US5527336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flow obstruction treatment method
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
•
Filing: 1995-03-02
•
Granted: 1996-06-18
•
Expires: 2015-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an apparatus and method for the treatment of the symptoms of obstructive prostatism. The apparatus comprises an expandable dilation catheter and preferably an axially elongate sheath, adapted for transurethral insertion via the external opening of the urethra. The sheath is ellipsoid in cross-section, and provides an initial path through which the catheter and a standard cystoscope lens is guided. The dilation catheter or the sheath are provided with a non-radiological locating means for positioning the dilation portion of the catheter with respect to an anatomical landmark. Once the catheter has been properly positioned with respect to both the bladder neck and the sphincter, the dilation balloon may be inflated to force open the affected prostatic urethra and eliminate the obstruction.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F. Rosenbluth
- 👤 Jay A. Lenker
- 👤 George R. Greene
- 👤 Barry M. Calvarese
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/95; A61F2/958; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/1011; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/3011; A61F2002/30182; A61F2002/30187; A61F2002/9583; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/0034; A61M2025/0004; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of treating the symptoms of a flow obstruction of a urethra, comprising the steps of: inserting an instrument into the urethra, said instrument having a support structure removably, coaxially disposed about a radially expandable region of said instrument, said instrument also having a visual indicator thereon proximal to said support structure for positioning the support structure relative to the obstruction while avoiding an external urethral sphincter; positioning the support structure within the obstruction by positioning the visual indicator within the urethra at the lower end of the affected prostatic urethra under direct vision without use of x-rays; ensuring that the visual indicator does not extend onto any portion of the external urethral sphincter in order to avoid dilation of the external urethral sphincter; and expanding the support structure so as to radially outwardly dilate the urethra, whereby the obstruction is also dilated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of treating the symptoms of a flow obstruction of a urethra, comprising the steps of: inserting an instrument into the urethra, said instrument having a support structure removably, coaxially disposed about a radially expandable region of said instrument, said instrument also having a visual indicator thereon proximal to said support structure for positioning the support structure relative to the obstruction while avoiding an external urethral sphincter; positioning the support structure within the obstruction by positioning the visual indicator within the urethra at the lower end of the affected prostatic urethra under direct vision without use of x-rays; ensuring that the visual indicator does not extend onto any portion of the external urethral sphincter in order to avoid dilation of the external urethral sphincter; and expanding the support structure so as to radially outwardly dilate the urethra, whereby the obstruction is also dilated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said instrument is a balloon catheter having a balloon thereon for radially outwardly dilating the support structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said support structure is axially elongate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the instrument is removed, leaving the support structure within the dilated portion of the urethra.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises a radial enlargement on said instrument.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the radial enlargement comprises a radially outwardly extending annular ridge on said instrument.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises a line on said instrument.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a stent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the radially expandable region, in its unexpanded state, has an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the adjacent region of said instrument, whereby the radially expandable region, in its unexpanded state, forms an annular depression about said instrument.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the stent is disposed within the annular depression.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-06-18 | 1999-12-18 | 2000-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-18 | 2003-12-18 | 2004-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-18 | 2007-12-18 | 2008-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |