Apparatus for treating venous insufficiency
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a catheter having a catheter shaft and a working end, the catheter being configured to be delivered through a vein to a venous treatment site;
a plurality of electrodes located at the working end of the catheter, the plurality of electrodes being configured to produce a high frequency field to cause heating of a venous tissue at the treatment site, wherein the heating of venous tissue causes a reduction in the diameter of the vein at the treatment site; and
a plurality of bowable members located at the working end of the catheter capable of extending away from the catheter shaft and into apposition with the venous tissue at the venous treatment site, wherein each bowable member includes at least one electrode from the plurality of electrodes so that the electrode is in apposition with the venous tissue when the bowable members are extended, the bowable members when extended defining an effective diameter of the catheter, the plurality of bowable members having sufficient strength while extended to resist a reduction in the effective diameter of the catheter, thereby enabling a controlled reduction in the diameter of the vein such that the vein remains patent for venous function.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter delivers an electrode within a vein for a minimally invasive treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency using RF energy. The catheter is introduced into a patient and positioned within the section of the vein to be treated. The electrode radiates high frequency energy towards the vein, and the surrounding venous tissue becomes heated and begins to shrink. The catheter includes a controllable member for limiting the amount of shrinkage of the vein to the diameter of the member. The electrode remains active until there has been sufficient shrinkage of the vein. The extent of shrinkage of the vein may be detected by fluoroscopy. After treating one section of the vein, the catheter and the electrode can be repositioned intraluminally within the vein to treat different sections of the vein until all desired venous sections and valves are repaired and rendered functionally competent.
141 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a catheter having a catheter shaft and a working end, the catheter being configured to be delivered through a vein to a venous treatment site; a plurality of electrodes located at the working end of the catheter, the plurality of electrodes being configured to produce a high frequency field to cause heating of a venous tissue at the treatment site, wherein the heating of venous tissue causes a reduction in the diameter of the vein at the treatment site; and a plurality of bowable members located at the working end of the catheter capable of extending away from the catheter shaft and into apposition with the venous tissue at the venous treatment site, wherein each bowable member includes at least one electrode from the plurality of electrodes so that the electrode is in apposition with the venous tissue when the bowable members are extended, the bowable members when extended defining an effective diameter of the catheter, the plurality of bowable members having sufficient strength while extended to resist a reduction in the effective diameter of the catheter, thereby enabling a controlled reduction in the diameter of the vein such that the vein remains patent for venous function.
-
-
2. An apparatus comprising:
-
a catheter having a catheter shaft and a working end, the catheter being configured to be delivered through a hollow anatomical structure to a treatment site; a plurality of electrodes located at the working end of the catheter, the plurality of electrodes being configured to heat tissue at the treatment site, wherein heating the tissue causes a reduction in the diameter of the hollow anatomical structure at the treatment site; and a plurality of bowable members located at the working end of the catheter capable of extending away from the catheter shaft and into apposition with the tissue at the treatment site, wherein each bowable member includes at least one electrode from the plurality of electrodes so that the electrode is in apposition with the tissue when the bowable member is extended, the plurality of bowable members having sufficient strength while extended to enable a controlled reduction in the diameter of the hollow anatomical structure such that the hollow anatomical structure remains patent.
-
-
3. An apparatus for applying energy to cause shrinkage of a hollow anatomical structure, the apparatus comprising:
-
a catheter having a shaft, an outer diameter and a working end, the outer diameter of the catheter is less than the inner diameter of the hollow anatomical structure; at least one electrode located at the working end of the catheter, wherein activation of the at least one electrode causes shrinkage of the hollow anatomical structure adjacent to the electrode; a plurality of bowable members located at the working end of the catheter and capable of extending radially outward away from the catheter shaft, the bowable members when extended defining an effective diameter of the catheter, wherein the shrinkage of the hollow anatomical structure is limited to the effective diameter defined by the plurality of bowable members; and a balloon located between the bowable member and the catheter, wherein the balloon engages and forces the bowable members radially outward when the balloon is inflated. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification