Apparatus and methods for treating female urinary incontinence
First Claim
1. Apparatus for remodeling a treatment site within the urinary tract of a female patient, the urinary tract including a urethra having a urethral lumen and a bladder having a bladder outlet, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a distal region disposed adjacent to the distal end;
a handle coupled to the proximal end;
an expandable member affixed to the distal region in the vicinity of the distal end, the expandable member adapted to be deployed in the bladder and anchored against the bladder outlet; and
a needle disposed to penetrate the urethral wall in the vicinity of the localized inward protrusion to inject a bulking agent at the interface of the mucosal and submucosal layers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for treating female urinary incontinence by injecting a bulking agent at the interface between the mucosal and submucosal layers of the urethral wall. The remodeling device comprises an elongated shaft preferably having means for forming a localized inward protrusion of the urethral wall, and a needle, movable between retracted and deployed positions, for delivering a bulking agent into the urethral wall in the vicinity of the localized inward protrusion to thereby reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with urinary incontinence.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for remodeling a treatment site within the urinary tract of a female patient, the urinary tract including a urethra having a urethral lumen and a bladder having a bladder outlet, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a distal region disposed adjacent to the distal end;
a handle coupled to the proximal end;
an expandable member affixed to the distal region in the vicinity of the distal end, the expandable member adapted to be deployed in the bladder and anchored against the bladder outlet; and
a needle disposed to penetrate the urethral wall in the vicinity of the localized inward protrusion to inject a bulking agent at the interface of the mucosal and submucosal layers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for remodeling a treatment site within the urinary tract of a female patient, the urinary tract including a urethra having a urethral lumen and a bladder having a bladder outlet, the method comprising:
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providing apparatus comprising a handle and an elongated shaft coupled to the handle, the elongated shaft having a distal region and a needle;
inserting the elongated shaft into the urethra;
locating the needle at a position within the urethra;
moving the needle to penetrate the urethral wall; and
injecting a bulking agent at an interface between the mucosal and submucosal layers of the urethral wall to cause localized narrowing of the urethral lumen. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification