Implant system and method for bulking tissue

• US 7,077,821 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Durgin, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US10/442,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 604 11- 18, 604/104, 604/358, 604/369, 604/374, 606/151, 606/167, 606/200, 606/213, 606191-199
• US Class Current: 604/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0036 implantable A61F2/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/20 Epiglottis; Larynxes; Tracheae combined with larynxes or for use therewith tracheae, bronchi per se A61F2/04 ; tracheostomy tubes A61M16/0465
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0079 Pyloric or esophageal obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/25 Artificial sphincters and devices for controlling urinary incontinence

Abstract

A system for placing an implant in the body includes an elongated member having at least one inner lumen extending from a proximal end portion of the member to an opening in a distal end portion of the member. At least one compressible implant is in the inner lumen of the member. The implant optionally includes anchor members projecting from its outer surface to limit migration of the implant in the body. Structure is provided to push the implant through the opening in the distal end portion of the member. The implant is placed between layers of body tissue to bulk the tissue. In one of the disclosed methods, the system is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by placing the implant between layers of body tissue at or near the gastroesophageal junction.

Claims

1. A system for bulking body tissue, comprising:

an elongated member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, at least one opening in the distal end, and at least one inner lumen extending from the proximal end to the opening in the distal end;

at least one compressible bulking device in the inner lumen of the elongated member, the at least one bulking device being configured to be implanted in body tissue to bulk the tissue; and

a pushing device to push the at least one bulking device through the opening in the distal end of the elongated member,

wherein the at least one bulking device is expandable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration, the at least one bulking device being in the compressed configuration when the at least one bulking device is in the inner lumen and the at least one bulking device expanding to the expanded configuration when the at least one bulking device passes through the opening in the distal end of the elongated member,

wherein the at least one bulking device comprises a migration limiting element for limiting migration of the at least one bulking device in the body tissue, and

wherein the elongated member comprises a first inner lumen containing the at least one bulking device and a second inner lumen in fluid communication with a source of fluid.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second inner lumen is configured to provide fluid to a space between layers of body tissue to separate the layers of body tissue.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first inner lumen and the second inner lumen each extend from the proximal end of the elongated member to a respective opening in the distal end of the elongated member.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second inner lumen is at least partially disposed within the first inner lumen.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second inner lumen has one of a substantially circular cross section and a generally flattened cross section.

6. A system for bulking body tissue, comprising:

an elongated member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a curved portion proximate the distal end, at least one opening in the distal end, and at least one inner lumen extending from the proximal end and through the curved portion to the opening in the distal end, the inner lumen being curved near the distal end;

at least one compressible bulking device in the inner lumen of the elongated member, the at least one bulking device being configured to be implanted in body tissue to bulk the tissue; and

a pushing device to push the at least one bulking device through the opening in the distal end of the elongated member,

wherein the elongated member comprises a first inner lumen containing the at least one bulking device and a second inner lumen in fluid communication with a source of fluid.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second inner lumen is configured to provide fluid to a space between layers of body tissue to separate the layers of body tissue.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the first inner lumen and the second inner lumen each extend from the proximal end of the elongated member to a respective opening in the distal end of the elongated member.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the second inner lumen is at least partially disposed within the first inner lumen.