US6409723B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Treating body tissue by applying energy and substances
Assignee: Mederi Rf LLC
•
Filing: 1999-04-02
•
Granted: 2002-06-25
•
Expires: 2019-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for treatment for body structures, especially internal body structures involving disorders involving unwanted features or other disorders, that does not require relatively invasive surgery, and is not subject to other drawbacks noted with regard to the known art. A relatively minimally invasive catheter is inserted into the body, treatment of the body structures is applied using the catheter, and the unwanted features or disorders are relatively cured using the applied treatments. The applied treatments can include application of energy or substances, including application of energy (such as of radio frequency energy, microwave energy, or laser or other electromagnetic energy) or substances (such as collagen or other bulking, plumping, or shaping agents; saline or other energy-receiving electrolytes; astringents or other debulking, reducing, or shaping agents; antibiotics or other bioactive, chemoactive, or radioactive compounds). More than one applied treatment can be performed, either in conjunction, in parallel, or seriatim, so as to achieve a combined effect more substantial than any one individual such applied treatment.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart D. Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1477; A61B18/1492; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B17/1613; A61B17/1615; A61B17/1617; A61B17/42; A61B2017/4216; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/0025; A61B2018/00261; A61B2018/00267; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00505; A61B2018/00517; A61B2018/00523; A61B2018/00553; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for treatment of the ingestive end of the gastro-intestinal system including a catheter composed of biologically nonreactive material having a distal and proximal end and a plurality of lumens running the length of the catheter, wherein said catheter is disposed for insertion into the oral cavity or a stoma; a distal balloon mounted circumferentially on said distal end of said catheter; a proximal balloon mounted circumferentially on said proximal end of said catheter; and a treatment element mounted upon said catheter between said distal balloon and said proximal balloon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for treatment of the ingestive end of the gastro-intestinal system including a catheter composed of biologically nonreactive material having a distal and proximal end and a plurality of lumens running the length of the catheter, wherein said catheter is disposed for insertion into the oral cavity or a stoma; a distal balloon mounted circumferentially on said distal end of said catheter; a proximal balloon mounted circumferentially on said proximal end of said catheter; and a treatment element mounted upon said catheter between said distal balloon and said proximal balloon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said treatment element includes a circumferentially mounted balloon, including an indentation, and an electrode mounted in said indentation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 , wherein said electrode delivers a treatment to a tissue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 , wherein said tissue includes an esophagus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 , wherein said indentation isolates said tissue for treatment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein pharmaceutical agents or other liquids can be exuded from said proximal balloon so as to pre-treat a tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein pharmaceutical agents or other liquids can be exuded from said distal balloon so as to pre-treat a tissue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein pharmaceutical agents or other liquids can be exuded from said proximal balloon so as to post-treat a tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein pharmaceutical agents or other liquids can be exuded from said treatment element so as to pre-treat a tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein pharmaceutical agents or other liquids can be exuded from said treatment element so as to post-treat a tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein pharmaceutical agents or other liquids can be exuded from a distal balloon so as to post-treat a tissue.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for treating the ingestive end of the gastro-intestinal system including the steps of: inserting a catheter through a mouth or stoma into an esophagus; isolating an area of an esophagus for treatment by placing an indentation included in a treatment element coupled to said catheter adjacent to a tissue that requires treatment, wherein said area of an esophagus requires treatment for Barrett's; inflating a balloon included in said treatment element; inflating a distal balloon so as to further isolate said tissue; inflating a proximal balloon so as to further isolate said tissue; and deploying an electrode mounted in said indentation to treat said tissue.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for treating the ingestive end of the gastro-intestinal system including the steps of: inserting a catheter through a mouth or stoma into an esophagus; isolating an area of an esophagus for treatment by placing an indentation included in a treatment element coupled to said catheter adjacent to a tissue that requires treatment, wherein said area of an esophagus requires treatment for Barrett's; inflating a balloon included in said treatment element; inflating a distal balloon so as to further isolate said tissue; inflating a proximal balloon so as to further isolate said tissue; and deploying an electrode mounted in said indentation to treat said tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein said step of inflating a distal balloon includes pre-treating a tissue with pharmaceutical agents or other liquids.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein said step of inflating a distal balloon includes a post-treating said tissue with pharmacuetical agents or other liquids.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as inc claim 12 , wherein said step of inflating a proximal balloon includes steps for pre-treating said tissue with pharmaceutical agents or other liquids.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein said step of inflating a proximal balloon includes steps for post treating said tissue with pharmaceutical agents or other liquids.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein said step of deploying an electrode includes exuding an electrolytic solution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein said step of deploying an electrode includes emitting RF energy into said tissue.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6325789B1
Cited
US5454807A
Cited
US5514669A
Cited
US5609591A
Cited
US5405369A
Cited
US5964755A
Cited
US5766234A
Cited
US6077257A
Cited
US6013053A
Cited
US5709653A
Cited
US6027499A
Cited
US6273886B1
Cited
US6159236A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-24 | 2005-12-24 | 2006-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-24 | 2009-12-24 | 2010-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-24 | 2013-12-24 | 2014-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |