Immobilizing objects in the body
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsRonald Sahatjian, Arthur Madenjian, Bill Little
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Stabilizing an object in the body of a patient involves the injection of a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) material or other flowable material into the body of the patient so that the material contacts the object. The LCST material or other flowable material then forms a gel in the body such that the object is contained at least partially within the gel and thereby stabilized by the gel such that the object can then be easily fragmented within the body and/or retrieved from the body.
Claims35
A method for stabilizing an object in a patient's body comprising:
- injecting a first material comprising a crosslinkable polymer in a flowable form into the patient's body to contact an object;
- contacting the first material with a second material comprising a crosslinking agent, the first material and second material, upon contact, forming a gel in the patient's body;
- and
- stabilizing the object in the patient's body by enabling the gel to contact the object.
A method of fragmenting an object in a patient's body comprising:
- injecting a material in a flowable form into the patient's body to contact an object;
- allowing the material to form a gel in the patient's body;
- stabilizing the object in the patient's body by enabling the gel to contact the object;
- and
- applying energy from outside of the patient's body directed towards the object, the energy breaking the object into at least two fragments.
A system for stabilizing an object in a patient's body comprising:
- a first material comprising a crosslinkable polymer in flowable form;
- a second material comprising a crosslinking agent, such that the first material and second material, upon contact, form a gel in the patient's body;
- a catheter for transferring the first material and second material into the patient's body in flowable form, such that the gel formed by the first material and second material contacts and thereby stabilizes the object;
- and
- a guide wire for introducing and guiding the catheter into the patient's body.
A system for stabilizing an object in a patient's body comprising:
- a first material comprising a crosslinkable polymer;
- a second material comprising a crosslinking agent, such that the first material and second material, upon contact, form a gel in the patient's body;
- and
- a percutaneous access device for injecting the first material and second material into the patient's body in flowable form, such that the gel formed by the first material and second material contacts and thereby stabilizes the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.