Systems and Methods for Prostate Treatment

• US 20100298948A1
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NxThera, Inc (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NxThera, Inc (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Shadduck, John H., Hoey, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/768,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298948A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/048 in gaseous form
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/047 Urethrae
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0042 Microcatheters, cannula or the like having outside diameters around 1 mm or less
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0092 Single injection needle protruding laterally from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0084 being one or more injection needles

Abstract

An energy delivery probe is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate the prostate. In some embodiments, the energy can be applied with a vapor media. Another feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can deploy a stent to apply tissue-compressive forces to the prostate tissue after energy delivery. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

Claims

1. A method for treating BPH, comprising:

delivering a thermal energy to a targeted prostate tissue to cause protein denaturation in the targeted prostate tissue; and

implanting a stent in a prostatic urethra to apply tissue-compressing forces to the targeted prostate tissue, allowing for protein renaturation and tissue remodeling under said tissue-compressing forces.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the stent is biodegradable or hydrolytically unstable.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the stent is configured to degrade in the prostatic urethra from 1 day to 6 weeks.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the denaturation is caused at least in part by convective heating.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the denaturation is caused at least in part by energy released from a condensable vapor introduction into the targeted prostate tissue.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the denaturation is caused at least in part by water vapor introduction.

7. A method for treating BPH, comprising:

delivering a thermal energy to a transition zone prostate tissue to ablate the transition zone prostate tissue; and

deploying a stent in a prostatic urethra that applies tissue-compressing forces to the transition zone prostate tissue during healing of the transition zone prostate tissue.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the stent is biodegradable or hydrolytically unstable.

9. A system for treating a prostate disorder, comprising:

an introducer sized and configured to be inserted into a urethra and to access a prostatic urethra of a patient; and

a stent of a hydrolytically unstable material sized and configured to be deployed in the prostatic urethra from the introducer.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the stent has an outer diameter of approximately 5 mm to 15 mm.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the stent has a longitudinal flow passageway extending therethrough.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the stent has a wall thickness of approximately 1 mm to 5 mm.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the stent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone, polyglactin, poly-L-lactide, polyhydroxalkanoate, TephaFLEXTM, starch, cellulose, and chitosan.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the stent comprises a helical configuration.

15. The system of claim 9 further comprising a vapor delivery member extendable from the introducer into prostate tissue and configured to deliver a condensable vapor media to the prostate tissue.