Apparatus and methods for bone, tissue and duct dilatation
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for medical treatment comprising bone, tissue or duct dilatation using inflatable dilatation elements together with apparatus and techniques for tensioning, stretching, folding, and/or wrapping the dilatation elements externally as well as in situ to facilitate insertion, positioning and withdrawal procedures.
44 Citations
92 Claims
-
1-34. -34. (canceled)
-
35. A method for treating a living being for bone, tissue and/or body duct dilatation comprising the sequential steps of:
- using an assembly having proximal and distal ends for inserting an inflatable balloon element having a balloon interior, said balloon element being in an uninflated state, into an interior region, cavity or passage of a damaged, collapsed or deformed bone, tissue or duct through a first narrow diameter opening or passageway to position the balloon element at a body location requiring dilatation;
inflating the balloon element with a working fluid supplied through a fluid inlet/outlet to a working pressure and for a time period sufficient to substantially completely dilate the interior region, cavity or passage to substantially restore its normal size, shape and/or alignment;
deflating the balloon element by withdrawing the working fluid through the fluid inlet/outlet;
during and/or subsequent to said deflating step, stretching and/or folding, pleating or wrapping the balloon element to reduce its profile using a spring element capable of temporarily applying axial and/or rotational forces to the balloon by means of a rod causing the balloon to elongate or to wrap about the rod, or both, said spring element being housed in a spring housing section located at the proximal end of the assembly; and
, withdrawing the previously-inflated balloon element through a narrow diameter opening or passageway, which may be the same as or different than said first narrow diameter opening or passageway. - View Dependent Claims (36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 91)
- using an assembly having proximal and distal ends for inserting an inflatable balloon element having a balloon interior, said balloon element being in an uninflated state, into an interior region, cavity or passage of a damaged, collapsed or deformed bone, tissue or duct through a first narrow diameter opening or passageway to position the balloon element at a body location requiring dilatation;
-
37. (canceled)
-
39. (canceled)
- 45. (canceled)
-
49. (canceled)
-
62. A method for treating a living being for bone or tissue dilatation comprising the sequential steps of:
- providing a dilatation apparatus having proximal and distal ends and able to fit through a narrow opening, said dilatation apparatus comprising an inflatable balloon element having a balloon interior in fluid communication with a hollow tube, a rod element running through the interiors of the hollow tube and the inflatable balloon element, and a spring element capable of temporarily applying axial and/or rotational forces to the balloon by means of the rod element, said spring element being housed in a spring housing section located at the proximal end of the apparatus, wherein said balloon element is initially uninflated and is wrapped, folded, pleated or stretched at least in part about said rod element to reduce the profile of the balloon portion of the dilatation apparatus;
inserting at least the balloon portion of the dilatation apparatus into an interior region, cavity or passage of a damaged, collapsed or deformed bone or tissue region through a first narrow diameter opening or passageway to position the balloon element at a body location requiring dilatation;
inflating the balloon element through the hollow tube with a working fluid to a working pressure and for a time period sufficient to substantially completely dilate the interior region, cavity or passage to substantially its normal size, shape and/or alignment; and
, filling the inflated balloon element in situ through the hollow tube with a cement material. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
- providing a dilatation apparatus having proximal and distal ends and able to fit through a narrow opening, said dilatation apparatus comprising an inflatable balloon element having a balloon interior in fluid communication with a hollow tube, a rod element running through the interiors of the hollow tube and the inflatable balloon element, and a spring element capable of temporarily applying axial and/or rotational forces to the balloon by means of the rod element, said spring element being housed in a spring housing section located at the proximal end of the apparatus, wherein said balloon element is initially uninflated and is wrapped, folded, pleated or stretched at least in part about said rod element to reduce the profile of the balloon portion of the dilatation apparatus;
-
67. (canceled)
-
75. A method for treating a living being for dilatation of a section of a body duct to relieve a collapse or blockage condition comprising the sequential steps of:
- providing a dilatation apparatus having proximal and distal ends and able to fit through a narrow opening, said dilatation apparatus comprising an inflatable balloon element having a balloon interior in fluid communication with a hollow tube, a rod element running through the interiors of the hollow tube and the inflatable balloon element, and a spring element capable of temporarily applying axial and/or rotational forces to the balloon by means of the rod element, said spring element being housed in a spring housing section located at the proximal end of the apparatus, wherein said balloon element is initially uninflated and is wrapped, folded, pleated or stretched at least in part about said rod element to reduce the profile of the balloon portion of the dilatation apparatus;
inserting at least the balloon portion of the dilatation apparatus into a body duct to be dilated to position the balloon element at a duct section requiring dilatation;
inflating the balloon element through the hollow tube with a working fluid to a working pressure and for a time period sufficient to substantially completely dilate the duct section to substantially its normal size;
deflating the balloon element by withdrawing the working fluid;
during and/or subsequent to said deflating step, stretching and/or folding, pleating or wrapping the balloon element using the spring element to apply axial and/or rotational forces to the balloon to reduce its profile; and
, withdrawing the dilatation apparatus including the previously-inflated balloon element from the treated duct. - View Dependent Claims (76, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 92)
- providing a dilatation apparatus having proximal and distal ends and able to fit through a narrow opening, said dilatation apparatus comprising an inflatable balloon element having a balloon interior in fluid communication with a hollow tube, a rod element running through the interiors of the hollow tube and the inflatable balloon element, and a spring element capable of temporarily applying axial and/or rotational forces to the balloon by means of the rod element, said spring element being housed in a spring housing section located at the proximal end of the apparatus, wherein said balloon element is initially uninflated and is wrapped, folded, pleated or stretched at least in part about said rod element to reduce the profile of the balloon portion of the dilatation apparatus;
-
77. (canceled)
-
79. (canceled)
-
85. (canceled)
Specification