

A method for increasing the competency of a sphincter having tone in a gastrointestinal tract having a chamber extending to the sphincter, the chamber having a pressure therein and defined by a wall having a muscle layer comprising the step of creating a tightening in the muscle layer in the vicinity of the sphincter whereby with increased pressure in the chamber the tightening causes the sphincter to retain tone thereby lessening incontinence of the chamber.

An apparatus for treating muscle in a body of a mammal having an esophagus extending through a lower esophageal sphincter to a stomach and formed by a wall having a muscle layer comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities, a stylet carried by the elongate probe member and extendable from the distal extremity and a temperature sensor carried by the stylet for measuring the temperature of the muscle during treatment.

An apparatus for treating muscle in a body of a mammal having an esophagus extending through a lower esophageal sphincter to a stomach and formed by a wall having a muscle layer comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities, a stylet carried by the elongate probe member and extendable from the distal extremity and an oxygen sensor carried by the stylet for measuring the oxygen concentration of the muscle during treatment.