98 results about "Esophageal sphincter" patented technology

Several methods and apparatus are available for treating patients that suffer from both gastro-esophageal reflux disorder and hiatal hernias. In order to treat these patients, an endoscopic probe may be used to push the herniated stomach below the diaphragm. In some embodiments, a two-part stent comprising a funnel stent and a reverse stent may be deployed to prevent a future re-herniation of the stomach and to reduce the annulus of the lower esophageal sphincter. In some embodiments, a reverse stent with perforating barbs may be deployed, in which the barbs penetrate the esophageal wall and attach to the diaphragm. In some embodiments, the crus muscles may be sutured together to reduce the hiatus size and a reverse stent may be deployed to reduce the annulus of the lower esophageal sphincter.

The present invention comprises a method of treating a sphincter that provides a sphincter electropotential mapping device with at least one of a mapping electrode or a treatment electrode. The sphincter electropotential mapping device is introduced into at least a portion of the sphincter, the lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, the cardia or the fundus. Bioelectric activity causing a relaxation of the sphincter is detected and energy is delivered from either the mapping electrode or the treatment electrode to treat the bioelectric activity.

In another embodiment of the method of the invention, a method of treating a sphincter that provides a sphincter electropotential mapping device with at least one of a mapping electrode or a treatment electrode. The sphincter electropotential mapping device is introduced into at least a portion of the sphincter, the lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, the cardia or the fundus. The sphincter, lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, cardia or fundus is stimulated to produce a transient relaxation of the sphincter. The portion of the sphincter, lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, cardia or fundus causing a relaxation of the sphincter is indentified. Energy is delivered from the sphincter electropotential mapping device to treat the portion the sphincter, lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, cardia or fundus causing the transient relaxation of the sphincter.

The present invention includes a method and apparatus for adhering tissue to one another. In an embodiment of the present invention the two tissues to be joined, for example the lower esophagus and the fundus of the stomach, are first placed adjacent to one another. Next a first restraint is placed near the outside surface of one of the tissues and a second restraint is placed near the outside surface of the other tissue. An irritant is then placed between the two adjacent tissues. The restraints, and consequently the tissue surfaces, are then drawn together. As the touching irritated tissue surfaces heal they will become bonded to one another and their need for the mechanical fastening of the restraints, to secure them together, will be diminished.

A lower esophageal sphincter tightening device for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease which includes an insertion device, an energy source, and an energy transmitting device. The insertion device, by insertion through a body opening, positions the energy transmitting device in the proximity of the lower esophageal sphincter. The energy source generates and transmits energy via the insertion device to the energy transmitting device which directs the transmitted energy onto the lower esophageal sphincter which is comprised largely of collagen. The energy source transmits energy at a level sufficient to cause heating of the sphincter's collagen resulting in a shrinkage of the collagen and a tightening of the sphincter.

The present specification discloses devices and methodologies for the treatment of diurnal GERD. Individuals with GERD may be treated by implanting a stimulation device within the patient's lower esophageal sphincter and applying electrical stimulation to the patient's lower esophageal sphincter, in accordance with certain predefined protocols. The presently disclosed devices have a simplified design because they do not require sensing systems capable of sensing when a person is engaged in a wet swallow and have improved energy storage requirements.

Instruments for thermally-mediated treatment of a patient's lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to induce an injury healing response to thereby populate the extracellular compartment of walls of the LES with collagen matrices to altere the biomechanics of the LES to provide an increased intra-esophageal pressure for preventing acid reflux. A preferred embodiment is a bougie-type device for trans-esophageal introduction that carries conductive electrodes for delivering Rf energy to walls of the LES (i) to induce the injury healing response or (ii) to "model" collagenous tissues of the LES by shrinking collagen fibers therein. Typically, an Rf source is connected to at least one conductive electrode that may be operated in a mono-polar or bi-polar fashion. A sensor array of individual sensors is provided in the working end. A computer controller is provided, which together with feedback circuitry, is capable of full process monitoring and control of: (i) power delivery; (ii) parameters of a selected therapeutic cycle, (iii) mono-polar or bi-polar energy delivery, and (iv) multiplexing of current flow between various paired electrodes. The controller can determine when the treatment is completed based on time, temperature, tissue impedance or any combination thereof.

