"Method employing a tissue-heating balloon catheter to produce a ""biological stent"" in an orifice or vessel of a patient's body"
US5992419A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 20, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2/958
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Disclosed are three embodiments of a method for determining the formation of a "biological stent" for permanently maintaining the widened bore portion of the urethra of a male patient undergoing treatment for a disease of the prostate. In this treatment, the bore portion is first temporarily widened by squeezing pressure on urethral tissue thereof applied by an inflated balloon of a microwave balloon catheter inserted in the urethera and then microwave energy sufficient to form the "biological stent" is applied to the urethral tissue. The first embodiment involves noting an observable drop in the measured value of the inflation pressure inflating the balloon when the urethral tissue has been sufficiently heated to effect a noticeable drop in the elasticity of the irradiated urethral tissue. The second embodiment involves a noticeable observable change in the measured value of the reflected microwave power received by the microwave-transmitting antenna when the urethral tissue has been sufficiently heated to effect a noticeable change in the reflectivity of the irradiated urethral tissue. The third embodiment involves a noticeable observable change in the measured value of the trans…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.