Bladder treatment methods and devices
AssigneeAmphora Medical, Inc.
InventorsEric S. Whitbrook, John C. Knudson, Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann
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Abstract
Devices and methods that provide minimally-invasive approaches to performing treatments on soft tissue, such as that found in the bladder using various natural access paths such as transvaginal and transurethral. Treatments include the application of energy to nerves found in, under and around the trigone region of the bladder.
Claims23
A method of treating a bladder condition comprising:
- placing a treatment device in a patient's vagina such that a front face of the device faces the patient's bladder;
- delivering a treatment modality from regions of the device that are lateral to the front face of the treatment device such that said treatment modality affects biological functionality of nerve tissue lateral of the vagina.
A method of treating a bladder condition comprising:
- placing a treatment device in a ureter;
- treating nerve tissue in a region away from the epithelium of the ureter while protecting the epithelium from treatment.
A method of treating overactive bladder (OAB) in a female patient comprising:
- placing a treatment device having at least one surface electrode in the vagina to a position where the at least one electrode is faces the trigone region of the bladder, the device having an internal lumen configured for receiving a cooling fluid;
- activating the at least one electrode to affect nerve functionality;
- infusing cooling fluid into the internal lumen.
A method of treating overactive bladder (OAB) in a female patient comprising:
- placing a visualization device in the vagina to a position adjacent the bladder;
- Identifying the location of a ureter and noting the position of the ureter relative to the patient's anatomy or the position of the visualization device;
- deploying at least one energy delivery element to a position relative to the ureter,
- activating the energy delivery element to treat nerve tissue associated with OAB.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.