Patent classifications
A61B2018/00488
Catheter with a double balloon structure to generate and apply an ablative zone to tissue
Ablation catheters and systems include coaxial catheter shafts with an inner lumen for delivering an ablative agent and an outer lumen for circulation of a cooling element about the catheter. Induction heating is used to heat a chamber and vaporize a fluid within by wrapping a coil about a ferromagnetic chamber and providing an alternating current to the coil. A magnetic field is created in the area surrounding the chamber which induces electric current flow in the chamber, heating the chamber and vaporizing the fluid inside. Positioning elements help maintain the device in the proper position with respect to the target tissue and also prevent the passage of ablative agent to normal tissues.
NON-INVASIVE UNIFORM AND NON-UNIFORM RF METHODS AND SYSTEMS
Systems and methods utilizing RF energy to treat a patient's skin (e.g., dermis and hypodermis) or other target tissue including at a depth below a tissue surface (e.g., skin surface, mucosal surfaces of the vagina or esophagus) are provided herein. In various aspects, the methods and systems described herein can provide a RF-based treatment in which the deposition of RF energy can be selectively controlled to help ensure heating uniformity during one or more of body sculpting treatment (lipolysis), skin tightening treatment (laxity improvement), cellulite treatment, vaginal laxity or rejuvenation treatment, urinary incontinence treatment, fecal incontinence treatment, all by way of non-limiting examples. In various aspects, the systems can comprise one or more sources of RF energy (e.g., a RF generator), a treatment applicator comprising one or more electrode arrays configured to be disposed in contact with a tissue surface, and a return electrode (e.g., a neutral pad) to the tissue surface.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING TISSUE WITH RADIOFREQUENCY ENERGY
A device for applying radiofrequency energy for sphincter treatment comprising a flexible outer tube, an expandable basket having a plurality of arms movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position, and a plurality of electrodes movable with respect to the arms from a retracted position to an extended position. An advancer is slidably disposed within the outer tube to move the plurality of electrodes to the extended position. An actuator moves the advancer from a first position to a second position to advance the plurality of electrodes. An aspiration tube extends within the outer tube. An assembly includes an aspiration disabler having a first position to enable aspiration from a distal portion of the aspiration tube to a proximal portion and a second position to disable aspiration.
MEDICAL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND RELATED METHODS
A medical device system includes an insertion device and a medical device. The insertion device includes an insertion device handle, including a port on a handle body. The insertion device also includes an insertion device shaft extending from the insertion device handle. The insertion device shaft includes a working channel connected to the port. The medical device includes a medical device handle, including a movable handle portion and a stationary handle portion. The movable handle portion includes a ball portion movably positioned within a cavity in the stationary handle portion. The medical device also includes a medical device shaft. The medical device shaft is configured to be delivered through the port in the insertion device handle and through the working channel in the insertion device shaft. Movement of the movable handle portion relative to the stationary handle portion controls movement of a distal portion of the medical device shaft.
CONTROLLING ESOPHAGEAL TEMPERATURE DURING CARDIAC ABLATION
A flexible catheter is inserted into the esophagus to cool or warm the esophagus, particularly during certain procedures which can tend to change the temperature in the area of the esophagus. The catheter is inserted through the mouth and throat to a position, for example, proximate the heart, but within the esophagus. One or more balloons are inflated to block areas of the esophagus, while a gel is injected into the esophagus where it is immobilized by the one or more balloons. A coolant is pumped through a coolant tube affixed to the catheter, where it exchanges heat with the conductive gel.
Devices and methods for guiding instruments
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods to guide delivery devices and instruments. Exemplary instrument guides, including for endoscopes as delivery devices for cryogen delivery catheters and to guide cryogen decompression tubes as instruments, and methods for use of such instrument guides for use in body lumens at treatment sites, are disclosed.
Pediatric nasal endoscope, gastroscope and aerodigestive scope
TNE provides the opportunity to make the care of children with EoE and other gastrointestinal or aerodigestive conditions safer, more efficient, and less costly while simultaneously advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology and natural course of this condition. A pediatric endoscope was developed to facilitate TNE in children with EoE. The pediatric endoscope (combined gastroscope, bronchoscope, laryngoscope) includes a 3-4 mm flexible, fiber optic endoscope that allows HD TV viewing with the head of a pediatric bronchoscope that allows four way tip deflection, a scope stiffening apparatus to minimize the endoscopes flexibility when needed, a foot and hand activation to allow air/water insufflation and image/video capture, a light source, 2 mm biopsy channel.
APPLYING PULSED ELECTRIC FIELDS IN THE TREATMENT OF NEURAL DISORDERS
Damaged, diseased, abnormal, obstructive, cancerous or undesired neural tissue treated by delivering specialized pulsed electric field (PEF) energy to target tissue areas. In some instances, the target tissue includes a tumor, a benign tumor, a malignant tumor, a cyst, or an area of diseased tissue. Most brain and spinal cord tumors develop from glial cells. These tumors are sometimes referred to as a group called gliomas. They arise from the supporting cells of the brain, called the glia. These cells are subdivided into astrocytes, ependymal cells and oligodendroglial cells (or oligos). One difficulty in the treatment of gliomas is that they are behind the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-tumor barrier (BTB) which leads to poor delivery of anti-cancer drugs or immune agents to the tumor-infiltrated brain. Devices, systems and methods are provided that treat the tumor directly, such as by ablation, and optionally transiently disrupt the BBB coupled with adjuvant antibody, biologic, or other pharmaceutical interventions.
Intra-esophageal balloon system
A balloon is provided for selectively moving an esophagus away from an ablation site. The balloon is received through an oral cavity and into the esophagus of a patient. A deflecting member is provided in the tube, the balloon, or both, so as to selectively distort to bend the balloon and/or the tube to move the esophagus away from the ablation site. The deflecting member may comprise at least one of a strip made of a shape memory material that is responsive to the receipt of a stimulus to deflect to a predetermined shape, a strip that is made of or contains a ferrous material and that deflects in response to the presence of a magnetic field, and a selectively tensionable cable, wire, or string. The deflecting member may be supplemented by a stiffening strip that is located in the balloon and that causes the balloon to expand circumferentially and asymmetrically when inflated.
MEDICAL PUNCHING/CAUTERIZING DEVICE
A medical punching/cauterizing device includes a handle having a body, a cap detachably coupled to a front portion of the body, a connection terminal coupled to the body and electrically connected to a power supply means, a conductor provided in the front portion of the body and having one end electrically connected to the connection terminal, and a guide wire provided on a front portion of the handle and having one end electrically connected to the conductor.