US6139527A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for treating hemorrhoids
Assignee: VNUS Medical Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 1996-09-26
•
Granted: 2000-10-31
•
Expires: 2016-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A catheter delivers an electrode within a vein for a minimally invasive treatment of hemorrhoids 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 can be detected by fluoroscopy. After treating one section of the vein, the catheter and the electrode can be repositioned within the hemorrhoidal venous system to treat different sections until all desired venous sections and valves are repaired and rendered functionally competent. Shrinkage of the vein further thickens and stiffens the vein wall which reduces the potential for the hemorrhoid vein to dilate.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Laufer
- 👤 Brian E. Farley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:09
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B18/08; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22097; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/00267; A61B2018/00273; A61B2018/00279; A61B2018/00285; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00404; A61B2018/00482; A61B2018/00488; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00755; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00821; A61B2018/00875; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/126; A61B2018/1465; A61B2018/1497
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for applying energy to cause shrinkage of a vein to reduce hemorrhoids, the apparatus comprising: a guide wire; a catheter having a guide wire lumen and a working end, the guide wire lumen being adapted to accept the guide wire, wherein the catheter is delivered through a venous system over the guide wire contained within the guide wire lumen; at least one electrode located at the working end of the catheter, wherein activation of the at least one electrode applies energy to heat a venous treatment area adjacent to the at least one electrode to cause shrinkage of the vein; and an extendable member capable of defining a selected diameter at the working end of the catheter, wherein the shrinkage of the vein is limited to the selected diameter defined by the extendable member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for applying energy to cause shrinkage of a vein to reduce hemorrhoids, the apparatus comprising: a guide wire; a catheter having a guide wire lumen and a working end, the guide wire lumen being adapted to accept the guide wire, wherein the catheter is delivered through a venous system over the guide wire contained within the guide wire lumen; at least one electrode located at the working end of the catheter, wherein activation of the at least one electrode applies energy to heat a venous treatment area adjacent to the at least one electrode to cause shrinkage of the vein; and an extendable member capable of defining a selected diameter at the working end of the catheter, wherein the shrinkage of the vein is limited to the selected diameter defined by the extendable member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide wire lumen is insulated in order to prevent electrical coupling between the guide wire and the at least one electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extendable member includes at least one conductive element having a surface area, and an insulator surrounding a substantial amount of the surface area of the conductive element, and an uninsulated surface area of the conductive element acts as the electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the uninsulated area of the conductive element is substantially flat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extendable member includes at least one bowable element having an area for accommodating the at least one electrode; and further comprising a temperature sensor located on the bowable element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a flexible nosecone tip at the working end to allow the catheter to track over the guide wire and through bends in the vein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extendable member includes: at least one conductive elongate element having a surface area, and a round cross-section in order to facilitate flexing of the catheter at the working end; an insulator surrounding a substantial amount of the surface area of the conductive element, and an uninsulated surface area of the conductive element acts as the electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the elongate element has a diameter in the range of about 0.005 inches to 0.03 inches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second conductive elongate element having a surface area, and an insulator surrounding a substantial amount of the surface area of the second conductive element, wherein the uninsulated surface area of the second conductive element acts as a second electrode; wherein the uninsulated surface areas of the at least one conductive element and the second conductive element provides a substantially uniform electric field density.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for applying energy to cause shrinkage of a vein to reduce hemorrhoids, the apparatus comprising: a guide wire; a catheter having a guide wire lumen and a working end, the guide wire lumen being adapted to accept the guide wire, wherein the catheter is delivered through a venous system over the guide wire contained within the guide wire lumen; means for heating adjacent venous tissue in the vein in order to cause limited shrinkage of the vein and reduce the hemorrhoid.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for applying energy to cause shrinkage of a vein to reduce hemorrhoids, the apparatus comprising: a guide wire; a catheter having a guide wire lumen and a working end, the guide wire lumen being adapted to accept the guide wire, wherein the catheter is delivered through a venous system over the guide wire contained within the guide wire lumen; means for heating adjacent venous tissue in the vein in order to cause limited shrinkage of the vein and reduce the hemorrhoid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the guide wire lumen is insulated for preventing electrical coupling between the guide wire and the means for heating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for placing the at least one electrode in apposition with the vein wall to heat the vein wall in a directional manner so as to cause preferential heating of the vein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising at least one elongate element having an area for accommodating the means for heating; wherein the elongate element is bowable to define a diameter at the working end of the catheter, and the shrinkage of the vein is limited to the diameter defined by the elongate element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a temperature sensor located on the bowable elongate element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the elongate member includes a wire having a round cross-section in order to facilitate flexing of the catheter at the working end.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the wire has a diameter in the range of about 0.005 inches to 0.03 inches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the catheter includes a flexible nosecone tip at the working end to allow the catheter to track over the guide wire and through bends in the vein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the catheter includes a flexible nosecone tip at the working end to allow the catheter to track over the guide wire and through bends in the vein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US373399A
Cited
US659409A
Cited
US833759A
Cited
US985865A
Cited
US3230957A
Cited
US3301258A
Cited
US3557794A
Cited
US4043338A
Cited
US3920021A
Cited
US4016886A
Cited
US4119102A
Cited
US4312364A
Cited
US4154246A
Cited
US4346715A
Cited
US4522205A
Cited
EP0189329A2
Cited
DE3516830A1
Cited
US4658836A
Cited
US4660571A
Cited
US4699147A
Cited
US4776349A
Cited
US4643186A
Cited
US4664120A
Cited
US5057106A
Cited
US4823812A
Cited
US4709698A
Cited
US5215103A
Cited
US5397339A
Cited
US4765331A
Cited
US4807620A
Cited
US5010894A
Cited
US4966597A
Cited
US4945912A
Cited
WO1990007303A1
Cited
US4979948A
Cited
US5078717A
Cited
US5098431A
Cited
US5057107A
Cited
US4976711A
Cited
US5117828A
Cited
US5122137A
Cited
US5188602A
Cited
WO1992012681A1
Cited
US5465717A
Cited
US5449381A
Cited
US5156151A
Cited
US5275610A
Cited
US5255678A
Cited
US5383917A
Cited
US5419767A
Cited
US5263493A
Cited
WO1993021846A1
Cited
US5411025A
Cited
EP0629382A1
Cited
US5293869A
Cited
WO1994007446A1
Cited
US5545161A
Cited
WO1994021170A1
Cited
US5405322A
Cited
US5409000A
Cited
WO1995010236A1
Cited
WO1995010322A1
Cited
WO1995010978A1
Cited
US5472441A
Cited
US5437664A
Cited
US5556396A
Cited
US5423815A
Cited
US5458596A
Cited
WO1995031142A1
Cited
US5505730A
Cited
US5836947A
Cited
US5514130A
Cited
EP0738501A1
Cited
US5868740A
Cited
WO1996032885A1
Cited
US5626578A
Cited
US5709224A
Cited
US5810804A
Cited
US5863290A
Cited
WO1997006739A2
Cited
US5817092A
Cited
WO1997017892A1
Cited
US5827268A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-31 | 2004-05-01 | 2004-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-31 | 2008-05-01 | 2008-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-31 | 2012-05-01 | 2012-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |