Stricture retractor

• US 20040225372A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gellman, Barry N., Slanda, Jozef
• Granted Patent: US 7,651,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.66
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/04 Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; devices, other than stent-grafts, providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body other than stent-grafts, e.g. stents A61F2/82; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95

Abstract

The invention includes a system and method for reducing the approximation of wound edges of a stricture that affects a cross-sectional area of a lumen in a mammal. The system includes a body defining a passageway for fluid flow. The body is positionable in the lumen. The system also includes a separating device disposed relative to the body. The separating device can adjust the cross-sectional area of the lumen to reduce approximation of the plurality of wound edges of the stricture. Moreover, the separating device facilitates fluid flow through the passageway of the body.

Claims

1. A system for reducing approximation of a plurality of wound edges of a stricture that affects a cross-sectional area of a lumen in a mammal, the system comprising:

(a) a body defining a passageway for fluid flow and positionable in the lumen; and

(b) a separating device disposed relative to the body for adjusting the cross-sectional area of the lumen to reduce approximation of the plurality of wound edges of the stricture, while facilitating fluid flow through the passageway of the body.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the separating device further comprises wings.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the separating device is connected to the body.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the separating device is coupled to the body.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising an actuating mechanism in communication with the separating device for disposing the separating device relative to the body for the adjusting of the cross-sectional area of the lumen.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a spring connected to the separating device to dispose the separating device relative to the body.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises at least one of a mechanical device, a pneumatic device, a hydraulic device, and an electronic device.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a slide cam connected to the separating device to dispose the separating device relative to the body.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a screw cam connected to the separating device to dispose the separating device relative to the body.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises at least one separating device slit for disposing the separating device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a control ring enabling adjustment of the cross-sectional area of the lumen.

12. A system for reducing approximation of a plurality of wound edges of a stricture that affects a cross-sectional area of a lumen in a mammal, the system comprising:

(a) a flexible member positionable in the lumen; and

(b) a controller for adjusting a pressure of the flexible member to alter the cross-sectional area of the lumen for reducing approximation of the plurality of wound edges of the stricture, while facilitating fluid flow through the lumen.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the controller comprises a valve.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the controller comprises an electrical controller connected to the flexible member for adjusting the pressure of the flexible member.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising a fluid passageway for the facilitating of the fluid flow.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the flexible member is at least one of hydraulic and pneumatic.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the controller decreases the pressure of the flexible member to facilitate the flow of fluid through the lumen.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the flexible member is constructed of at least one of a compliant material and a semi-compliant material.

19. A system for reducing approximation of a plurality of wound edges of a stricture that affects a cross-sectional area of a lumen in a mammal, the system comprising:

(a) means for adjusting the cross-sectional area of the lumen to reduce approximation of a plurality of wound edges of a stricture; and

(b) means for facilitating fluid flow through the lumen after adjusting the cross-sectional area of the lumen.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising means for varying pressure to adjust the cross-sectional area of the lumen.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising means for varying pressure to facilitate the fluid flow through the lumen.

22. A method for reducing approximation of a plurality of wound edges of a stricture that affects a cross-sectional area of a lumen in a mammal, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a body defining a passageway into the lumen;

(b) causing a separating device disposed relative to the body to adjust the cross-sectional area of the lumen for reducing approximation of the plurality of wound edges of the stricture; and

(c) facilitating fluid flow through the passageway of the body in the lumen.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising employing an actuating mechanism to cause the separating device to adjust the cross-sectional area of the lumen.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the employing of the actuating mechanism further comprises translating a cam device to cause the separating device to adjust the cross-sectional area of the lumen.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the employing of the actuating mechanism further comprises mechanically rotating a cam device to cause the separating device to adjust the cross-sectional area of the lumen.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising adjusting an amount of adjustment to the cross-sectional area of the lumen.

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of making a surgical incision into the stricture before inserting the body into the lumen.

28. A method for reducing approximation of a plurality of wound edges of a stricture that affects a cross-sectional, area of a lumen in a mammal, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a flexible member into the lumen;

(b) adjusting a pressure of the flexible member to change the cross-sectional area of the lumen for reducing approximation of the plurality of wound edges of the stricture; and

(c) facilitating fluid flow through the lumen.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the facilitating of the fluid flow through the lumen further comprises decreasing the pressure of the flexible member.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the adjusting of the pressure further comprises inflating the flexible member to reduce the approximation of the plurality of the wound edges.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the adjusting of the pressure further comprises cycling the pressure.