Fibroid treatment apparatus and method

• US 20090093758A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yossi Gross
• Original Assignee: Yossi Gross
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi
• Application Number:
  US11/591,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093758A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/103.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12009 Implements for ligaturing other than by clamps or clips, e.g. using a loop with a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22067 Blocking; Occlusion A61B2017/22054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0002 with a pressure sensor at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0197 for creating an artificial passage within the body, e.g. in order to go around occlusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/105 having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1054 having detachable or disposable balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1061 having separate inflations tubes, e.g. coaxial tubes or tubes otherwise arranged apart from the catheter tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence

Abstract

Apparatus is provided, including a tube that is passed into a patient'"'"'s vagina and to penetrate vaginal tissue until a distal tip of the tube is outside of a uterine artery of the patient, but in a vicinity of a portion of the uterine artery that supplies a uterine fibroid. A balloon, disposed at the distal tip, is inflated to cause local squeezing of the portion of the uterine artery to an extent sufficient to occlude the uterine artery. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a tube, configured to be passed into a patient'"'"'s vagina and to penetrate vaginal tissue until a distal tip of the tube is outside of a uterine artery of the patient, but in a vicinity of a portion of the uterine artery that supplies a uterine fibroid; and

a balloon, configured to be disposed at the distal tip and to be inflated to cause local squeezing of the portion of the uterine artery to an extent sufficient to occlude the uterine artery.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tube is configured to be passed into the patient'"'"'s vagina during a medical procedure, and wherein the balloon is configured to be removed from the patient during the same medical procedure.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an endpoint indicator, configured to generate a signal indicative of a desired endpoint of the occluding of the uterine artery.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the tube can be separated from the balloon and removed from the patient while the balloon remains, inflated, within the patient.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the balloon comprises a valve, through which the tube inflates the balloon, and which inhibits deflation of the balloon after separation of the balloon from the tube.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the balloon is configured for deflation within the patient following the squeezing, and to reside chronically within the patient.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the balloon is configured for removal from the patient following the deflation.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, comprising an extractor, coupled to the balloon, configured to reside in part within the patient'"'"'s vagina while the balloon is causing the local squeezing, and configured to facilitate extraction of the balloon from the patient.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a sensor, configured to generate a signal that is indicative of proximity of the distal tip to the uterine artery.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises an acoustic sensor.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to operate substantially without transmitting energy towards the uterine artery.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is shaped to define an orifice that is configured to release contents of the balloon into a body of the patient, when the balloon is within the patient.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, comprising saline, configured for placement within the balloon and to be at least a portion of the contents of the balloon released into the body of the patient.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, comprising a pharmaceutical product, configured for placement within the balloon and to be at least a portion of the contents of the balloon released into the body of the patient.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the pharmaceutical product comprises an anesthetic.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the pharmaceutical product comprises a pharmaceutical selected from the group consisting of:

an anti-inflammatory agent, and an antibiotic.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the balloon and orifice are configured such that the release of the contents occurs over a time period that lasts for at least 30 minutes.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the time period is at least 3 hours, and wherein the balloon and orifice are configured such that the release of the contents occurs over the time period that lasts at least 3 hours.

24. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the balloon and orifice are configured such that the release of the contents reduces a volume of the balloon at an average rate of between 1%/hour and 30%/hour, calculated over a 30 minute period.

28. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is configured to remain within the patient for at least 7 days following termination of the occlusion.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein at least a portion of the balloon is biodegradable.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein at least a portion of the balloon is not biodegradable.

31. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is configured to deflate, without active human intervention, while within the patient.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the balloon comprises a biodegradable deflation element, configured such that degrading of the biodegradable deflation element causes the deflation of the balloon.

33. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the balloon is configured to deflate at a time that is at least 1 hour after inflation of the balloon.

34. The apparatus according to claim 31, comprising:

an inflation sensor, configured to generate a signal indicative of a level of inflation of the balloon; and

an indicator, configured to generate an indication to a human of the level of inflation.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the inflation sensor comprises a pressure sensor, configured to generate the signal in response to a level of pressure in the balloon.

36. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the inflation sensor comprises a sensor configured to generate the signal in response to a characteristic of blood flow in the uterine artery.

3. (canceled)

5-7. -7. (canceled)

25-27. -27. (canceled)

37-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A method, comprising:

advancing a tool to a site within a patient, outside of a vagina of the patient and outside of a uterine artery of the patient, but in a vicinity of a portion of the uterine artery that supplies a uterine fibroid; and

squeezing the portion of the uterine artery with the tool, to an extent sufficient to occlude the uterine artery.

46-92. -92. (canceled)

93. A method, comprising:

advancing a balloon to a site within a patient, outside of an artery of the patient; and

squeezing the artery by inflating the balloon to an extent sufficient to occlude the artery.

94-99. -99. (canceled)