SHAPE-CHANGING TISSUE CONSTRICTOR AND METHODS OF USE

• US 20080319435A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bean, Jeffrey V., Rioux, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US11/871,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319435A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• 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 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands

Abstract

A tissue constrictor includes one or more shape-changing materials that when activated aids in constricting a portion of an organ or tissue in the body. In one embodiment, the constrictor conducts electrosurgical or ablation energy to section tissue.

Claims

1. A tissue constrictor, comprising:

a band that includes at least one shape-changing material therein that upon application of an activation energy causes the band to assume a memory shape that at least partially closes the band around a portion of a patient'"'"'s body.

2. The tissue constrictor of claim 1, wherein the band includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a receiver that secures the proximal end to the distal end.

3. The tissue constrictor of claim 1, wherein the band includes a cover that is selectively inflatable to increase or decrease pressure on the patient'"'"'s body exerted by the constrictor.

4. The tissue constrictor of claim 1, wherein the band includes a pair of legs that are joined at one end and are open at another end and a shape-changing material having a memory shape that, when activated, causes the pair of legs to compress together.

5. The tissue constrictor of claim 4, further comprising a ring selectively positionable over the two legs to maintain the position of the legs.

6. A gastric band for apportioning a stomach into an upper and a lower region separated by a stoma having an open area between the upper and lower stomach regions as a result of constricting the stomach organ with the gastric band, the gastric band comprising:

a body including a proximal end and a distal end;

wherein the body includes at least one shape-changing material that assumes a memory state such that the distal end of the body moves toward the proximal end of the body when activated to apportion the stomach into an upper and lower a region.

7. The gastric band of claim 6, wherein the at least one shape-changing material is selected from the group consisting of a shape-memory metal, a shape-memory metal alloy, and a shape-memory plastic.

8. The gastric band of claim 6, wherein the body includes two or more shape-changing materials, and wherein the two or more shape-changing materials are selected from the group consisting of a shape-memory metal, a shape-memory metal alloy, a shape-memory plastic, and combinations thereof.

9. The gastric band of claim 8, wherein the two of more shape-changing materials have different memory states and/or different activation energies.

10. The gastric band of claim 6, wherein the body includes one or more position stabilizers.

11. The gastric band of claim 10, wherein the one or more position stabilizers include one or more spurs projecting outwardly from the body for engaging tissue and/or one or more holes in the body for receiving tissue therein.

12. The gastric band of claim 6, further comprising means for anchoring the body in-situ.

13. The gastric band of claim 6, wherein the body includes an imageable component that is visible with an external imaging system.

14. The gastric band of claim 6, wherein the memory state of the shape-changing material comprises either a partially closed shape or a closed shape.

15. The gastric band of claim 6, further comprising a means for adjusting the diameter of the closed band.

16. The gastric band of claim 6, wherein the body is communicatively coupled to a source of activation energy.

17. The gastric band of claim 16, wherein the activation energy is selected from a group consisting of electricity, heat, light, radiation, and a chemical.

18. The gastric band of claim 6, further comprises a conductor associated with the body, the conductor being coupled to a source of radio frequency energy that allows the conductor to cut through a patient'"'"'s tissue

19. A method of applying a gastric band around the stomach of a patient, comprising:

creating a passageway around the stomach of a patient;

inserting a gastric band that includes a distal-end, a proximal end, and a shape-changing material therein into the passageway;

activating the gastric band so that the gastric band assumes a memory shape whereby the gastric band at least partially closes around the stomach.

20. An assembly, comprising:

a tissue constrictor; and

a delivery tool for delivering the tissue constrictor to a selected position in-vivo;

wherein either the tissue constrictor or the delivery tool includes a shape changing component that aids in the positioning of the tissue constrictor with respect to a selected body tissue or organ when in-vivo.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the delivery tool is selected from a group consisting of a catheter, an endoscope, a trocar, a dilator, an introducer, a needle with an axial bore, a hollow tubing, a cannula, and a guide wire.

22. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the tissue constrictor is removably coupled to the delivery tool.

23. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the tissue constrictor includes a band having a proximal end and a distal end, and a connector that couples the proximal end to the distal end.