US 6,988,983 B2 · Implantable self-inflating attenuation device

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an attenuation device comprising a flexible housing and a medium capable of transformation to inflate the housing from the first configuration to the second configuration. Also disclose herein are methods of treating a patient, comprising: providing a self-inflating expandable attenuation device, containing a medium which is transformable from a first, reduced volume to a second, expanded volume; positioning the attenuation device within the patient at a treatment site; and transforming the medium from the first volume to the second volume. In one embodiment, a self-inflating expandable attenuation device is used to treat urinary tract dysfunction. In another embodiment, a self-inflating expandable attenuation device is used to treat benign hypertrophy of the prostate.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An attenuation device, comprising:

a flexible housing, defining a chamber therein, the housing inflatable from a first, deflated configuration to a second, at least partially inflated configuration, the first configuration facilitating introduction of the device into a patient's bladder, the second configuration facilitating attenuation of pressure changes in the bladder;
a chemical medium capable of a transformation to inflate the housing from the first configuration to the second configuration;
and
an initiator, for initiating the transformation;
wherein the chemical medium and the initiator are initially physically separated from each other;
and
wherein a chemical reaction occurs within the device when the chemical medium comes into contact with the initiator, thereby causing the housing to inflate from the first configuration to the second configuration.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Implantable self-inflating attenuation device

Life of this patent

Implantable self-inflating attenuation device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25