Device and method to treat tissue with electric current

US8290582B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University · US

Inventors

• Bryant Lin · Menlo Park, US
• Tatum Tarin · Pittsburgh, US
• Ross Daniel Venook · Burlingame, US
• Peter Hwang · Los Altos, US
• Richard Goode · Los Altos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 26, 2008
• Grant date: Oct 16, 2012
• Expiry date: Nov 12, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2018/00892
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of modifying properties of intrinsic tissue of an organ is provided. The method includes providing an organ, where a first electrode is disposed proximal to the organ first end. The first electrode has a surface area and insulator. A second electrode is disposed opposite the first electrode, where the organ is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second electrode has surface area and surface insulator. An organ-shaping device is provided that is disposed on the organ between the electrodes, where the organ-shaping device deforms the organ middle section along at least one lateral direction between the electrodes. An electric current is provided between the first second electrodes, where a current density gradient is provided by the electrode surface areas and the deformed organ middle section, and the properties of the intrinsic muscle tissue are modified according to the current density gradient.