Devices, systems and methods for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia and other conditions

• US 8,343,187 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Life Sciences III LLC
• Original Assignee: NeoTract, Inc. (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lamson, Theodore Charles, Makower, Joshua, Catanese, Joseph III, Welch, Jacqueline Nerney, Walke, Amrish Jayprakash, Vidal, Claude, Redmond, Russell J., Collinson, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US11/838,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20090204128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,968 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/153, 606/139, 606/144, 606/154, 606213-216, 606/232
• US Class Current: 606/232
• 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 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0467 Instruments for cutting sutures surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• 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 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00792 Plastic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00796 Breast surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 : H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 : Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 : the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 : Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 : Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 : One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 : for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 : Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 : Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 : with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 : Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00517 : Urinary bladder or urethra
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 : Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 : Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/144 : Wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 : Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/041 : Bile ducts

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for compressing, cutting, incising, reconfiguring, remodeling, attaching, repositioning, supporting, dislocating or altering the composition of tissues or anatomical structures to alter their positional or force relationship to other tissues or anatomical structures. In some applications, the invention may be used to used to improve patency or fluid flow through a body lumen or cavity (e.g., to limit constriction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate gland).

Claims

1. A device for compressing at least one region of the prostate comprising:

a first element configured to communicate force to an anatomical structure outside of the urethra, the first element defining a tubular body having a circumference, a mid-section, an open first end, an open second end, and an opening located near the mid-section extending laterally less than a full circumference and about at least a half of the circumference;

a second element configured to communicate force to the urethra; and

a tethering element capable of linking the first and second elements;

wherein the tethering element is configured within the tubular body and extends from the first end of the first element and exits an interior of the tubular body at the mid-section of the first element, and the second element is slid over and locked to the tethering element.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second element is sized and shaped to be received within the urethra.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first element is sized and shaped to be retained within the prostate.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first element is sized and shaped to pass through a prostate and to be placed in a position outside a prostate capsule.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device lacks a spring.

6. A device for relieving an obstruction of a lumen in the body due to encroachment of a tissue within or outside the lumen comprising:

at least one first element capable of communicating force to an anatomical structure outside of the lumen, the first element defining a tubular body having a circumference, a mid-section, an open first end, an open second end terminating with an narrowed portion, and an opening located near the mid-section extending laterally less than a full circumference and about at least a half of the circumference, the opening providing the tubular body with a longitudinal flexibility;

at least one second element capable of communicating force to the inner surface of the lumen;

a tethering element capable of linking the first and second elements;

wherein the tethering element is configured within the tubular body and extends from the first end of the first element and exits an interior of the tubular body at the mid-section of the first element, and the second element is slid over and locked to the tethering element.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the second element is sized and shaped to be received within an urethra.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the first element is sized and shaped to be retained within a prostate.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the first element is sized and shaped to pass through a prostate and to be placed in a position outside a prostate capsule.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the device lacks a spring.