Colon polyp staging methods

• US 9,636,015 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hadba, Ahmad R., Heinrich, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernandez, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negarestan, Farshad
• Application Number:
  US12/527,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20100087740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,308 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/313 for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes
• 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 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00269 endoscopic mucosal resection EMR
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for examination and removal of polyps. Using methods and systems of the present disclosure, one can determine whether a polyp is benign or cancerous in situ.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

introducing at least one media comprising at least one thermally responsive polymer into tissue comprising submucosa of a polyp;

measuring a response to an external stimuli in the tissue, the external stimuli being an air puff; and

deducing a state of health of the tissue by measuring the response to the air puff with a tonometer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the media further comprises saline.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the media comprises at least one thermoreversible polymer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein deducing the state of health of the tissue comprises determining whether or not the polyp is cancerous.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein deducing the state of health of the tissue comprises deducing the state of health in real time.