Devices, methods, and systems for shrinking tissues
First Claim
1. A method to treat urinary stress incontinence, the method comprising:
- introducing a probe into a patient body;
aligning the probe with a collagenous pelvic tissue which comprises or supports the urethra within the patient body; and
energizing the probe to heat a portion of the pelvic support tissue so that the pelvic support tissue is contracted to inhibit incontinence.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems, and method for treating urinary incontinence generally rely on energy delivered to a patient'"'"'s own pelvic support tissue to selectively contract or shrink at least a portion of that pelvic support tissue so as to reposition the bladder. The energy will preferably be applied to the endopelvic fascia and/or an arcus tendineus fascia pelvis. The invention provides a variety of devices and methods for applying gentle resistive heating of these and other tissues to cause them to contract without imposing significant injury on the surrounding tissue structures. Alternatively, heat-applying probes are configured to heat tissue structures which comprise or support a patient'"'"'s urethra. By applying sufficient energy over a predetermined time, the tissue can be raised to a temperature which results in contraction without significant necrosis or other tissue damage. By selectively contracting the support tissues, the bladder neck, sphincter, and other components of the urinary tract responsible for the control of urinary flow can be reconfigured or supported in a manner which reduces urinary leakage.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method to treat urinary stress incontinence, the method comprising:
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introducing a probe into a patient body; aligning the probe with a collagenous pelvic tissue which comprises or supports the urethra within the patient body; and energizing the probe to heat a portion of the pelvic support tissue so that the pelvic support tissue is contracted to inhibit incontinence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An endoscopic method for treating urinary stress incontinence, the method comprising:
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introducing a probe into a patient body; optically imaging the probe and a target tissue of the patient body, the target tissue comprising a portion of at least one of an endopelvic fascia and an arcus tendineus fascia pelvis which comprise or support the patient'"'"'s urethra; positioning an electrode of the probe against the target tissue; and energizing the electrode to heat and contract the target tissue without substantially ablating the target tissue. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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- 15. A method for treating urinary incontinence in a patient, said method comprising applying an amount of energy to a collagenous tissue structure comprising or supporting the patient'"'"'s urethra wherein the amount of energy is sufficient to cause partial shrinkage of the tissue and the tissue shrinkage inhibits urinary incontinence.
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23. A method for treating urinary incontinence in a patient, said method comprising;
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providing a probe having a proximal end, a distal end, and a heat-applying element near its distal end; positioning the probe within the patient'"'"'s urethra so that the heat applying element is disposed in the region of a urethral sling; applying an amount of energy from the probe to collagenous tissue of a patient'"'"'s urethral wall sufficient to partially shrink a urethral passage; and removing the probe from the urethra. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for treating urinary incontinence in a patient, said method comprising;
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providing a probe having a proximal end, a distal end, and a heat-applying element; positioning the probe within the patient'"'"'s vagina; penetrating the heat-applying element from the probe into a collagenous tissue structure which supports the urethra or urinary sphineter; applying an amount of energy from the probe and into the collagenous tissue structure sufficient to contract the collagenous tissue structure and enhance support of the urethra or urinary sphincter; and removing the probe from the vagina. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification