DEVICE AND METHODS FOR SAMPLING PROSTATE FLUID

• US 20110208022A1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intersect Partners, LLC (Independent Sports & Entertainment, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intersect Partners, LLC (Independent Sports & Entertainment, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fulkerson, John, Brawer, Michael K., Wallace, George, Rizk, Isa, Sosnowski, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US13/119,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20110208022A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0058 for taking sperm samples artificial insemination A61B17/43; for animals A61D19/021; genital receptacles for the male member A61F5/453; massage of the genitals A61H19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/007 for taking urine samples measuring urological functions A61B5/20; genital receptacles A61F5/451; urinals for bed-ridden persons A61G9/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0061 Alimentary tract secretions, e.g. biliary, gastric, intestinal, pancreatic secretions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

Disclosed are devices and methods to improve sampling of prostate secretions for purposes of diagnoses, staging, assessment of malignant potential, prognosis.

Claims

1. A balloon catheter for occluding two ends of a portion of a urethra and sampling fluid within the occluded portion comprising:

a first inflatable balloon for occluding a first end of said portion of the urethra;

a second inflatable balloon for occluding a second end of said portion and for anchoring said catheter at the second end, wherein the second balloon is configured with a cylindrical exterior surface for frictionally anchoring said second balloon against a urethra wall; and

a catheter segment connectively placed between the first and second balloons;

wherein said catheter segment is capable of collecting the fluid from the occluded portion for sampling the fluid within the occluded portion and when the balloons are inflated, form a substantially fluid-tight, closed space between the first and second balloons.

2. The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter segment comprises an inner lumen, and a catheter wall and wherein at least one port extends through the wall to the exterior of the catheter segment, said port permitting aspiration of the fluid to pass through from the exterior to the inner lumen of the catheter segment.

3. The balloon catheter of claim 1 which comprises a handle, an inner lumen and an elongate catheter sheath having a sheath distal end and a sheath proximal end, wherein said sheath distal end is connected to a proximal end of said catheter segment and said sheath proximal end is connected to the handle with fluid communication inside the inner lumen.

4. The balloon catheter of claim 3, wherein the handle comprises at least three fluid communication ports to external sources, the handle being characterized with a substantially flat configuration and all fluid communicating ports are on the same flat plane.

5. The balloon catheter of claim 1 which comprises an external suction means for collecting the fluid from the occluded portion for fluid sampling.

6. The balloon catheter of claim 1 which comprises a third-balloon disposed between the first and second balloons and a catheter segment connectively placed between the first and third balloons and a catheter segment connectively placed between the second and third balloons.

7. The balloon catheter of claim 1 which comprises low amplitude vibration energy that is configured to dislodge various prostate analytes from prostate epithelium or stroma and thus, allow prostate analytes to be present in greater concentration in prostatic ducts or prostatic urethra for sampling.

8. The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter segment comprises an expandable segment, the expandable segment comprising at least a center tubing with a lumen for providing inflation fluid to the first inflation balloon.

9. The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the expandable segment comprises one or more fluid tubing with ports for fluid sampling.

10. The balloon catheter of claim 1, wherein the expandable segment comprises one or more expandable elements, the expandable elements being configured like an expandable basket, wherein the expandable elements are deployed to expand and press the urethra wall so to effect greater secretion of prostatic fluid.

11. A balloon catheter for occluding two ends of a portion of a urethra and treating the occluded portion comprising:

a first inflatable balloon for occluding a first end of said portion of the urethra;

a second inflatable balloon for occluding a second end of said portion and for anchoring said catheter at the second end, wherein the second balloon is configured with a cylindrical exterior surface for frictionally anchoring said second balloon against a urethra wall; and

a catheter segment connectively placed between the first and second balloons;

wherein said catheter segment is capable of delivering a biologically active agent to the occluded portion for treating the occluded portion and wherein said balloons are capable of being inflated and deflated within the urethra, and when the balloons are inflated, form a substantially fluid-tight, closed space between the first and second balloons.

12. The balloon catheter of claim 11, wherein said catheter segment comprises an inner lumen, and a catheter wall and wherein at least one port extends through the wall to the exterior of the catheter segment, said port permitting the biologically active agent to pass through from the inner lumen to the exterior of the catheter segment.

13. The balloon catheter of claim 11, wherein the biologically active agent is selected from the group consisting of chemotherapy, cytotoxics, cytostatics, antibiotics, growth factors, growth inhibitors, radiation, hormonal agents, and vitamins.

14. The balloon catheter of claim 11, wherein the biologically active agent is selected from the group consisting of cells, proteins, DNA, RNA and carbohydrates.

15. A method for concentrating an extractable test compound in a bodily conduit of a patient, comprising:

(a) providing a balloon catheter, wherein said balloon catheter comprises a first inflatable balloon for occluding a first end of said conduit;

a second inflatable balloon for occluding a second end of said conduit and for anchoring said catheter at the second end, wherein the second balloon is configured with a cylindrical exterior surface for frictionally anchoring said second balloon against a conduit wall; and

a catheter segment connectively placed between the first and second balloons;

wherein said catheter segment is capable of concentrating said test compound by flushing with a fluid;

(b) deploying said balloon catheter to said conduit;

(c) inflating both balloons to form a substantially fluid-tight, closed space between the first and second balloons; and

(d) flushing said closed space with said fluid via the catheter segment, thereby concentrating said test compound inside said closed space.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said catheter segment comprises an inner lumen, and a catheter wall and wherein at least one port extends through the wall to the exterior of the catheter segment, said port permitting the biologically active agent to pass through from the inner lumen to the exterior of the catheter segment for flushing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said catheter segment further comprises second inner lumen, and wherein at least one port extends from said second inner lumen through the wall to the exterior of the catheter segment, said port permitting aspiration of the extractable test compound to pass through from the exterior to the second inner lumen of the catheter segment.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the extractable test compound is prostatic fluid.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the bodily conduit is a urethra.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the bodily conduit is selected from the group consisting of blood vessel, veins, esophagus, duodenum, biliary tract, pancreas, small bowel, colon, ureter, fallopian tube, uterus, vas deferens, trachea, bronchus, and bronchioles.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the bodily conduit is selected from the group consisting of mammary ducts, Fallopian tubes and the ductus deferens of the testes.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said fluid is infused from a fluid source outside of the patient.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the flushing step is repeated at least one more time.