Prostate visualization device and methods of use
First Claim
1. Apparatus for facilitating visualization of a patient'"'"'s prostate/bladder junction, comprising:
- a catheter having proximal and distal ends, a proximal deployment port at the proximal end, a first outlet port at the distal end, and a first lumen extending therebetween;
a plunger having proximal and distal ends, the plunger configured to slide longitudinally through the proximal deployment port; and
at least one deployable member coupled to the distal end of the plunger, wherein the deployable member is expandable from a delivery configuration adapted for transurethral insertion, to a deployed configuration adapted for engagement of a proximal portion of the patient'"'"'s bladder, wherein the deployable member comprises at least one wire loop having a roughened exterior surface, the roughened exterior surface adapted to entrap gas bubbles to facilitate ultrasonic imaging.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for improved administration of brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate disease. More particularly, a prostate visualization device is provided comprising a catheter coupled to at least one deployable member at the distal end of the catheter. The deployable member is preferably manufactured from a shape memory alloy having a petal-shaped configuration suitable for engaging and defining the proximal region of a patient'"'"'s bladder. The deployable member may comprise tubing filled with air or other radiopaque agents to facilitate ultrasonic imaging of the deployable members near the bladder/prostate junction.
95 Citations
73 Claims
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1. Apparatus for facilitating visualization of a patient'"'"'s prostate/bladder junction, comprising:
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a catheter having proximal and distal ends, a proximal deployment port at the proximal end, a first outlet port at the distal end, and a first lumen extending therebetween;
a plunger having proximal and distal ends, the plunger configured to slide longitudinally through the proximal deployment port; and
at least one deployable member coupled to the distal end of the plunger, wherein the deployable member is expandable from a delivery configuration adapted for transurethral insertion, to a deployed configuration adapted for engagement of a proximal portion of the patient'"'"'s bladder, wherein the deployable member comprises at least one wire loop having a roughened exterior surface, the roughened exterior surface adapted to entrap gas bubbles to facilitate ultrasonic imaging. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for facilitating visualization of a patient'"'"'s prostate/bladder junction, comprising:
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a catheter having proximal and distal ends, a proximal deployment port at the proximal end, a first outlet port at the distal end, and a first lumen extending therebetween;
a plunger having proximal and distal ends, the plunger configured to slide longitudinally through the proximal deployment port;
at least one deployable member coupled to the distal end of the plunger, wherein the deployable member is expandable from a delivery configuration adapted for transurethral insertion, to a deployed configuration adapted for engagement of a proximal portion of the patient'"'"'s bladder; and
a connector having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the connector is affixed to the distal end of the plunger, and the distal end of the plunger is affixed to the deployable member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. Apparatus for facilitating visualization of a patient'"'"'s prostate/bladder junction, comprising:
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a catheter having proximal and distal ends, a proximal deployment port at the proximal end, a first outlet port at the distal end, and a first lumen extending therebetween;
a plunger having proximal and distal ends, the plunger configured to slide longitudinally through the proximal deployment port;
at least one deployable member coupled to the distal end of the plunger, wherein the deployable member is expandable from a delivery configuration adapted for transurethral insertion, to a deployed configuration adapted for engagement of a proximal portion of the patient'"'"'s bladder; and
a piece of tubing at least partially covering the deployable member, the tubing suitable for confining gas pockets to enhance ultrasonic imaging around the deployable member. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. Apparatus for facilitating visualization of a patient'"'"'s prostate/bladder junction, comprising:
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a catheter having proximal and distal ends, a proximal deployment port at the proximal end, a first outlet port at the distal end, and a first lumen extending therebetween;
a plunger having proximal and distal ends, the plunger configured to slide longitudinally through the proximal deployment port; and
at least one deployable member coupled to the distal end of the plunger, wherein the deployable member is expandable from a delivery configuration adapted for transurethral insertion, to a deployed configuration adapted for engagement of a proximal portion of the patient'"'"'s bladder, wherein the deployable member comprises a hinging member suitable for rotating the deployable member to a predetermined configuration upon deployment. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. Apparatus for facilitating visualization of a patient'"'"'s prostate/bladder junction, comprising:
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a catheter having proximal and distal ends, a proximal deployment port at the proximal end, a first outlet port at the distal end, and a first lumen extending therebetween;
a plunger having proximal and distal ends, the plunger configured to slide longitudinally through the proximal deployment port; and
at least one deployable member coupled to the distal end of the plunger, wherein the deployable member is expandable from a delivery configuration adapted for transurethral insertion, to a deployed configuration adapted for engagement of a proximal portion of the patient'"'"'s bladder, wherein the deployable member comprises a plurality of interwoven wires. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A method of facilitating visualization of a patient'"'"'s prostate/bladder junction, the method comprising:
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providing apparatus comprising a catheter having proximal and distal ends, a proximal deployment port at the proximal end, a distal outlet port at the distal end, a first lumen extending therebetween, a plunger having proximal and distal ends, and at least one deployable member affixed to the distal end of the plunger;
advancing the apparatus through the patient'"'"'s urethra;
distally advancing the deployable member beyond the distal outlet port to deploy the deployable member to a predetermined configuration within the patient'"'"'s bladder;
proximally retracting the deployable member such that it engages a proximal portion of the patient'"'"'s bladder; and
performing brachytherapy on the patient'"'"'s prostate. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73)
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Specification