A first aspect of the present invention is concerned with a double-helix electrode structure for sensing electrical activity of a patient's diaphragm, comprising first and second helical electrodes disposed in a double-helix arrangement for being positioned in the gastro-esophageal sphincter of the patient's diaphragm in view of sensing electrical activity of the patient's diaphragm. According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a pressure detection and acquisition device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a pressure sensor implemented on the semiconductor substrate and producing, when subjected to an external pressure, a pressure representative signal, and a signal acquisition and transmission circuit integrated to the semiconductor substrate, connected to the pressure sensor, and supplied with the pressure representative signal. Other aspects of the present invention relate to an EMG_di signal and pressure acquisition catheter.

The present specification discloses devices and methodologies for the treatment of nocturnal GERD. Individuals with nocturnal GERD may be treated by implanting a stimulation device within the patient's lower esophageal sphincter and applying electrical stimulation to the patient's lower esophageal sphincter, in accordance with certain predefined protocols. The presently disclosed devices have a simplified design because they do not require sensing systems capable of sensing when a person is engaged in a wet swallow and have improved energy storage requirements.

Methods and apparatus for treating gastroesophageal reflex and other luminal conditions provide for delivering acoustic energy to a body lumen to remodel tissue surrounding the body lumen. In the case of treating GERD, a catheter carrying an ultrasonic or other vibrational transducer is introduced to the lower esophageal sphincter, and acoustic energy is delivered to the sphincter in order to tighten or bulk the sphincter such that reflex is reduced.

The teachings are directed to an intragastric device comprising a flexible and expandable bladder having a predetermined shape upon expansion for contacting the antrum of the stomach of a subject. The device is designed to avoid passage of any part of the device beyond the pylorus and lower esophageal sphincter while the bladder is expanded during use. In these embodiments, the bladder can contain a high specific gravity material when expanded; wherein, the high specific gravity material contributes to an in vivo specific gravity of the device that ranges from about 1.2 g/ml to about 2.1 g/ml and functions to direct the device to the pyloric antrum of the subject during use of the device. Moreover, these embodiments can include a filling material comprising a biocompatible fluid component and a hydrogel component to make the device substantially leakproof and contribute to the in vivo specific gravity of the device.

The present specification discloses devices and methodologies for the treatment of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (tLESRs). Individuals with tLESRs may be treated by implanting a stimulation device within the patient's lower esophageal sphincter and applying electrical stimulation to the patient's lower esophageal sphincter, in accordance with certain predefined protocols. The presently disclosed devices have a simplified design because they do not require sensing systems capable of sensing when a person is engaged in a wet swallow and have improved energy storage requirements.

An apparatus and method are disclosed for measuring the compliance of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the apparatus comprises a catheter having a plurality of extendable members disposed therealong for both measuring the compliance of the LES and stimulating the esophagus which relaxes the LES to obtain a more clinically relevant measurement of LES compliance. In one embodiment, the plurality of extendable members include a first balloon which is located and inflated within the esophagus to trigger esophageal motility, a second, non-elastic balloon that is positioned within the LES, and a third balloon which is inflated within the stomach to help align the second balloon with LES. Incrementally increasing volumes of air are introduced into the second balloon, with the resulting pressures exerted by the LES calculated and compared to normative values to assess the condition of the LES.

A variety of passive intragastric implant devices for obesity treatment are disclosed. Such passive devices do not autonomously change shape, but instead react within the stomach to induce satiety. The devices may take up volume within the stomach, thus reducing the intake capacity. Additionally, the devices may contact areas within the stomach, such as the cardia surrounding the esophageal sphincter, or the greater and lesser curvatures in the middle of the stomach, to stimulate satiety-inducing nerves. Some devices may combine two or more of these satiety-inducing features. Methods of implant are disclosed including compressing the devices within a delivery tube and transorally advancing the devices through the esophagus to be deployed within the stomach. Removal of the devices occurs in the reverse.

A sphincter treatment apparatus has an introducer means including a distal portion means. An expandable device means includes a plurality of arm means. Each arm means of the plurality has a distal section means and a proximal section means. Each of distal sections means of the arm means are coupled and each of the proximal sections means of the arm means are coupled to the introducer means distal portion means. The expandable device means is configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state. An energy delivery device means is introduceable from the introducer means into a selected site of the sphincter. The energy delivery device means is configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter.

The disclosure describes an endoscopic delivery system that includes an endoscope and a tissue-receiving member. The tissue-receiving member includes an opening to receive the distal end of the endoscope. The tissue-receiving member also defines a tissue-receiving space that receives tissue when vacuum pressure is applied to the space through the endoscope. A tool and/or material may be delivered to the tissue drawn into the tissue-receiving space. The tissue-receiving member may be cap-like, and only receive the distal end of the endoscope, or include an overtube that receives a substantial portion of the endoscope. The system may be used to, for example, deliver tissue bulking devices to a location proximate to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).