Patent · US Expired

Systems and methods for forming composite lesions to treat dysfunction in sphincters and adjoining tissue regions

US6712074B2 · kind B2 · utility

141Cited by
151References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 24, 2002
Grant dateMar 30, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 24, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2218/007
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Systems and methods manipulate a support structure to form a composite lesion in a tissue region at or near a sphincter. The support structure carries an array of electrodes attachable to a source of energy capable of heating tissue when transmitted by the electrodes. The systems and methods advance the electrodes to penetrate the tissue region and form, when the energy is transmitted, a first pattern of lesions. The systems and methods retract the electrodes, and shift the position of the electrodes, either rotationally, or axially, or both rotationally and axially. The systems and methods advance the electrodes a second time to form, when the energy is transmitted, a second pattern of lesions either rotationally or axially or both rotationally and axially shifted from the first pattern of lesions. The first and second patterns of lesion together comprise the composite lesion.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.