Tissue treatment

• US 7,611,542 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Lanphere, Janel L., Minasian, Zarouhi, Casey, Thomas V. II, Li, Jianmin, Rao, Doreen, Bourne, George, Keenan, Steve, Buiser, Marcia S., McKenna, Erin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US11/555,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20070059375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 623/23.72, 623/23.73, 623/23.74, 623/23.76, 424/501
• US Class Current: 623/23.72
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0036 implantable A61F2/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/0452 Solutions, e.g. for injection
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1635 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly(meth)acrylates
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/001 Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/0036 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/06 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L24/043, A61L24/046 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/36 for embolization or occlusion, e.g. vaso-occlusive compositions or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/16 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/50 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/048 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L31/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2329/04 Polyvinyl alcohol; Partially hydrolysed homopolymers or copolymers of esters of unsaturated alcohols with saturated carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/12 Powdering or granulating
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/24 Crosslinking, e.g. vulcanising, of macromolecules mechanical aspects B29C35/00; crosslinking agents C08K
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 29/04 Polyvinyl alcohol; Partially hydrolysed homopolymers or copolymers of esters of unsaturated alcohols with saturated carboxylic acids

Abstract

A method of treating tissue includes placing substantially spherical polymer particles in the tissue. The particles include an interior region having relatively large pores and a first region substantially surrounding the interior having fewer relatively large pores than the interior region.

Claims

1. A method of treating tissue, the method comprising:

placing substantially spherical polymer particles in the tissue, the particles having an interior region comprising pores having a predominant pore size in the range of about 20 to 35 microns, a first region substantially surrounding the interior region comprising pores having a predominant pore size in the range of about 2 to 18 microns, and a third region surrounding the second region comprising pores having a predominant pore size of about 2 microns or less,

wherein the polymer comprises crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles are injected into the tissue.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the particles are injected percutaneously.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles are delivered through a catheter.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising forming a cavity in the tissue, and placing the particles in the cavity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue is adjacent to a body passageway.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the passageway is defined by a ureter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue is adjacent to a body passageway, the particles being placed in an amount effective to narrow the passageway.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is 1,3 diol acetalized.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles comprise a polysaccharide.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide comprises alginate.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles comprise a therapeutic agent.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein, for at least some of the plurality of particles, each particle has a different radius.

13. A method of treating an individual, the method comprising:

placing a therapeutically effective amount of substantially spherical particles comprising polyvinyl alcohol in a tissue of the individual, the particles having an interior region comprising pores having a predominant pore size in the range of about 20 to 35 microns, a first region substantially surrounding the interior region comprising pores having a predominant pore size in the range of about 2 to 18 microns, and a third region surrounding the second region comprising pores having a predominant pore size of about 2 microns or less,

wherein the polymer comprises crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the tissue is adjacent to a gastrointestinal tract.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the tissue is adjacent to a ureter.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with urinary incontinence.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with fecal incontinence.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the particles are placed percutaneously.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the particles are placed through a catheter.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with instrinsic sphincteric deficiency.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising selecting the individual diagnosed with vocal cord paralysis.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising selecting the individual in need of a reconstructive or cosmetic procedure.

26. The method of claim 13, wherein, for at least some of the therapeutically effective amount of particles, each particle has a different radius.