Flexible system for delivering an anchor
Inventors
Catanese, III, Joseph • Cheng, Floria • Lamson, Theodore C. • Macatangay, Raul • McLean, Matthew • Ryan, Thomas C. • Tong, Ling-Kang • Tachibana, Brian Y.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12324576-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system and associated method for manipulating tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating diseases or disorders or other purposes. In one aspect, the system includes a delivery device including a flexible portion that is suited to access target anatomy. The flexibility of an elongate portion of the delivery device can be varied. Additionally, the delivery device can include structure that maintains the positioning of the delivery device in patient anatomy.
Core Innovation
The patent describes a flexible anchor-delivery medical system and method for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that includes a flexible elongate delivery member having variable flexibility and a controlled position stability mechanism to maintain longitudinal and lateral placement and address axial deflection during delivery. The system includes an anchor assembly with distal and proximal anchor components and a needle assembly used to deploy the anchor components via a sheath into tissue for tissue approximation and compression, retraction, lifting, or approximating.
The disclosed system uses needle and penetration enabling strategies that compensate for shaft flexibility to allow needle penetration, including counterweight/spring and tension-based strategies, and also includes reversible deployment concepts. The needle deployment is integrated such that advancing a needle from the distal portion is coupled with delivery of distal and proximal anchors, including embodiments such as expandable tips, articulating arms, balloon assemblies, segmented flexible shafts with wire-tension freezing, inflatable shafts, and shape-memory or elastic implant structure configurations.
The patent further describes endoscopic visualization for tracking and viewing the distal portion during delivery and needle advancement, including mirrors and alternative scope optics such as an annular lens, liquid-filled variable lens, and other scope optics. Multiple embodiments are described for maintaining stability and for delivering anchors or prostheses, including structural variations for stability and optional sensing/pressure feedback and therapeutic coatings, including therapeutic coatings for example 5-alpha-reductase.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are centered on a method for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia that combines insertion/rotation of a tubular elongate device in a bladder, needle advancement through a prostatic capsule into a prostate gland to reduce prostate size with a curved needle configuration, and endoscopic tracking of needle position, totaling 1 independent claim in the provided set.
Rotating a distal portion within the bladder
A tubular elongate device is inserted longitudinally through a urethra until a distal portion reaches a prostatic urethra and a bladder, and the distal portion is rotated while within the interior portion of the bladder.
Advancing a needle through the prostatic capsule to reduce prostate size
A needle is advanced from the distal portion of the tubular elongate device through a prostatic capsule and into a prostate gland having a size, where advancing the needle through the prostatic capsule and into the prostate gland is a step in reducing the size of the prostate gland.
Curved configuration of the needle upon ejection
Advancing the needle includes that the needle assumes a curved configuration upon being ejected from the distal portion of the tubular elongate device.
Endoscopic tracking of the needle position
The method tracks a position of the needle using an endoscopic device advanced to the prostatic urethra.
The claim set defines an endoscopic, needle-based prostate treatment method in which a tubular elongate device is inserted through the urethra into the bladder with distal rotation, a needle is advanced through a prostatic capsule into the prostate gland to reduce prostate size while assuming a curved configuration, and the needle position is tracked with an endoscopic device. The dependent refinements identified in the provided material further narrow optics/viewing and needle advancement mechanics.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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