System and methods for electrosurgical restenosis of body lumens
AssigneeArthroCare Corporation
InventorsPhilip E. Eggers, Hira V. Thapliyal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention comprises apparatus and methods for maintaining patency in body passages subject to occlusion by invasive tissue growth. The apparatus and methods of the present invention may be used to open and maintain patency in virtually any hollow body passage which may be subject to occlusion by invasive cellular growth or invasive solid tumor growth. Suitable hollow body passages include ducts, orifices, lumens, and the like, with exemplary body passages including the coronary arteries. The present invention is particularly useful for reducing or eliminating the effects of restenosis in coronary arteries by selectively removing tissue ingrowth in or around stents anchored therein.
Claims25
A method for maintaining patency in a body passage having an intraluminal prosthesis with a cylindrical wall positioned therein, wherein occlusive media has grown through or around the cylindrical wall of the prosthesis into the body passage, the method comprising:
- positioning an active electrode near or at the occlusive media;
- delivering electrically conductive fluid to the prosthesis such that the active electrode is substantially surrounded by the electrically conductive fluid;
- and
- applying high frequency voltage to the active electrode to selectively remove the occlusive media without directly applying current to the prosthesis.
A method for recanalizing a body lumen having an intraluminal prosthesis disposed therein, the body lumen having tissue ingrowth in or around the prosthesis, the method comprising:
- positioning an active electrode into at least close proximity with the tissue ingrowth in the presence of an electrically conducting fluid;
- positioning a return electrode within the electrically conducting fluid to generate a current flow path between the tissue ingrowth and the return electrode;
- and
- applying high frequency voltage to the active electrode and the return electrode such that an electrical current flows from the active electrode, through the region of the tissue ingrowth, and to the return electrode through the current flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.