Devices for treating canker sores, tissues and methods thereof

• US 6,104,952 A
• Filed: 03/20/1999
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Irvine Biomedical, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hosheng Tu, Lily Chen Tu
• Inventors: Tu, Hosheng, Tu, Lily Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thanh, LoAn H.
• Application Number:
  US09/272,971
• Time in Patent Office: 514 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20-22, 606/41-42, 606/45-50, 607/100-102
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia

Abstract

A medical device for treating canker sores, wherein flexible RF electrode means having a distal surface plate permeable to medicament comprises therapeutic agent delivery means, is inserted into the mouth of a patient; the electrode means being placed against and/or surrounding the canker sore region; RF energy is applied for a predetermined time and temperature to the canker sore tissue through the electrode means to cause internal lesions; and delivering a heated therapeutic agent to heal the tissues thereafter for a pre-determined duration.

Claims

1. A method of applying a therapeutic agent to treat the canker sores of a patient, the method comprising:

(a) inserting a device into the mouth of a patient, wherein the device has a distal section, a distal end, a proximal end, openings at both ends, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein rim electrode means is disposed at said distal end, and wherein said device is leak-proof except for the openings at the distal end and the proximal end;

(b) contacting the device against the canker sores of a patient, wherein a distal surface plate of said rim electrode means covers the canker sore, and wherein said surface plate is permeable to medicament;

(c) supplying a therapeutic agent to the canker sores, wherein a positive pressure is applied to said therapeutic agent from the proximal end of said device by fluid infusion means for pressurizing the therapeutic agent against the canker sores;

(d) applying energy to the rim electrode means of the device, wherein the energy is selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency energy, microwave energy, ultrasonic energy, alternating current energy, and laser energy; and

(e) maintaining contact of the therapeutic agent against the canker sores for a predetermined time.

2. A method of applying a therapeutic agent to treat the canker sores of a patient as in claim 1, wherein a rim portion of said rim electrode means is not electrically conductive.

3. A method of applying a therapeutic agent to treat the canker sores of a patient as in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein said temperature sensor is disposed at the distal surface plate of the rim electrode means.

4. A method of applying a therapeutic agent to treat the canker sores of a patient as in claim 3, further comprising a temperature controlling means, wherein a measured temperature of the temperature sensor is used as an input for the temperature controlling means to control the temperature.

5. A method of applying a therapeutic agent to treat the canker sores of a patient as in claim 1, further comprising the distal section having a radially outer surface plate, wherein the radially outer surface plate of said distal section is non-conductive.

6. A method of applying a therapeutic agent to treat the canker sores of a patient as in claim 1, wherein a surface of the distal surface plate of said rim electrode means is selected from the group consisting of a smooth surface, a rough surface, an irregular surface, a polished surface and a meshed surface.

7. A method of applying a therapeutic agent to treat the canker sores of a patient as in claim 2, wherein said therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of heparin solution, saline solution, fluoroquinolone, lactic acid, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy organic acids, vitamins, povidone-iodine, nitrate compounds, virucidal agents, anti-ulcer agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antibiotics, silver-containing fluid, and their mixtures.

8. A medical device for applying a therapeutic agent to treat the canker sores of a patient, comprising:

(a) an elongated tubular element having a distal section, a distal end, a proximal end, openings at both ends, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein rim electrode means having a distal surface plate is disposed at said distal end, and wherein said device is leak-proof except for the openings at the distal end and the proximal end;

(b) the distal surface plate of said rim electrode means being permeable to medicament;

(c) a handle secured at said proximal end of the tubular element;

(d) means for supplying the therapeutic agent to the distal end of said device, wherein a positive pressure is applied to said therapeutic agent from the proximal end of said device by fluid infusion means for pressurizing the therapeutic agent against the canker sores;

(e) means for heating the therapeutic agent in situ by energy of the rim electrode means, wherein the energy is selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency energy, microwave energy, ultrasonic energy, alternating current energy, and laser energy; and

(e) means for applying energy to the rim electrode means of said device.

9. A medical device as in claim 8, wherein a rim portion of said rim electrode means is not electrically conductive.

10. A medical device as in claim 8 further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein said temperature sensor is disposed at the distal surface plate of the rim electrode means.

11. A medical device as in claim 10, further comprising temperature controlling means, wherein a measured temperature of said temperature sensor is used as an input for the temperature controlling means to control the temperature.

12. A medical device as in claim 8, wherein the radiofrequency energy current is within the range of 50 to 2,000 kHz.

13. A medical device as in claim 8, wherein said distal section of the device comprises a bendable section.

14. A medical device as in claim 8, further comprising the distal section with a radially outer surface plate, wherein the radially outer surface plate of said distal section is non-conductive.

15. A medical device as in claim 8, wherein said rim electrode means is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of platinum, iridium, gold, silver, stainless steel, Nitinol, and an alloy of their mixture.

16. A medical device as in claim 8, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of heparin solution, saline solution, fluoroquinolone, lactic acid, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy organic acids, vitamins, povidone-iodine, nitrate compounds, virucidal agents, anti-ulcer agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antibiotics, silver-containing fluid, and their mixtures.

17. A medical device as in claim 8, wherein the distal section of the rim electrode means is trumpet-shaped.

18. A device system for applying radiofrequency energy to treat a tissue, the device system comprising:

(a) an elongated tubular element having a distal section, a distal end, a proximal end, openings at both ends, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, the electrode means disposed at said distal end, wherein said electrode means has at least one surface zone for contacting the tissue, wherein the at least one surface zone is permeable to medicament;

(b) a handle secured at said proximal end of the tubular element;

(c) means for supplying a therapeutic agent to the distal end of said device, wherein a positive pressure is applied to said therapeutic agent from the proximal end of said device by fluid infusion means for pressurizing the therapeutic agent against the canker sores; and

(d) means for applying radiofrequency energy to the electrode means of said device for heating the therapeutic agent in situ, wherein radiofrequency energy is provided by a RF generator.

19. A device system as in claim 18, further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein said temperature sensor is disposed at the distal end of said device.

20. A device system as in claim 18, wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of heparin solution, saline solution, fluoroquinolone, lactic acid, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy organic acids, vitamins, povidone-iodine, nitrate compounds, virucidal agents, anti-ulcer agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antibiotics, silver-containing fluid, and their mixtures.