Expandable device for thermal therapy
AssigneeSeacoast Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDonald J. Larnard, Dan Sachs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and expandable device for thermally affecting tissue in which there is a fluid conduit. An expandable element includes a wall defining an inner volume. The wall has a tissue contact region which is non-coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit. The tissue contact region is operable to have a first contact surface area and a second contact surface area in which the second contact surface area is larger than the first contact surface area. A port is formed through the wall and is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit.
Claims12
An expandable element for thermally affecting tissue, comprising:
- a port, the port having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a wall defining an inner volume, the wall having a tissue contact region, the tissue contact region being expandable when infused with the thermal fluid, the port being formed through the wall;
- and
- a fluid distribution member provided within the interior volume of the expandable member and affixed to the wall.
An expandable device using thermal fluid from a fluid source for thermally affecting cranial tissue, comprising:
- a fluid conduit having a longitudinal axis;
- at least one injection element in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, the at least one injection element having a soft durometer;
- an expandable element in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, the expandable element including:
- a wall defining an inner volume and enclosing at least a portion of the at least one injection element, the wall having a tissue contact region, the tissue contact region being expandable when infused with the thermal fluid,
- the expandable element being insertable into an opening in a cranium when the expandable element is in an unexpanded state;
- and
- a fluid distribution member provided within the interior volume of the expandable member and affixed to the wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.