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.
-
Citations
90 Claims
-
1-74. -74. (canceled)
-
75. A method for treating a living being for dilatation of a section of a body part having an interior region to relieve a collapse or blockage condition, said method comprising the sequential steps of:
- providing dilatation apparatus able to fit through one or more narrow diameter openings into the interior region, said dilatation apparatus comprising an inflatable balloon element in fluid communication with a hollow tube, wherein said balloon element is initially uninflated;
inserting the dilatation apparatus through at least a first of said openings into the interior region of a body part to be dilated using a guidewire to position the balloon element, 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 to substantially its normal size;
deflating the balloon element by withdrawing the working fluid; and
, withdrawing the dilatation apparatus including the previously-inflated balloon element from the treated duct. - View Dependent Claims (76, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 87, 88, 89, 90)
- providing dilatation apparatus able to fit through one or more narrow diameter openings into the interior region, said dilatation apparatus comprising an inflatable balloon element in fluid communication with a hollow tube, wherein said balloon element is initially uninflated;
-
77. (canceled)
-
85. (canceled)
-
86. (canceled)
Specification