Methods for treating the cardia of the stomach

• US 20050107829A1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mederi Therapeutics, Inc. (Respiratory Technology Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Curon Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Utley, David S., West, Scott H., Qin, Jay, Edwards, Stuart D., Gaiser, John
• Application Number:
  US10/963,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20050107829A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• 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 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00077 high, i.e. electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00148 with metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00232 having an irregular shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00261 arranged in a line
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00553 Sphincter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00654 with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 : measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00815 : measured by a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 : Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/046 : in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 : Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 : transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 : Aspiration

Abstract

Methods treat a tissue region. In one arrangement, the methods deploy an electrode on a support structure in a tissue region at or near the cardia of the stomach. In one embodiment, the support structure has a proximal region and a distal region. The proximal region is enlarged in comparison to the distal region, and the electrode is carried by the enlarged proximal surface. The methods advance the electrode in a path to penetrate the tissue region and couple the electrode to a source of radio frequency energy to ohmically heat tissue and create a lesion in the tissue region.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method for treating a tissue region at or near the cardia comprising the steps of

deploying an electrode on a support structure in a cardia tissue region at or near the cardia, the support structure being sized and configured to engage the cardia about the periphery of the junction of the stomach and the esophagus, and

advancing the electrode in a path to penetrate the cardia tissue region.

3. A method according to claim 2, further including

coupling the electrode to a source of radio frequency energy to ohmically heat tissue and create a lesion in the cardia tissue region.

4. A method according to claim 2

wherein the support structure has a proximal region and a distal region, the proximal region being enlarged in comparison to the distal region, and

wherein the electrode is carried by the enlarged proximal surface.

5. A method according to claim 4

wherein the support structure expands and collapses.

6. A method according to claim 5

wherein the expanded support structure is pear-shaped.

7. A method according to claim 5

wherein the expanded support structure is disk-shaped.

8. A method according to claim 5

wherein the expanded support structure is peanut-shaped.