Sphincter treatment device

• US 20030014046A1
• Filed: 02/27/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mederi Therapeutics, Inc. (Respiratory Technology Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Conway-Stuart Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Utley, David S., Edwards, Stuart D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,589,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00553 Sphincter

Abstract

An apparatus includes a first expandable member that is expandable by an expansion medium. The first expandable member includes an exterior and a plurality of apertures. The expansion medium is released from the first expandable member when a sufficient pressure is applied to the expansion medium housed in an interior of the first expandable member. A second expandable member is positioned at least partially adjacent to the first expandable member. The second expandable member is configured to receive at least a portion of the expansion medium from the interior of the first expandable member. An electromagnetic energy delivery device is coupled to one of the first or second expandable members and is configured to be coupled to a power source. The first and second expandable members are sized to be expanded sufficiently to open a sphincter.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first expandable member expandable by an expansion media, the first expandable member including an exterior and a plurality of apertures, the first expandable member releasing the expansion medium when a sufficient pressure is applied to the expansion medium housed in an interior of the first expandable member;

a second expandable member positioned at least partially adjacent to the first expandable member, the second expandable member being configured to receive at least a portion of the expansion medium from the interior of the first expandable member;

wherein the first and second expandable members are sized to be expanded sufficiently to open a sphincter; and

an electromagnetic energy delivery device coupled to one of the first or second expandable members, wherein the electromagnetic energy delivery device has a configuration that creates a sphincter with a selectable tightening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration of the electromagnetic energy delivery device includes a plurality energy delivery members evenly distributed on an external surface of one of the first or second expandable members.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of energy delivery members are evenly distributed around a circumference of the external surface of one of the first or second expandable members.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the coupling member has a length sufficient to position the first expandable member adjacent to the sphincter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sphincter is the lower esophageal sphincter.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a proximal portion of the coupling member is manevurable by a medical practionioner.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy delivery device includes an RF electrode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy delivery device is a plurality of RF electrodes.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of electrodes is a flexible circuit.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the RF electrode is coupled to the first expandable member.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the RF electrode is coupled to the second expandable member.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the RF electrode is positioned on a surface of the first expandable member.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the RF electrode is positioned on a surface of the second expandable member.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the RF electrode is positioned in the second expandable member.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanical expansion device coupled to the first expandable member.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first expandable member is a balloon.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second expandable member is made of a porous membrane.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second expandable member is made of an open cell material.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a groundpad electrode configured to be coupled to an exterior surface of a patient.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expansion medium is an electrolytic expansion medium.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

an electrolytic solution source; and

a fluid delivery device configured to be coupled to the electrolytic solution source and the first expandable member.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a heating device for heating the expansion medium.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the heating device is positionable in the interior of the first expandable member.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the heating device is coupled to an expansion medium source.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a visualization device coupled to the first expanable member.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the visualization device extends beyond a distal portion of the first expandable member.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the visualization device extends through the first expandable member.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a coupling member coupled to the expandable member.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the coupling member has a length sufficient to position at least a portion of the expandable member in the lower esophageal sphincter.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the coupling member has a length sufficient to position at least a portion of the expandable member distal to the lower esophageal sphincter.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the coupling member has a length sufficient to position the first expandable member adjacent to the lower esophageal sphincter.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a proximal portion of the coupling member is manevurable by a medical practionioner.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the electromagnetic energy delivery device includes an RF electrode.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the electromagnetic energy delivery device is a plurality of RF electrodes.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the plurality of electrodes is a flexible circuit.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the RF electrode is coupled to the expandable member.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the RF electrode is positioned on a surface of the expandable member.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the RF electrode is positioned in the expandable member.

40. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a mechanical expansion device coupled to the expandable member.

41. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the expandable member is a balloon.

42. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein an exterior surface of the expandable member is at least partially made of a porous membrane.

43. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein an exterior surface of the expandable member is at least partially made of an open cell material.

44. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a groundpad electrode configured to be coupled to an exterior surface of a patient.

45. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the expansion medium is an electrolytic expansion medium.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

an electrolytic solution source; and

a fluid delivery device configured to be coupled to the electrolytic solution source and the expandable member.

47. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a heating device for heating the expansion medium.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the heating device is positionable in the interior of the expandable member.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the heating device is coupled to an expansion medium source.

50. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a visualization device coupled to the expanable member.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the visualization device extends beyond a distal portion of the expandable member.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein at least a portion of the visualization device extends through the interior of the expandable member.

28. An apparatus, comprising:

an expandable member expandable by an expansion medium, the expandable member including an exterior and a plurality of apertures, the expandable member releasing the expansion medium when a sufficient pressure is applied to the expansion medium housed in an interior of the expandable member;

an electromagnetic energy delivery device coupled to the expandable member and configured to be coupled to a power source; and

wherein the expandable member is sized to be expanded sufficiently to open a lower esophageal sphincter.

53. An apparatus, comprising:

an endoscope including a lumen;

an expandable member expandable by an expansion medium, the expandable member including an exterior and a plurality of apertures, the expandable member releasing the expansion medium when a sufficient pressure is applied to the expansion medium housed in an interior of the expandable member, the expandable member being positionable in the lumen;

an electromagnetic energy delivery device coupled to the expandable member and configured to be coupled to a power source; and

wherein the expandable members is sized to be expanded sufficiently to open a lower esophageal sphincter.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising:

a coupling member coupled to the expandable member.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the coupling member has a length sufficient to position at least a portion of the expandable member in the lower esophageal sphincter.

56. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the coupling member has a length sufficient to position at least a portion of the expandable member distal to the lower esophageal sphincter.

57. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the coupling member has a length sufficient to position the first expandable member adjacent to the lower esophageal sphincter.

58. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein a proximal portion of the coupling member is manevurable by a medical practionioner.

59. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the electromagnetic energy delivery device includes an RF electrode.

60. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the electromagnetic energy delivery device is a plurality of RF electrodes.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the plurality of electrodes is a flexible circuit.

62. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the RF electrode is coupled to the expandable member.

63. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the RF electrode is positioned on a surface of the expandable member.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the expandable member is configured to be advanced from a distal end of the lumen.

65. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising:

a visualization channel formed in the interior of the endoscope.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, further comprising:

a visualization device configured to be positionable in the visualization channel.

67. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising:

a visualization device coupled to the expanable member.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the visualization device extends beyond a distal portion of the expandable member.

69. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein at least a portion of the visualization device extends through the interior of the expandable member.