Devices and methods for safely shrinking tissues surrounding a duct, hollow organ or body cavity
First Claim
1. A medical device suitable for radiant-energy treatment of tissue within a mammalian body and adapted for use with a source of cooled fluid, the medical device comprising:
- an elongate transmission line having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said proximal end portion operably connectable to a source of radiant-energy;
a radiant energy emitter coupled to said distal end portion to receive energy therefrom;
an insertion catheter defining an inlet confined flow passageway in fluid communication with said source of cooled fluid, an outlet confined flow passageway, and a transmission line guideway for receiving said transmission line; and
an energy-transmissive balloon at least partially surrounding said emitter for providing a tissue-contacting coolant chamber, said chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet confined flow passageways.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device applies radiant energy to tissue surrounding or underlying the surface of a duct, hollow organ or body cavity. The energy is emitted through an expandable, energy-transmissive balloon in which a fluid coolant is circulated to cool the surface of the duct, hollow organ or body cavity and the tissue immediately underlying the surface of the duct, hollow organ or body cavity. The device includes an elongated transmission line extending through a catheter, having a proximal end portion, which is connectable to a source of radiant energy, and a distal end portion, to which a radiant energy emitter is coupled. The balloon is mounted on the distal end of the catheter and extends over the emitter. The catheter contains an inlet confined fluid passageway and an outlet confined fluid passageway to provide fluid coolant circulation through the balloon. Microscopic albumen microspheres or particles of quartz or silica are suspended in the fluid coolant to more uniformly diffuse the radiant energy.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A medical device suitable for radiant-energy treatment of tissue within a mammalian body and adapted for use with a source of cooled fluid, the medical device comprising:
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an elongate transmission line having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said proximal end portion operably connectable to a source of radiant-energy;
a radiant energy emitter coupled to said distal end portion to receive energy therefrom;
an insertion catheter defining an inlet confined flow passageway in fluid communication with said source of cooled fluid, an outlet confined flow passageway, and a transmission line guideway for receiving said transmission line; and
an energy-transmissive balloon at least partially surrounding said emitter for providing a tissue-contacting coolant chamber, said chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet confined flow passageways. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A medical device suitable for radiant-energy treatment of tissue within a mammalian body and adapted for use with a source of cooled fluid, the medical device comprising:
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an elongate transmission line having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said proximal end portion operably connectable to a source of radiant-energy;
a radiant energy emitter coupled to said distal end portion to receive energy therefrom;
an insertion catheter defining an inlet confined flow passageway in fluid communication with said source of cooled fluid and a transmission line guideway for receiving said transmission line;
an energy-transmissive balloon at least partially surrounding said emitter for providing a tissue-contacting coolant chamber, said chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet confined flow passageways; and
a regulator valve in said balloon for allowing cooled fluid to exit said coolant chamber when said chamber reaches a predetermined fluid pressure.
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26. A medical device suitable for radiant-energy treatment of animal tissue comprising:
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an elongate optical conduit having a proximal end region and a distal end region extending along a longitudinal axis and terminating in an energy delivery, distal end defined thereon for emitting laser radiation transmitted by said conduit, said proximal end region being connectable to a laser energy source;
a beam splitting lateral emitter mounted on said distal end region and operably associated with said distal end for directing laser energy to said tissue;
an insertion catheter defining an inlet confined flow passageway, an outlet confined flow passageway, and a transmission line guideway for receiving said conduit; and
a laser-transmissive balloon at least partially surrounding said emitter for providing a tissue-contacting coolant chamber, said chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet confined flow passageways. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A medical device suitable for radiant-energy treatment of animal tissue from a radiant-energy source, the device comprising:
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an insertion catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter defining a coolant inlet confined flow passageway, a coolant outlet confined flow passageway, and a conduit guide;
a wave-energy transmission cable slidably received in said conduit guide and having a distal end portion extending past said distal end of said catheter, and having a proximal end portion adapted to be operably coupled to said radiant energy source;
a radiant energy emitter head mounted to said distal end portion; and
a transparent balloon sealed at one end about said distal end of said catheter and sealed at the other end about an end cap, said catheter, said balloon, and said cap defining an inflatable coolant chamber substantially surrounding said emitter head and in fluid communication with both said inlet and said outlet confined flow passageways. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method for shrinking, coagulating or scarring tissue surrounding a duct, hollow organ or body cavity of a person having a medical condition requiring treatment, comprising the steps of:
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positioning an expandable coolant balloon adjacent the tissue to be treated, the coolant balloon being carried by the distal end of an energy-emitting catheter having a wave energy emitter at least partially surrounded by said balloon;
circulating fluid coolant through said coolant balloon to expand said coolant balloon and cool said tissue; and
energizing said emitter at a predetermined power level to emit radiant energy so as to irradiate the tissue to produce a zone of shrinkage in the irradiated tissue, while continuing to circulate fluid coolant. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for shrinking, coagulating or causing scarring of tissue adjacent a duct, hollow organ or body cavity of a patient having a condition requiring treatment, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a radiant-energy transmissive, expandable coolant balloon adjacent the tissue to be treated, the coolant balloon being carried by the distal end of a laser catheter having a lateral-lasing emitter at least partially surrounded by said balloon;
circulating fluid coolant through said coolant balloon to expand and press said coolant balloon against said tissue;
energizing the lateral-lasing emitter at a predetermined power level to emit laser energy in a direction substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the laser catheter so as to irradiate the tissue to be treated for a predetermined time period to produce a zone of shrinkage in the irradiated tissue. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification