Patent US1800797A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6258087B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Expandable electrode assemblies for forming lesions to treat dysfunction in sphincters and adjoining tissue regions
Assignee: Mederi Rf LLC
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Filing: 1999-05-04
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Granted: 2001-07-10
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Expires: 2019-05-04
Abstract
Abstract Expandable assemblies for treating a tissue region at or near a sphincter comprises a support basket formed from an array of spines. A mechanism flexes the spines to expand and collapse the basket. Electrodes carried by the spines for advancement in a path to penetrate the tissue region upon expansion of the basket. The basket can be formed from a mechanical array of molded, jointed spines, or from an extruded tube having axial slits forming the spines.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart Edwards
- 👤 John Gaiser
- 👤 David Utley
- 👤 Scott West
- 👤 Jay Chin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/1206; A61B18/14; A61B18/1477; A61B18/1485; A61B18/1492; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00077; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00148; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/00232; A61B2018/0025; A61B2018/00261; A61B2018/00267; A61B2018/00273; A61B2018/00279; A61B2018/00285; A61B2018/00291; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00553; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00642; A61B2018/00654; A61B2018/0066; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00755; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00815; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/00898; A61B2018/044; A61B2018/046; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1425; A61B2018/1475; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61B2218/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
An assembly for treating a tissue region at or near a sphincter comprising a support structure comprising an array of jointed spines having proximal and distal ends joined to form a basket, at least one of the jointed spines including a molded hinge about which flexure occurs, a mechanism to flex the jointed spines to expand and collapse the basket, and electrodes carried by the jointed spines for advancement in a path to penetrate the tissue region upon expansion of the basket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
An assembly for treating a tissue region at or near a sphincter comprising a support structure comprising an array of jointed spines having proximal and distal ends joined to form a basket, at least one of the jointed spines including a molded hinge about which flexure occurs, a mechanism to flex the jointed spines to expand and collapse the basket, and electrodes carried by the jointed spines for advancement in a path to penetrate the tissue region upon expansion of the basket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
An assembly for treating a tissue region at or near a sphincter comprising a support structure comprising an array of jointed spines having proximal and distal ends joined to form a basket, at least one of the jointed spines including a mechanical hinge about which flexure occurs, a mechanism to flex the jointed spines to expand and collapse the basket, and electrodes carried by the jointed spines for advancement in a path to penetrate the tissue region upon expansion of the basket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
An assembly for treating a tissue region at or near a sphincter comprising a support structure comprising an array of jointed spines having proximal and distal ends joined to form a basket, at least one of the jointed spines including a mechanical hinge about which flexure occurs, a mechanism to flex the jointed spines to expand and collapse the basket, and electrodes carried by the jointed spines for advancement in a path to penetrate the tissue region upon expansion of the basket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises an integrally molded part of the respective spine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein at least one of the electrodes is secured to the respective spine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the mechanism comprises a pull wire attached to the distal ends of the spines to draw the distal ends toward the proximal ends, thereby flexing the jointed spines outward to expand the basket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the mechanism comprises a push wire attached to the proximal ends of the spines to advance the proximal ends toward the distal ends, thereby flexing the jointed spines outward to expand the basket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein, when the basket is collapsed, the electrodes nest within the jointed spines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein, as the basket expands, the electrodes swing relative to the jointed spines in the path to penetrate tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein at least four electrodes are carried in a circumferentially spaced apart relationship by the spines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein eight electrodes are carried in a circumferentially spaced apart relationship by the spines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly according to claim 1 or 2 further including a connector to couple the electrodes to a source of radio frequency energy to ohmically heat tissue and create lesions in the tissue region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
An assembly for treating a tissue region at or near a sphincter comprising a support structure comprising an extruded tube having axial slits forming an array of spines forming a basket, a mechanism to flex the spines to expand and collapse the basket, and electrodes carried by the spines for advancement in a path to penetrate the tissue region upon expansion of the basket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
An assembly for treating a tissue region at or near a sphincter comprising a support structure comprising an extruded tube having axial slits forming an array of spines forming a basket, a mechanism to flex the spines to expand and collapse the basket, and electrodes carried by the spines for advancement in a path to penetrate the tissue region upon expansion of the basket.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assembly according to claim 12 wherein at least one of the electrodes is carried in a co-extruded lumen in a wall of the tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assembly according to claim 12 wherein the extruded tube includes a proximal end and a distal end free of slits.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly according to claim 14 wherein the mechanism comprises a pull wire attached to the distal end of the extruded tube to draw the distal end toward the proximal end, thereby flexing the spines outward to expand the basket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly according to claim 14 wherein the mechanism comprises a push wire attached to the proximal end of the extruded tube to advance the proximal end toward the distal end, thereby flexing the spines outward to expand the basket.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly according to claim 12 wherein at least four electrodes are carried in a circumferentially spaced apart relationship by the spines.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly according to claim 12 wherein eight electrodes are carried in a circumferentially spaced apart relationship by the spines.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly according to claim 12 further including a connector to couple the electrodes to a source of radio frequency energy to ohmically heat tissue and create lesions in the tissue region.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly according to claim 12 further including a co-extruded lumen in a wall of the extruded tube attachable to a fluid source and having an outlet to dispense fluid into heat conductive contact with tissue in the tissue region.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly according to claim 12 further including a co-extruded lumen in a wall of the extruded tube attachable to an aspiration source and having an inlet to remove fluid from the tissue region.
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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) | 2004-07-09 | 2005-01-08 | 2005-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-09 | 2009-01-08 | 2009-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-09 | 2013-01-08 | 2013-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |