Devices, methods, and systems for shrinking tissues
First Claim
1. A method to treat urinary stress incontinence, the method comprising:
- introducing a probe into a patient body;
aligning the probe with a collagenous pelvic tissue which supports the urethra within the patient body; and
energizing the probe to heat a portion of the pelvic support tissue so that the pelvic support tissue is contracted to inhibit incontinence.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems, and method for treating urinary incontinence generally rely on energy delivered to a patient'"'"'s own pelvic support tissue to selectively contract or shrink at least a portion of that pelvic support tissue so as to reposition the bladder. The energy will preferably be applied to the endopelvic fascia and/or an arcus tendineus fascia pelvis. The invention provides a variety of devices and methods for applying gentle resistive heating of these and other tissues to cause them to contract without imposing significant injury on the surrounding tissue structures. Alternatively, heat-applying probes are configured to heat tissue structures which comprise or support a patient'"'"'s urethra. By applying sufficient energy over a predetermined time, the tissue can be raised to a temperature which results in contraction without significant necrosis or other tissue damage. By selectively contracting the support tissues, the bladder neck, sphincter, and other components of the urinary tract responsible for the control of urinary flow can be reconfigured or supported in a manner which reduces urinary leakage.
161 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method to treat urinary stress incontinence, the method comprising:
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introducing a probe into a patient body; aligning the probe with a collagenous pelvic tissue which supports the urethra within the patient body; and energizing the probe to heat a portion of the pelvic support tissue so that the pelvic support tissue is contracted to inhibit incontinence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An endoscopic method for treating urinary stress incontinence, the method comprising:
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introducing a probe into a patient body; optically imaging the probe and a target tissue of the patient body, the target tissue comprising a portion of at least one of an endopelvic fascia and an arcus tendineus fascia pelvis which support the patient'"'"'s urethra; positioning an electrode of the probe against the target tissue; and energizing the electrode to heat and contract the target tissue without substantially ablating the target tissue. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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- 15. A method for treating urinary incontinence in a patient, said method comprising applying an amount of energy to a collagenous tissue structure supporting the patient'"'"'s urethra wherein the amount of energy is sufficient to cause partial shrinkage of the tissue and the tissue shrinkage inhibits urinary incontinence.
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19. A method for treating urinary incontinence in a patient, said method comprising:
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inserting a probe into the patient; advancing a plurality of electrodes from the probe so that the electrodes penetrate a collagenous tissue structure comprising a bladder neck; and applying electrical energy to the collagenous tissue structure with the electrodes to heat the collagenous tissue structure sufficiently to effect shrinkage of the collagenous tissue structure so that the collagenous tissue structure inhibits urinary incontinence. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for treating incontinence in a patient, said method comprising:
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inserting a probe into a urethra of the patient; electrically coupling at least one electrode of the inserted probe to a collagenous tissue structure; applying electrical energy to the collagenous tissue structure with the at least one electrode to heat the collagenous tissue structure, wherein the shrinkage provides a kink or closure point along the urethra to inhibit leakage; and controlling an amount of the energy applied in response to a temperature of the collagenous tissue structure so that the collagenous tissue structure inhibits incontinence. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method for treating urinary incontinence in a patient, said method comprising:
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inserting a probe into the patient; engaging a plurality of electrodes of the probe against a bladder neck; and applying sufficient electrical energy to the bladder neck so as to inhibit the urinary incontinence. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification