238 results about "Invasive treatments" patented technology

An apparatus and method for minimally invasive treatment of deep subcutaneous fat deposits in lieu of cosmetic surgery is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a high voltage pulse generator connected to two or more needle electrodes at least one of which is configured for placement deeply under the skin in a treatment site of the patient's body. High voltage pulses, delivered to the electrodes, create an electric field that kills subcutaneous fat cells.

An apparatus and method for non-invasive treatment in lieu of cosmetic surgery is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a combination of a high and low voltage pulse generators connected to two or more electrodes placed on a treatment site of the patient's body. High voltage pulses, delivered to the electrodes, create an electric field that kills subcutaneous fat cells. Low voltage pulses, delivered to the same or individual electrodes provide transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), blocking the signals of discomfort or pain that may arise from the high voltage pulsing.

Spinal stabilization devices and their methods of insertion and use to treat degenerated lumbar, thoracic or cervical spinal discs in minimally invasive, outpatient procedures are described. In one embodiment, the spinal stabilization device is an expandable cage made of a coil or perforated cylindrical tube with a bulbous or bullet-shaped distal end and a flat or rounded proximal end. In a preferred embodiment, the spinal stabilization device is mechanically expanded to a larger diameter or is made of a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy which is thermally programmed to expand to a relatively larger diameter when a pre-determined transition temperature below body temperature is reached. To treat a degenerated disc, a guide wire is inserted into the disc and an endoscope is inserted through a posterolateral puncture in the back and advanced up to the facet of the spine. Mechanical tools or laser energy, under endoscopic visualization, are used to remove or vaporize a portion of the facet bone, creating an opening into the foraminal space in the spine for insertion of an endoscope, which enables the disc, vertebra and nerves to be seen. The passageway is expanded, mechanical tools or laser of RF energy are used to make a tunnel into the disc, and a delivery cannula is inserted up to the opening of the tunnel. An insertion tool is used to insert one or more spinal stabilization devices into the tunnel in the disc, preserving the mobility of the spine, while maintaining the proper space between the vertebra. Laser or radio frequency (RF) energy is used to coagulate bleeding, vaporize or remove debris and shrink the annulus of the disc to close, at least partially, the tunnel made in the disc.

Methods and devices transmit micromechanical forces locally on the millimeter to micron scale for promoting wound healing. Micromechanical forces can selectively be applied directly to tissue, in some embodiments, by using microchambers fluidically connected to microchannels. Each chamber, or in some cases, group of chambers, may be associated with a valve to control vacuum pressure, positive pressure, liquid delivery, and / or liquid removal from each chamber or group of chambers. Application of embodiments of the invention may shorten wound-healing time, reduce costs of therapy, enable restoration of functional tissue, and reduce the need for more invasive therapies, including surgery.

A system for non-invasive treatment of a patient's trabecular meshwork to treat primary open-angle glaucoma. The system and technique applies energy directly to media within clogged spaces in a patient's trabecular meshwork to increase aqueous outflow facility by (i) localization of microimplantable bodies carrying a selected exogenous chromophore, such as particles with a gold surface, in deeper regions of the trabecular meshwork, and (ii) irradiation of the microimplantables with a selected coherent wavelength having a power level and pulse duration that is strongly absorbed by the surfaces of the microimplantables.

The invention provides systems for automatically localizing areas of disease within a tissue sample using fluorescence spectra, reflectance spectra, and video images obtained from the sample. The invention further provides systems for displaying, marking, and treating the identified areas so that healthy surrounding tissue suffers minimal impact upon treatment and / or excision of the diseased tissue. The invention facilitates minimally-invasive treatment by accurately directing treatment to only those areas that are identified as diseased.

A noninvasive or minimally invasive treatment of cardiac arrhythmia such as supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, specifically atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, by treating the tissue with heat produced by ultrasound, (including High Intensity Focused Ultrasound or HIFU) intended to have a biological and / or therapeutic effect, so as to interrupt or remodel the electrical substrate in the tissue area that supports arrhythmia.

Implants and methods for bone treatment, preferably minimally invasive treatment, including repositioning of vertebrae may comprise insertion of a bobbin having a wire, string, thread or band, coiled around the bobbin. During coiling, the diameter of the bobbing / band complex may increase. Such increase in diameter can push against the inner side of the endplates of the vertebral body, and augment the vertebral body to its original height. The implant may also take the form of a coiled sleeve which when inserted into the vertebral body is uncoiled. The force of the uncoiling sleeve pushes against the inner side o the endplates of the vertebral body, restoring the vertebral body to its original height. The implant may also take the form of fibrous masses comprised of a thread or other relatively thin structure, for example a fiber or strand, of any biocompatible material having desired characteristics, for example a shape memory alloy, titanium, stainless steel, another metal or metal alloy, a ceramic, a composite or any combination thereof. The, strand, thread or other fiber may be coiled, woven, matted, tangled or otherwise formed into a wool-like mass or body having a desired configuration. Expansion of the expandable member within the vertebral body or other bone may reposition the fractured bone to a desired height and augment the bone to maintain the desired height. A bone cement or other filler can be added to further treat and stabilize the vertebral body or other bone.

Disclosed is a treatment planning method that can be used to maximize the effectiveness of minimally invasive treatment on a patient. Pursuant to the treatment planning method, the presence of lung disease, such as emphysema, is first identified, followed by a determination of the distribution and extent of damage of the disease, followed by a determination of whether the patient is suitable for treatment, and a determination of the appropriate strategy for treatment for a suitable patient.

An apparatus and method for non-invasive treatment in lieu of cosmetic surgery is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a combination of a high and low voltage pulse generators connected to two or more electrodes placed on a treatment site of the patient's body. High voltage pulses, delivered to the electrodes, create an electric field that kills subcutaneous fat cells. Low voltage pulses, delivered to the same or individual electrodes provide transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), blocking the signals of discomfort or pain that may arise from the high voltage pulsing.

Various methods and devices for minimally invasive treatment and prevention of conditions of the fascia are provided. In one aspect, a method includes providing an acoustic wave source effective to deliver a focused acoustic wave to a target site within a patient's body, and focusing an acoustic wave through a patient's skin such that at least one location in the patient's fascia is fenestrated in a desired pattern.

The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for noninvasive and minimally-invasive treatment of skin and subcutaneous tissues with ultrasound with or without nano- or microparticles. The treatment includes, but is not limited to, hair removal, skin rejuvenation (wrinkle removal), scar removal, treatment of spider veins and varicose veins, removal of birthmarks, acne treatment, wound treatment, abnormal pigmentation and stretch mark removal, abnormal tissues in skin and subcutaneous layers, and tattoo removal. Skin and subcutaneous tissues which can be treated with the methods described include, but are not limited to, the dermis, epidermis, subcutaneous fat, connective tissue, muscle tissue, blood vessels, scar tissues, tendons, and cartilage tissues, and abnormal tissues in skin and subcutaneous layers. The disclosure is especially applicable to hair removal and skin rejuvenation.

An apparatus and method for minimally invasive treatment of deep subcutaneous fat deposits in lieu of cosmetic surgery is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a high voltage pulse generator connected to two or more needle electrodes at least one of which is configured for placement deeply under the skin in a treatment site of the patient's body. High voltage pulses, delivered to the electrodes, create an electric field that kills subcutaneous fat cells.

The invention provides a device for applying a non-invasive therapeutically reproducible pressure massage to skin and underlying tissues of the animal body. A Continuous Pressure Technique device and fitted attachable accessory components are provided for use with massage therapy on for a variety of target tissues of the patient body. Said accessory components include features allowing the induction of a therapeutically adequate profound pressure with relatively little effort enabling a therapist to treat a number of treatment targets, and a number of patients without excessive fatigue to the therapist. The provided CPT device provides for the capability of remotely determining pressure applied to the patient body simultaneously with use of the device.

The instant invention is a novel method for definitive pelvic stabilization. The method uses the already established principles of anterior external fixation combined with internal hardware placed in a minimally invasive fashion. Pedicle screws are affixed to the ilia and a rigid, bowed fixation rod is connected between the pedicle screws. Preferably the pedicle screws are attached to the supra-acetabular area of each of the ilium of the pelvis and the fixation rod is bowed anteriorly away from the pelvis.

A method and system for controlling inflammatory response at an internal tissue site of a patient utilizes a reduced-pressure treatment device. Controlling the inflammatory response may be accomplished in a number of ways that involve treating the inflammatory milieu. Treating the inflammatory milieu may include removing or moderating pro-inflammatory stimuli, e.g., fluids, enhancing perfusion of the tissue at or near the internal tissue site, or providing reduced-pressure therapy. The reduced-pressure treatment device is placed at or near the internal tissue site and is fluidly coupled to an external reduced-pressure source. The reduced-pressure treatment device provides reduced pressure proximate the tissue site and treats the inflammatory milieu. The reduced-pressure treatment device for controlling inflammatory response may be a minimally-invasive treatment device.

A noninvasive or minimally invasive treatment of infarct areas of the heart with High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) emitted without respect to the timing or phase of the cardiac cycle, intended to remodel cardiac tissue by inducing angiogenesis and / or the formation of myocytes to improve cardiac function.

A dual-mode, capable of imaging and ablation, ultrasound array integrated in a catheter is provided for minimally invasive treatment of arrhythmias. The catheter array is small enough for insertion through a peripheral vein and is longitudinally integrated with the catheter to have a side-view for tissue imaging and ablation. A high length / width array ratio creates a large aperture necessary for high power ablation densities. A catheter stabilization device maintains a distance between the catheter array and the wall of a heart or vein. Visualization of anatomy and imaging of ablated tissue provides a guide for placing the lesion and assists in achieving a pattern of ablated tissue. The catheter is advanced to another area by catheter rotation and / or array steering or focusing. Gating the imaging and ablation processes to a heart cycle allows for accounting and compensation of heart motion and enables automation of an arrhythmia treatment.

Non-invasive inactivation of nerve conduction in a treatment region of a mammalian subject as, for example, a region encompassing a renal artery. A therapeutic ultrasound transducer (31) is engaged with the body of the subject outside of the treatment region, preferably with the skin of the subject in proximity to the treatment region (10). The transducer is actuated to transmit therapeutically effective softly focused ultrasound energy at a level which brings tissues throughout a relatively large impact volume (22), desirably 1 cm3 or larger, to a temperature sufficient to inactivate conduction nerves but insufficient to cause rapid necrosis. The impact volume can be aligned with the treatment region using imaging techniques. The treatment can be applied without imaging or precisely locating individual nerves, and can be used, for example, to inactive renal nerves in treatment of hypertension.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may be used as a minimally invasive treatment of solid tumors, typically cancers of the liver, lung, breast, kidney and bone, most often via a percutaneous approach. In RFA tumor tissue is killed by heating. RFA requires guidance using an imaging method to correctly position the RF applicator. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used for guidance, and offers the additional advantage of the ability to image tissue temperature. Because MRI employs high power RF fields, the MRI scanner could serve as the source of RF energy for ablation. Described herein are an MRI-driven RF ablation device and method. The device has minimal electrical circuitry, and uses the MR scanner radio frequency field as the energy source to generate heat in tissue using an antenna and a needle. Based on the Faraday induction law, different embodiments for coupling the body coil RF energy into tissue are disclosed.

A catheter introduces electrodes in a vein for a minimally invasive treatment of venous insufficiency by the application of energy to cause selective heating of the vein. The catheter is positioned within the vein to be treated, and the electrodes on the catheter are moved toward one side of the vein. RF energy is applied in a directional manner from the electrodes at the working end of the catheter to cause localized heating and corresponding shrinkage of the adjacent venous tissue, which may include commissures, leaflets and ostia. Fluoroscopy or ultrasound may be used to detect shrinkage of the vein. After treating one section of the vein, the catheter can be repositioned to place the electrodes to treat different sections of the vein until all desired venous valves are repaired and rendered functionally competent.

The instant invention is a novel method for construct for temporary or definitive pelvic stabilization. The method uses the already established principles of anterior external fixation combined with internal hardware placed in a minimally invasive fashion. Fixation means are affixed to the ilia in the supra-acetabular position and a rigid, subcutaneous anteriorly bowed elongated plate is connected between the fixation means.

A method for non-invasive treatment of cardiac arrhythmias is provided. The method includes acquiring body surface electrical signals at locations on a body surface of a living being from electrodes placed on locations of the body surface, reconstructing three-dimensional heart and torso anatomical models of the living being from an imaging scan, and calculating an electrical activity a throughout three-dimensional volume of the heart by electrocardiogram inverse problem solving based at least in part on the acquired body surface electrical signals and the reconstructed three-dimensional heart and torso anatomical models. The method also includes identifying at least one location of at least one site of origin of a cardiac arrhythmia according to the calculated electrical activity within the heart, and delivering focused energy to the identified at least one location of the at least one site of origin of the cardiac arrhythmia.

The present invention provides improved systems and methods for the minimally invasive treatment of heart tissue deficiency, damage and / or loss, especially in patients suffering from disorders characterized by insufficient cardiac function, such as congestive heart failure or myocardial infarction. In certain embodiments, a cell composition comprising autologous skeletal myoblasts and, optionally, fibroblasts, cardiomyocytes and / or stem cells, is delivered to a subject's myocardium at or near the site of tissue deficiency, damage or loss, using an intravascular catheter with a deployable needle. Preferably, the cell transplantation is performed after identifying a region of the subject's myocardium in need of treatment. The inventive procedure, which can be repeated several times over time, results in improved structural and / or functional properties of the region treated, as well as in improved overall cardiac function. In particular, the inventive therapeutic methods may be performed on patients that have previously undergone CABG or LVAD implantation.

The instant invention is a novel method for construct for temporary or definitive pelvic stabilization. The method uses the already established principles of anterior external fixation combined with internal hardware placed in a minimally invasive fashion. Fixation means are affixed to the ilia and both a rigid, subcutaneous anteriorly bowed elongated plate and a subcutaneous posterior plate are connected between the fixation means.

Featured are a biocompatible, injectable, self-setting, cohesive, bone-bonding and remodeling calcium phosphate composite material and its use in methods of repairing defective bone, e.g., in vertebroplasty augmentation and kyphoplasty.

The instant invention is a novel method for construct for temporary or definitive pelvic stabilization. The method uses the already established principles of anterior external fixation combined with internal hardware placed in a minimally invasive fashion. Fixation means are affixed to the ilia in the supra-acetabular position and a rigid, subcutaneous anteriorly bowed elongated plate is connected between the fixation means.