Implantable self-inflating attenuation device
First Claim
1. An attenuation device, comprising:
- a flexible housing, defining a chamber therein, the housing inflatable from a first, deflated configuration to a second, at least partially inflated configuration, the first configuration facilitating introduction of the device into a patient'"'"'s bladder, the second configuration facilitating attenuation of pressure changes in the bladder;
a chemical medium capable of a transformation to inflate the housing from the first configuration to the second configuration; and
an initiator, for initiating the transformation;
wherein the chemical medium and the initiator are initially physically separated from each other; and
wherein a chemical reaction occurs within the device when the chemical medium comes into contact with the initiator, thereby causing the housing to inflate from the first configuration to the second configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein is an attenuation device comprising a flexible housing and a medium capable of transformation to inflate the housing from the first configuration to the second configuration. Also disclose herein are methods of treating a patient, comprising: providing a self-inflating expandable attenuation device, containing a medium which is transformable from a first, reduced volume to a second, expanded volume; positioning the attenuation device within the patient at a treatment site; and transforming the medium from the first volume to the second volume. In one embodiment, a self-inflating expandable attenuation device is used to treat urinary tract dysfunction. In another embodiment, a self-inflating expandable attenuation device is used to treat benign hypertrophy of the prostate.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An attenuation device, comprising:
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a flexible housing, defining a chamber therein, the housing inflatable from a first, deflated configuration to a second, at least partially inflated configuration, the first configuration facilitating introduction of the device into a patient'"'"'s bladder, the second configuration facilitating attenuation of pressure changes in the bladder;
a chemical medium capable of a transformation to inflate the housing from the first configuration to the second configuration; and
an initiator, for initiating the transformation;
wherein the chemical medium and the initiator are initially physically separated from each other; and
wherein a chemical reaction occurs within the device when the chemical medium comes into contact with the initiator, thereby causing the housing to inflate from the first configuration to the second configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of:
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providing an expandable attenuation device, containing a medium which is transformable from a first, reduced volume to a second, expanded volume;
positioning the attenuation device within the patient at a treatment site;
endtransforming the medium from the first volume to the second volume. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of treating urinary tract dysfunction, comprising the steps of:
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identifying a patient exhibiting symptoms of urinary tract incontinence;
providing an expandable attenuation device, containing a medium which is transformable from a first, reduced volume to a second, expanded volume;
transurethrally introducing the attenuation device within the patient'"'"'s bladder; and
transforming the medium from the first volume to the second volume to treat the patient.
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25. A method of treating a patient who has benign hypertrophy of the prostate, comprising the steps of:
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identifying a patient exhibiting symptoms of benign hypertrophy of the prostate;
providing an expandable attenuation device, containing a medium which is transformable from a first, reduced volume to a second, expanded volume;
transurethrally introducing the attenuation device within the patient'"'"'s bladder; and
transforming the medium from the first volume to the second volume to treat the patient.
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Specification