Treatment of tissue in sphincters, sinuses and orifices
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising;
- a catheter disposed for insertion into a body at a selected location;
an inflatable microporous balloon coupled to said catheter, said inflatable balloon having at least one surface, said balloon having micropores distributed over the entirety of said at least one surface, said balloon being capable of allowing passage of a flowable substance through said at least one surface into an interior region of a body cavity;
a plurality of struts encompassing said balloon;
at least one electrode embedded in each of said struts, said electrodes being capable of delivering electromagnetic energy, said electrodes positionable relative to a target tissue as a result of movement of said struts toward said target tissue caused by inflation of said balloon;
a switch element associated with said electrodes, said electrodes extendable into said tissue through activation of said switch element; and
an anchoring element coupled to said catheter, wherein said anchoring element is positioned to anchor said inflatable balloon at said selected location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method and system for ablation of body structures or tissue in a sphincter, sinus or orifice such as the rectum, colon, esophagus, vagina, penis, larynx or pharynx. In one aspect of the invention, the environment surrounding the targeted ablation region can be isolated or controlled by blocking the flow of gases or liquids using an inflatable balloon positioned immediately adjacent to the tissue that is to be ablated. In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable balloon also serves to anchor the catheter in place and prevent the catheter from being expelled from the body. The inflatable balloon also insures that locally administered drug remain in the area where most needed. In a second aspect of the invention, positive pressure is used to inflate the balloon. Inflation of balloon triggers the extension of at least one curvilinear electrode into the targeted tissue. Negative pressure deflates the air sac and helps retract the curvilinear electrodes so as to allow the catheter to be removed from the body without damaging adjacent body structures. In a third aspect of the invention, the electrodes are coupled to sensors that measure properties of the target region such as temperature and impedance. Measurement of these properties permits the use of feedback technique to control delivery of the RF energy and administration of fluids for cooling and hydrating the affected tissues. In a fourth aspect of the invention, the catheter includes an optical path that can be coupled to external viewing apparatus. In this way, the position of the electrodes in the body can be determined by fluoroscopic or fiber optic techniques.
362 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising;
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a catheter disposed for insertion into a body at a selected location; an inflatable microporous balloon coupled to said catheter, said inflatable balloon having at least one surface, said balloon having micropores distributed over the entirety of said at least one surface, said balloon being capable of allowing passage of a flowable substance through said at least one surface into an interior region of a body cavity; a plurality of struts encompassing said balloon; at least one electrode embedded in each of said struts, said electrodes being capable of delivering electromagnetic energy, said electrodes positionable relative to a target tissue as a result of movement of said struts toward said target tissue caused by inflation of said balloon; a switch element associated with said electrodes, said electrodes extendable into said tissue through activation of said switch element; and an anchoring element coupled to said catheter, wherein said anchoring element is positioned to anchor said inflatable balloon at said selected location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification