COLON POLYP STAGING METHODS

• US 20100087740A1
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hadba, Ahmad R., Heinrich, Russell
• Granted Patent: US 9,636,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/313 for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00269 endoscopic mucosal resection EMR
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for examination and removal of polyps. Using methods and systems of the present disclosure, one can determine whether a polyp is benign or cancerous in situ.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

introducing at least one media into tissue comprising submucosa of a polyp;

measuring a response to an external stimuli in the tissue; and

deducing a state of health of the tissue depending on the response to external stimuli.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the external stimuli comprises palpation and measuring the response is performed with a device selected from the group consisting of pressure sensors, force sensors, cameras, surface geometry scanning devices, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the external stimuli comprises an air puff and measuring the response is performed with a device comprising a tonometer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the external stimuli comprises a light source and measuring the response is performed with a device comprising a camera.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the light source is placed under the polyp and the camera is placed above the polyp.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the light source is placed under the polyp and the camera is placed under the polyp.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media comprises saline.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the media comprises at least one thermally responsive polymer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the media comprises at least one thermoreversible polymer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein deducing the state of health of the tissue comprises determining whether or not the polyp is cancerous.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein deducing the state of health of the tissue comprises deducing the state of health in real time.

12. A system comprising:

a cannula for introducing at least one media into tissue comprising submucosa of a polyp;

at least one sensor for determining changes in the tissue; and

display means for displaying data from the sensor to an end-user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of pressure sensors, force sensors, cameras, laser scanning systems, tonometers, white light endoscopes, auto-fluorescent endoscopes, chromo endoscopes, narrow band imaging devices, immunophotodiagnostic endoscopes, optical coherence tomography systems, confocal fluorescence/reflectance micro-endoscopes, raman point spectroscopes, light scattering spectroscopes, fluorescent endoscopes, fluorescent imaging of quantum dot systems, and combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the cannula further comprises a pressure sensor for determining the pressure of the media in the submucosa.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a light source for insertion under the polyp.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises a camera.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the camera is placed over the tissue to visualize the polyp surface.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the camera is placed underneath the polyp to permit visualization of the polyp as it separates from the colon wall.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises an air tonometer comprising:

a nozzle for blowing air onto a polyp;

a sensor capable of measuring the pressure of the media injected below the mucosal layer; and

a CPU.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the cannula is further used to introduce into the polyp an item selected from the group consisting of medicines, drugs, blood, medical devices, guide wires, polypectomy snares, electrocautery devices, needles, optical fibers, fiber optic imaging devices, fiber optic diagnostic probes, and combinations thereof.