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US 6,749,607 B2Granted
Apparatus to treat esophageal sphincters
AssigneeCuron Medical, Inc.
InventorsStuart D Edwards, David S Utley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sphincter treatment apparatus has an introducer means including a distal portion means. An expandable device means includes a plurality of arm means. Each arm means of the plurality has a distal section means and a proximal section means. Each of distal sections means of the arm means are coupled and each of the proximal sections means of the arm means are coupled to the introducer means distal portion means. The expandable device means is configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state. An energy delivery device means is introduceable from the introducer means into a selected site of the sphincter. The energy delivery device means is configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter.
Claims90
A sphincter treatment apparatus, comprising:
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device including a plurality of arms, each arm of the plurality including a distal section and a proximal section with each of the plurality of arm distal sections being coupled and each of the arm proximal sections being coupled to the introducer distal portion, wherein the expandable device has a sufficient spring force to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- and
- an energy delivery device introduceable from the introducer into a selected site of the sphincter, the energy delivery device being configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter.
1 more element
The apparatus of claim, 1, wherein at least a portion of the energy delivery device has a distal portion configured to be advanceable into the sphincter while maintaining a constant angle of penetration through a sphincter surface.
A sphincter treatment apparatus, comprising:
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device coupled to the introducer distal portion, the expandable device including a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled, the expandable device being configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- and
- an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device, the energy delivery device being configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter while minimizing cell necrosis of a mucosal layer of the sphincter, at least a portion of the energy delivery device having a distal portion with a geometric configuration that is advanceable into the sphincter with a minimal amount of tearing of a mucosa of the sphincter.
1 more element
The apparatus of claim further comprising:
- a feedback control coupled to the sensor.
A sphincter treatment apparatus comprising
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device coupled to the introducer distal portion, the expandable device including a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled,
- the expandable device being configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- and
- an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device, the energy delivery device being configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter while minimizing cell necrosis of a mucosal layer of the sphincter, at least a portion of the energy delivery device having a distal portion configured to be advanceable into the sphincter while maintaining a constant angle of penetration through a sphincter surface.
2 more elements
A sphincter treatment apparatus comprising:
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device coupled to the introducer distal portion, the expandable device including a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled, the expandable device being configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device, the energy delivery device being configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter while minimizing cell necrosis of a mucosal layer of the sphincter;
- and
- an advancement member coupled to the energy delivery device.
2 more elements
A sphincter treatment apparatus comprising:
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device coupled to the introducer distal portion, the expandable device including a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled, the expandable device being configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device, the energy delivery device being configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter while minimizing cell necrosis of a mucosal layer of the sphincter;
- and
- a fluid delivery source coupled to the introducer.
2 more elements
A sphincter treatment apparatus comprising,
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device coupled to the introducer distal portion, the expandable device including a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled, the expandable device being configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- and
- an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device, the energy delivery device including a waveguide means and being configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a
- frequency of relaxation of the sphincter while minimizing cell necrosis of a mucosal layer of the sphincter.
2 more elements
A sphincter treatment apparatus comprising,
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device coupled to the introducer distal portion, the expandable device including a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled, the expandable device being configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- and
- an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device, the energy delivery device including a microwave antenna and being configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter while minimizing cell necrosis of a mucosal layer of the sphincter.
1 more element
A sphincter treatment apparatus comprising,
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device coupled to the introducer distal portion, the expandable device including a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled, the expandable device being configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- and
- an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device, the energy delivery device including an acoustical transducer and being configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter while minimizing cell necrosis of a mucosal layer of the sphincter.
1 more element
A sphincter treatment apparatus comprising,
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device coupled to the introducer distal portion, the expandable device including a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled, the expandable device being configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- and
- an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device, the energy delivery device including a resistive heating device and being configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter while minimizing cell necrosis of a mucosal layer of the sphincter.
1 more element
A sphincter treatment apparatus comprising:
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device coupled to the introducer distal portion, the expandable device including a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled, the expandable device being configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device, the energy delivery device being configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter while minimizing cell necrosis of a mucosal layer of the sphincter;
- and
- a visualization device coupled to the introducer.
2 more elements
A sphincter treatment apparatus comprising:
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device coupled to the introducer distal portion, the expandable device including a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled, the expandable device being configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device, the energy delivery device being configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter while minimizing cell necrosis of a mucosal layer of the sphincter;
- and
- an energy delivery device depth control device coupled to the energy delivery device.
2 more elements
A sphincter treatment apparatus, comprising:
- an introducer including a distal portion;
- an expandable device including a plurality of arms, each arm of the plurality including a distal section and a proximal section with each of the plurality of arms distal sections being coupled and each of the arms proximal sections being coupled to the introducer distal portion, the expandable device including a first arm, a second arm and a third arm, wherein the expandable device is configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state;
- and
- a first electrode introduceable into the sphincter from the first arm, a second electrode introduceable into the sphincter from the second arm and a third electrode introduceable into the sphincter from the third arm, the first, second and third electrodes being configured to be coupled to a power source.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.