Method for treating fecal incontinence

• US 9,125,665 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2013
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mederi Rf, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mederi Therapeutics, Inc. (Respiratory Technology Corp.)
• Inventors: Utley, David S., West, Scott, Gaiser, John, Croft, Rachel
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoklosa, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ram, Jocelyn D
• Application Number:
  US14/055,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20140107483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 600/29, 607/101, 607/116, 607/138, 606/32, 606/41, 128/898
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/149 bow shaped or with rotatable body at cantilever end, e.g. for resectoscopes, or coagulating rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/005 Rectum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00553 Sphincter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/046 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1869 with an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2005 : with beam delivery through an interstitially insertable device, e.g. needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 : in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

A sphincter tissue region is treated using a support structure sized for advancement into the anal canal. At least one electrode is carried by the structure. A mechanism is coupled to the electrode to move the electrode between a first position retracted in the support structure and a second position extended from the support structure through surface tissue to penetrate a subsurface tissue region at or near a sphincter in the anal canal. A cable is coupled to the electrode to conduct energy for application by the electrode to form a lesion in the subsurface tissue region.

Claims

1. A method for treating fecal incontinence comprising:

providing an electrode carrying structure having a plurality of guide channels, the electrode carrying structure carrying a plurality of electrodes, the electrodes movable within the guide channels;

inserting the electrode carrying structure into the anal cavity;

slidably advancing the electrodes through the guide channels and out of openings in the electrode carrying structure to expose distal regions of the electrodes, the electrodes including penetrating distal tips at the distal region and temperature sensors;

applying energy through the electrodes above a dentate line of the anal cavity to create a pattern of lesions; and

sensing temperature by the temperature sensors carried by the electrodes.

2. The method for treating fecal incontinence according to claim 1, further comprising the step of applying cooling fluid to the tissue.

3. The method for treating fecal incontinence according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing an introducer and inserting the introducer within the electrode carrying structure into the anal cavity, the introducer positioned within an opening in the electrode carrying structure.

4. The method for treating fecal incontinence of claim 3, further comprising withdrawing the introducer once the electrode structure is positioned in a target area.

5. The method for treating fecal incontinence according to 1, wherein the distal tips of the electrodes have a bend and the electrodes return from a straightened position within the electrode carrying structure to a bent position when exposed from the electrode carrying structure.

6. The method for treating fecal incontinence of claim 5, further comprising the step of applying cooling fluid to the tissue.

7. The method for treating fecal incontinence according to claim 1, further comprising the step of locking the electrodes in an advanced position.

8. The method for treating fecal incontinence of claim 1, wherein the electrode carrying structure terminates in a distal port, and further comprising the step of aspirating through the distal port.

9. The method for treating fecal incontinence of claim 1, wherein the step of slidably advancing the electrodes comprising actuating a trigger.

10. The method for treating fecal incontinence of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are biased with a bend and are straightened when within the guide channels.

11. The method for treating fecal incontinence of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are deployed in a posterior direction and not an antegrade direction.

12. The method for treating fecal incontinence of claim 1, wherein a user can visualize the dentate line through a barrel structure of the electrode carrying structure.

13. The method for treating fecal incontinence of claim 1, further comprising a transducer carried by the electrode carrying structure and observing an anorectal echo as a real time image.

14. The method for treating fecal incontinence of claim 1, wherein the electrode carrying structure has a blunt rounded distal end for introducing the electrode carrying structure.