US 2011/0034922 A1Published application

Systems for treating a hollow anatomical structure

AssigneeTyco Healthcare Group LP

InventorsRussell Blake Thompson, Brady David Esch, Vijay Kumar Dhaka, Fiona Maria Sander

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Abstract

A working end of a catheter includes at least one therapeutic element, such as a resistive heating element, usable to deliver energy for ligating, or reducing the diameter of, a hollow anatomical structure. In certain examples, the catheter includes a lumen to accommodate a guide wire or to allow fluid delivery. In certain embodiments, a balloon is inflated to place resistive element(s) into apposition with a hollow anatomical structure and to occlude the structure. Indexing devices and methods are also disclosed for successively treating portions of the hollow anatomical structure. In certain examples, marks along the catheter shaft provide visual verification to the physician of the relative position of the therapeutic element of the catheter. Embodiments of indexing devices may include pairs of rings and/or hinged arms that move a catheter a desired indexed position between successive treatments.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An apparatus for use in treating a hollow anatomical structure (HAS), the apparatus comprising:

an elongate member having a distal section and a proximal section, the elongate member being sized for insertion into a HAS;
a treating element located on the elongate member and having a first length;
wherein the treating element has a distal section and a proximal section and is configured to apply energy along a length of the HAS in consecutive treatment segments of the HAS;
a plurality of index markings marked on the elongate member;
wherein the index markings are configured to be movably indexed in a distal to proximal direction via movement of the elongate member in the distal to proximal direction to sequentially position the treating element axially along the length of the HAS;
at least one final marking marked on the elongate member that indicates a final distance from said final marking to the proximal section of the treating element;
and
a warning section marked on the elongate member, the warning section comprising a distinct marking different from the plurality of index markings and the at least one final marking;
wherein consecutive index markings are spaced apart by a second length, the second length being less than the first length to ensure overlap of consecutive treated segments of the HAS when the treating element is moved in the distal to proximal direction along the HAS.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/911,633Filed 25 Oct 2010
Priority: 21 Jul 2005
Published: 10 Feb 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

A61B 18/082
By means of electrically-heated probes: probes or electrodes therefor
A61B 18/08
By heating: by means of electrically-heated probes
A61B 18/1492
Probes or electrodes therefor: having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation
A61B 18/24
The beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor: with a catheter

Family

Application60/701,303Us provisional application · filed 21 Jul 2005
Application60/780,948Us provisional application · filed 9 Mar 2006
Application11/491,348Continuation · filed 21 Jul 2006
Application12/686,323Continuation · filed 12 Jan 2010
Application12/911,633Continuation
US 2007/0100405 A1Published application
US 2010/0106150 A1Published application
US 7,837,677 B2Related patent
US 7,963,961 B2Related patent
US 2011/0034922 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.