Abstract:
The invention provides an apparatus and system for ablation of body structures or tissue in the region of the rectum. A catheter is inserted into the rectum, and an electrode is disposed thereon for emitting energy. The environment for an ablation region is isolated or otherwise controlled by blocking gas or fluid using a pair of inflatable balloons at upstream and downstream locations. Inflatable balloons also serve to anchor the catheter in place. A plurality of electrodes are disposed on the catheter and at least one such electrode is selected and advanced out of the catheter to penetrate and ablate selected tissue inside the body in the region of the rectum. The electrodes are coupled to sensors to determine control parameters of the body structure or tissue, and which are used by feedback technique to control delivery of energy for ablation or fluids for cooling or hydration. The catheter includes an optical path disposed for coupling to an external view piece, so as to allow medical personnel to view or control positioning of the catheter and operation of the electrodes. The catheter is disposed to deliver flowable substances for aiding in ablation, or for aiding in repair of tissue, such as collagen or another substance for covering lesions or for filling fissures. The flowable substances are delivered using at least one lumen in the catheter, either from at least one hole in the catheter, from an area of the catheter covered by a microporous membrane, or from microporous balloons.
Abstract:
A sphincter treatment apparatus includes an energy delivery device introduction member including a plurality of arms. Each arm has distal and proximal sections. The distal sections of the arms are coupled as are the proximal sections of the arms. The energy delivery device introduction member is configured to be introduced in the sphincter in a non-deployed state, expand to a deployed state to at least partially dilate the sphincter. A plurality of energy delivery devices are coupled to the energy delivery device introduction member. At least a portion of the plurality of energy delivery devices are controllably introducible from the energy delivery device introduction member into the sphincter.
Abstract:
A UV blocking fabric is provided which includes a fabric, UV blocking particles having a property of deflecting, reflecting, absorbing and/or scattering ultraviolet rays; and a binding agent attaching the UV blocking particles to the fabric. An article of manufacture which includes a fabric, optionally shaped to form an article of clothing, an awning, an umbrella, a sunscreen, a tent, a tarp, a canvas and the like, UV blocking particles having a property of deflecting, reflecting, absorbing and/or scattering ultraviolet rays which may be colored to match or contrast with the color of the fabric; and a binding agent attaching the UV blocking particles to the fabric. The UV blocking particles may be applied to the article of manufacture prior to or after manufacturing the article by immersion methods or by spraying methods.
Abstract:
Apparatus for being held by the human hand for performing refractive keratectomy on the eye of a patient by the use of radio frequency energy from a radio frequency generator. An elongate probe has proximal and distal extremities. The proximal extremity is sized to be grasped by a human hand. The elongate probe has a length so that the distal extremity can be held in close proximity to the cornea while the proximal extremity is held by the human hand. An energy delivery member is carried by the distal extremity. Conductors are carried by the elongate probe for conducting radio frequency from the generator to the energy delivery member. A dispersive member is carried by the energy delivery member for dispersing the radio frequency energy from the energy delivery member and applies the energy to the cornea to remove a portion of said cornea in order to reshape the cornea and improve vision.
Abstract:
An apparatus to treat an uterus includes an expandable member configured to be positioned in a uterine cavity in a non-deployed, state, receive an expansion media and extend to a deployed state. At least a portion of the expansion media is released through an expandable member exterior surface. Upon removal of at least a portion of the expansion from the expandable member, the expandable member contracts to a non-deployed state. An energy delivery device is coupled to the expandable member. A frame member is positionable in the interior of the expandable member. The frame member includes a first arm coupled to a second arm. The frame member has a non-deployed state and a deployed state where the first and second arms distend away from each other. Each of the expandable member and the frame member have a non-deployed size to be introduced into the uterine cavity. A first thermal sensor member is coupled to the first arm and configured to be advanced from the first arm in the frame member expanded state into an interior of the uterus.
Abstract:
A method of treating a sphincter that provides an expandable basket structure with a first energy delivery device. The basket structure is introduced in a sphincter. The first energy delivery device is advanced from the basket structure into an interior of the sphincter. Sufficient energy is delivered from the first energy delivery device to create a desired tissue effect in the sphincter. Thereafter, the basket structure is removed from the sphincter.
Abstract:
A medical probe device of this invention comprising a catheter having a control end and a probe end. The probe end includes a stylet guide housing having at least one stylet port and stylet guide means for directing a flexible stylet outward through at least one stylet port and through intervening tissue to targeted tissues. A stylet is positioned in at least one of said stylet guide means, the stylet comprising a non-conductive sleeve having a RF electrode lumen and an optional a fluid supply lumen and a temperature sensor lumen therein. At least one portion of an opposed surface of the electrode lumen and the electrode can be spaced apart to define a liquid supply passageway for delivery of medicament liquid. The RF electrode enclosed within the non-conductive sleeve has a distal length optionally having at least one current focusing groove means thereon and a distal tip shaped to focus current crowding on its terminal end, whereby Rf current passing therefrom into surrounding tissue forms a lesion extending outward from the groove and tip. The focusing groove means can be a plurality of annular focusing grooves or a spiral focusing groove thereon.
Abstract:
An apparatus that reduces a volume of a selected site in an interior of the tongue includes a handpiece and an electrode at least partially positioned in the interior of the handpiece. The electrode includes an electrode electromagnetic energy delivery surface and is advance able from the interior of the handpiece into the interior of the tongue. An electrode advancement member is coupled to the electrode and configured to advance the electrode an advancement distance in the interior of the tongue. The advancement distance is sufficient for the electrode electromagnetic energy delivery surface to deliver electromagnetic energy to the selected tissue site and reduce a volume of the selected site without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. A cable is coupled to the electrode.
Abstract:
An electrode assembly for use in interventricular cardiac mapping includes one or more elongated splines each of which carries a plurality of spaced apart electrodes thereon. The body of each spline is formed of a plurality of alternating electrically conductive layers and the electrically non-conductive layers. A separate electrically conductive pathway is provided to connect each of the electrodes to a different one of the conductive layers. Each of the layers is electrically connected to an electrical signal processing device so that signals provided by each of the electrodes can be processed.
Abstract:
A medical probe for the treatment by radio frequency ablation of a target volume in tissue of a human having a urethral channel extending into a base of a bladder along a longitudinal axis. The probe comprises an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities and sized so that it can be introduced into the urethra. The elongate probe member has a passage extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. Guide cannulae are mounted in the passage of the elongate probe member and have proximal and distal extremities with the distal extremities of the guide cannulae being in the vicinity of the distal extremity of the elongate probe member. Each of the guide cannulae has a lumen extending therethrough from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. A radio frequency conductive electrode is disposed in each lumen. A control handle is secured to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member. The control handle is connected to each radio frequency electrode whereby each radio frequency electrode can be advanced and retracted.