# US 2019/0167298 A1 · Method and apparatus for coaptive ultrasound gastrostomy

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0167298 A1
- Document ID: US20190167298A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/152,059
- Filed: 2018-10-04
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-05
- Assignees: University of Maryland, Baltimore
- Applicants: University of Maryland, Baltimore
- Inventors: Steven TROPELLO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167298A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/3415: {for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters (A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06)}
- A61J 15/0015: {Gastrostomy feeding-tubes (insertion tools or methods A61B17/34)}
- A61M 25/1018: {Balloon inflating or inflation-control devices}
- A61M 25/104: {used for angioplasty}
- A61B 2017/3413: {guided by ultrasound}
- A61B 2017/3486: {Balloon}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for the placement of elongate medical members within a patients body using coaptive ultrasound. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a flexible tube includes a first balloon at a distal end of the tube, and a second balloon at the distal end of the tube and positioned within the first balloon. The first and second balloons are inflatable to form one or more echogenic windows between them, which echogenic window may be detected from within a patient's body by an ultrasound probe that is external to the patient's body. Detection of such echogenic window is used to identify an acceptable location on the patient's body at which to insert a guidewire configured to receive an elongate medical member without damage to surrounding patient tissues or organs.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for placement of an elongate medical member, comprising:
a flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end opposite said distal end;
a first balloon affixed to said distal end of said flexible tube;
a second balloon affixed to said distal end of said flexible tube and positioned within an interior of said first balloon;
wherein each of said first balloon and said second balloon are inflatable and are configured to form at least one echogenic window between an interior of said first balloon and an exterior of said second balloon.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spacers between said first balloon and said second balloon.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein said spacers comprise rivets positioned between an interior face of said first balloon and an exterior face of said second balloon.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein said spacers comprise a plurality of ridges on an exterior face of said second balloon.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a first lumen extending along said flexible tube from said proximal end to an interior of said first balloon, and a second lumen extending along said flexible tube from said proximal end to an interior of said second balloon.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, further comprising an open channel extending through said flexible tube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, further comprising at least one opening extending through said flexible tube into said open channel, said at least one opening positioned adjacent the distal end of said flexible tube and proximal to said first balloon and said second balloon.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a snare extending through said elongate member and having a closeable snare head positioned within said second balloon.

### Claim 9

A device for placement of an elongate medical member within a patient's body, comprising:
a flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end opposite said distal end; and
a balloon affixed to said distal end of said flexible tube, said balloon having a pouch on an exterior wall of said balloon, said pouch having an echogenic material therein;
wherein said balloon is inflatable so as to position said pouch in contact with an interior of a patient's stomach upon inflation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, further comprising a lumen extending along said flexible tube from said proximal end to an interior of said balloon.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, further comprising an open channel extending through said flexible tube.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11, further comprising at least one opening extending through said flexible tube into said open channel, said at least one opening positioned adjacent the distal end of said flexible tube and proximal to said balloon.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, further comprising a snare extending through said elongate member and having a closeable snare head positioned within said second balloon.

### Claim 14

A method for placing an elongate medical member within a patient's body, comprising the steps of:
providing a flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end opposite said distal end, a first balloon affixed to said distal end of said flexible tube, and a second balloon affixed to said distal end of said flexible tube and positioned within an interior of said first balloon;
inserting said distal end of said flexible tube into a patient's body;
inflating said first balloon and said second balloon with one or more fluids to form an echogenic window; and
detecting a location of said echogenic window within a patient and to identify an acceptable location on the patient's body to insert a guidewire configured to receive said elongate medical member.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein said detecting step further comprises using an ultrasound probe to detect said location of said echogenic window.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:
inserting an angiocatheter at said acceptable location so that said angiocatheter extends into said second balloon;
inserting a guidewire through said angiocatheter so that a distal end of said guidewire is positioned within said second balloon;
capturing said distal end of said guidewire from a proximal end of said flexible tube;
deflating said first balloon and said second balloon; and
retracting said flexible tube from said patient.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein a plurality of spacers are provided between said first balloon and said second balloon.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein said spacers comprise rivets positioned between an interior face of said first balloon and an exterior face of said second balloon.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein said spacers comprise a plurality of ridges on an exterior face of said second balloon.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein said flexible tube further comprises a first lumen extending along said flexible tube from said proximal end to an interior of said first balloon, and a second lumen extending along said flexible tube from said proximal end to an interior of said second balloon.

### Claim at position 21

-35. (canceled)