Expandable device for thermal therapy

• US 6,743,200 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seacoast Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seacoast Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Sachs, Dan, Larnard, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kontos, Lina R
• Application Number:
  US09/971,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20020091428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 604/103.07, 604/113, 604/103.11, 604/912, 604/916, 604/503, 604/103.08, 600/31
• US Class Current: 604/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0056 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/101 for cooling organs in the body before or during surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/123 using a flexible balloon containing the thermal element

Abstract

A method and expandable device for thermally affecting tissue in which there is a fluid conduit. An expandable element includes a wall defining an inner volume. The wall has a tissue contact region which is non-coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit. The tissue contact region is operable to have a first contact surface area and a second contact surface area in which the second contact surface area is larger than the first contact surface area. A port is formed through the wall and is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit.

Claims

1. An expandable element for thermally affecting tissue, comprising:

a port, the port having a longitudinal axis; and

a wall defining an inner volume, the wall having a tissue contact region, the tissue contact region being expandable when infused with the thermal fluid, the port being formed through the wall; and

a fluid distribution member provided within the interior volume of the expandable member and affixed to the wall.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the expandable member is a balloon.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the expandable element has a non-circular shape.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wall is configured to define a substantially circular shape.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the expandable element is comprised of a plurality of expandable arms.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid distribution member is a vane.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tissue contact region is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the port.

8. The device according to claim 5, further comprising at least one fluid injection member in fluid communication with the port, at least a portion of each of the at least one fluid injection members being enclosed within a corresponding expandable arm.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein each expandable arm encloses at least a part of a corresponding fluid injection member.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of expandable arms are individually expandable.

11. An expandable device using thermal fluid from a fluid source for thermally affecting cranial tissue, comprising:

a fluid conduit having a longitudinal axis;

at least one injection element in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, the at least one injection element having a soft durometer;

an expandable element in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, the expandable element including;

a wall defining an inner volume and enclosing at least a portion of the at least one injection element, the wall having a tissue contact region, the tissue contact region being expandable when infused with the thermal fluid,

the expandable element being insertable into an opening in a cranium when the expandable element is in an unexpanded state; and

a fluid distribution member provided within the interior volume of the expandable member and affixed to the wall.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the fluid distribution member is a vane.