Methods and apparatus for regulating the flow of matter through body tubing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
- a body having a bore, said bore defining a central axis; and
at least one anchor coupled to said body;
wherein;
said anchor extends away from said central axis; and
said anchor is configured to pull said wall toward said axis when said body contracts toward said axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-retracting body, which may have a bore, may be inserted into a biological passage. A dilating balloon may be used to expand the body toward an inner wall of the passage. The body may include an anchor that may engage the wall. The anchor may include a tip that is within the body before the body expands and extends away from the body during expansion. The body may include an opening that may receive a portion of the wall. The portion may be fixed to the body. The body may retract toward a central portion of the passage after the anchor engages the wall. The wall may be drawn toward the central passage and the diameter of the passage may be reduced. In some embodiments, a liner may be provided for the passage. In some embodiments, a baffle may be provided for the passage.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
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a body having a bore, said bore defining a central axis; and
at least one anchor coupled to said body;
wherein;
said anchor extends away from said central axis; and
said anchor is configured to pull said wall toward said axis when said body contracts toward said axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21)
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19. The apparatus of clam 18 wherein said substance is a drug.
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22. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
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a polymeric body having a bore, said bore defining a central axis; and
a plurality of metal anchors coupled to said body;
wherein;
said anchors extend away from said central axis; and
said anchors are configured to pull said wall toward said axis when sa id body contracts toward said axis. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30)
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26. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
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a polymeric body having a bore, said bore defining a central axis, at least a portion of said body configured to move from a first position to a second position, said second position at a greater distance from said axis than said first position, said portion having an outer peripheral surface; and
a metal anchor coupled to said portion, said anchor having a tip;
wherein;
said tip moves away from said surface when said portion moves from said first to said second position; and
said anchor is configured to pull said wall toward said axis when said portion moves from said second position toward said first position.
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27. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall and a central axis said apparatus comprising:
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at least one first portion having a first elasticity;
at least one second portion coupled to said first portion, said second portion having a second elasticity; and
at least one anchor coupled to said first portion, said anchor configured to pull said wall toward said axis;
wherein said first elasticity is less than said second elasticity.
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31. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall and a central axis said apparatus comprising:
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at least one first portion having a first elasticity;
at least one second portion coupled to said first portion, said second portion having a second elasticity; and
at least one anchor coupled to said first portion, said anchor configured to pull said wall toward said axis;
wherein;
said second elasticity is more than about 10% greater than said first elasticity.
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32. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus having a central axis defining an axial direction, said apparatus comprising:
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a first nodal portion disposed radially away from said axis;
a transition portion coupled to said first portion, said transition portion disposed radially away from said axis and having an axial spread; and
a second nodal portion coupled to said transition portion, said second nodal portion disposed radially away from said axis;
wherein;
said spread is configured to automatically change to reduce axial displacement between said first and second nodal portions when said apparatus is deformed with respect to said axis.
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33. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
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a band having a bore; and
at least one anchor coupled to said band;
wherein;
said band comprises at least one open portion facing into said bore;
said anchor extends away from said bore; and
said anchor is configured to pull said wall toward said bore when said band contracts toward said bore.
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34. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
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a band having a bore, said band having at least one gap, said gap having a size;
a bridge member spanning said gap, said spring member coupled to said band; and
at least one anchor coupled to said band;
wherein;
said anchor extends away from said bore;
said anchor is configured to pull said wall toward said bore if said band contracts toward said bore; and
said spring member is configured to reduce said size when said band contracts toward said bore.
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35. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of elongated members arranged in a band, said band having a central axis defining a longitudinal direction, each of said members having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end; and
at least one anchor coupled to said plurality of elongated members;
wherein;
each of said members is coupled to a first adjacent one of said members at said first end;
each of said members is coupled to a second adjacent one of said members at said second end;
said anchor extends away from said axis; and
said anchor is configured to pull said wall toward said axis when said band contracts toward said axis.
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37. An apparatus for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a central axis and a wall, said apparatus comprising:
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first means for attaching at least two anchors to said wall, said first means configured to pull said wall toward said axis; and
second means for inserting said first means into said passage.
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38. A liner for a damaged body tubing portion, said portion having a wall, said liner comprising:
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a first plurality of anchors;
a second plurality of anchors; and
a sleeve extending from said first plurality of anchors to said second plurality of anchors, said sleeve configured to conform to said wall.
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39. A baffle for a portion of body tubing, said baffle comprising:
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a hollow body having a wall defining a bore; and
at least one projection extending from said wall into said bore;
wherein;
said bore is configured to be secured in said portion.
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40. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
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engaging a self-contracting body with said wall; and
releasing said body. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
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deflecting an anchor of a self-contracting body; and
engaging said anchor with said wall.
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48. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
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deflecting an anchor of a self-contracting body;
dilating said body;
engaging said anchor with said wall; and
releasing said body.
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49. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
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inserting a self-contracting body into said passage;
receiving a portion of said inner wall in an open portion of said body; and
securing said portion of said wall in said opening.
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50. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
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inserting a self-contracting body into said passage, said body comprising an anchor, said body having a central axis;
crimping said anchor to said wall; and
reducing said diameter by allowing said body to contract toward said axis.
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51. A method for reducing the diameter of a portion of a biological passage, said passage having a wall, said method comprising:
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inserting a self-contracting body into said passage, said body comprising an anchor, said body having a bore, said anchor coupled to said body outside said bore, said bore having a central axis;
inserting a first crimping member through said bore;
positioning said first crimping member adjacent said anchor;
positioning said second crimping member adjacent said anchor;
crimping said anchor to said wall; and
reducing said diameter by allowing said body to contract toward said axis. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification