IP Library Granted Patent US 8,929,988
Granted Patent B2
US 8,929,988 · App. 11/776,062 · Granted Jan 6, 2015

Methods and systems for submucosal implantation of a device for diagnosis and treatment of a body

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,929,988
App. No.
11/776,062
Granted
Jan 6, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Instruments, systems and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include a safe access needle injection instrument, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, and a mucosal resection device. Systems include a combination of one or more of such instruments with or without injectable agents. Embodiments of various methods for performing the procedures are also provided. In accordance with one aspect there is provided a submucosal implant device for diagnosing and treating disorders of the body. The submucosal implant device may take the form of a gastric stimulator in which signals are supplied to the muscular wall of a mammal to treat motility disorders. In accordance with yet another aspect there is provided a method for performing a submucosal medical procedure to deploy a submucosal implant device in the digestive tract of a mammal.

Claims (38)

1. A submucosal implant system, comprising:

a gastric stimulator;

a submucosal tunneling instrument having an elongate tubular member having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough and an expandable member having proximal and distal ends wherein the proximal end of said expandable member is attached to the distal end of said tubular member and the distal end of said expandable member is everted and positioned within the lumen of said tubular member, said expandable member when expanded expanding substantially greater in a lengthwise dimension than in diameter,

wherein the distal end of said elongate tubular member is adapted to enter an opening through the mucosal layer and into the submucosal layer of a mammal and adapted such that when said expandable member is positioned in the submucosal layer and expanded, said expandable member is adapted to longitudinally expand into the submucosal layer to form a submucosal elongate tunnel having a diameter and a length substantially greater than the diameter; and

a submucosal dissecting instrument discrete from said tunneling instrument such that said tunneling instrument is adapted to be removed from the formed submucosal elongate tunnel and said dissecting instrument is adapted to be separately insertable into the formed submucosal elongate tunnel, said submucosal dissecting instrument having a distal end that when operated expands substantially greater in a lengthwise dimension than in diameter,

wherein said distal end of said dissecting instrument is adapted to be inserted into the formed submucosal elongate tunnel and when expanded cause dissection of an area having a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the formed submucosal elongate tunnel.

2. A submucosal implant system according to claim 1 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises an electrode adapted to engage and deliver electrical signals to the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

3. A submucosal implant system according to claim 1 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises an anchor adapted to engage the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

4. A submucosal implant system according to claim 1 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises self contained electronics for controlling said gastric stimulator.

5. A submucosal implant system according to claim 1 wherein said gastric stimulator is controlled externally by telemetry to deliver electrical signals to the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

6. A submucosal implant system according to claim 2 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises an anchor adapted to engage the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

7. A submucosal implant system according to claim 2 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises self contained electronics for controlling said gastric stimulator.

8. A submucosal implant system according to claim 2 wherein said gastric stimulator is controlled externally by telemetry to deliver electrical signals to the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

9. A submucosal implant system according to claim 6 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises self contained electronics for controlling said gastric stimulator.

10. A submucosal implant system according to claim 6 wherein said gastric stimulator is controlled externally by telemetry to deliver electrical signals to the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

11. A submucosal implant system according to claim 6 wherein said anchor and said electrode are integrally formed.

12. A submucosal implant system according to claim 11 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises self contained electronics for controlling said gastric stimulator.

13. A submucosal implant system according to claim 11 wherein said gastric stimulator is controlled externally by telemetry to deliver electrical signals to the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

14. A submucosal implant system according to claim 1 , wherein said expandable member is adapted to create the elongate tunnel in a single expansion of said expandable member.

15. A submucosal implant system, comprising:

a gastric stimulator;

a submucosal tunneling instrument having an elongate tubular member having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough and a balloon member having proximal and distal ends wherein the proximal end of said balloon member is attached to the distal end of said tubular member and the distal end of said balloon member is everted and positioned within the lumen of said tubular member, said balloon member structured to expand substantially greater in a lengthwise dimension than in diameter when expanded,

wherein the distal end of said elongate tubular member is adapted to enter an opening through the mucosal layer and into the submucosal layer of a mammal and adapted such that when said balloon member is positioned in the submucosal layer and expanded, said balloon member is adapted to longitudinally expand into the submucosal layer to form a submucosal elongate tunnel having a diameter and a length substantially greater than the diameter; and

a submucosal dissecting instrument discrete from said tunneling instrument such that said tunneling instrument is adapted to be removed from the formed submucosal elongate tunnel and said dissecting instrument is adapted to be separately insertable into the formed submucosal elongate tunnel, said submucosal dissecting instrument having a distal end insertable into the submucosal elongate tunnel and that when operated expands substantially greater in diameter than in a lengthwise dimension,

wherein said distal end of said dissecting instrument is adapted to be inserted into the formed submucosal elongate tunnel and when expanded cause dissection of an area having a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the formed submucosal elongate tunnel.

16. A submucosal implant system according to claim 15 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises an electrode adapted to engage and deliver electrical signals to the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

17. A submucosal implant system according to claim 15 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises an anchor adapted to engage the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

18. A submucosal implant system according to claim 15 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises self contained electronics for controlling said gastric stimulator.

19. A submucosal implant system according to claim 15 wherein said gastric stimulator is controlled externally by telemetry to deliver electrical signals to the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

20. A submucosal implant system according to claim 16 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises an anchor adapted to engage the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

21. A submucosal implant system according to claim 16 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises self contained electronics for controlling said gastric stimulator.

22. A submucosal implant system according to claim 16 wherein said gastric stimulator is controlled externally by telemetry to deliver electrical signals to the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

23. A submucosal implant system according to claim 20 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises self contained electronics for controlling said gastric stimulator.

24. A submucosal implant system according to claim 20 wherein said gastric stimulator is controlled externally by telemetry to deliver electrical signals to the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

25. A submucosal implant system according to claim 20 wherein said anchor and said electrode are integrally formed.

26. A submucosal implant system according to claim 25 wherein said gastric stimulator comprises self contained electronics for controlling said gastric stimulator.

27. A submucosal implant system according to claim 25 wherein said gastric stimulator is controlled externally by telemetry to deliver electrical signals to the muscular wall beneath the mucosal layer.

28. A submucosal implant system according to claim 15 , wherein said balloon member is adapted to create the elongate tunnel in a single expansion of said balloon member.

Assignments (16)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2023
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC
To: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
Reel/Frame 066142/0596 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2023
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC.
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 066142/0705 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 5, 2023
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.; APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC.; APOLLO ENDOSURGERY INTERNATIONAL, LLC; LPATH THERAPEUTICS, INC.
To: INNOVATUS LIFE SCIENCES LENDING FUND I, LP
Reel/Frame 063264/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2021
From: SLR INVESTMENT CORP. (F/K/A SOLAR CAPITAL LTD.)
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC.; APOLLO ENDOSURGERY INTERNATIONAL, LLC; APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.; LPATH THERAPEUTICS INC.
Reel/Frame 058599/0297 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2021
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.; APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC. (F/K/A LPATH, INC.)
To: INNOVATUS LIFE SCIENCES LENDING FUND I, LP
Reel/Frame 058980/0199 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 15, 2019
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC.
To: SOLAR CAPITAL LTD., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048885/0687 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 18, 2019
From: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES II ACQUISITION LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC. (F/K/A APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.)
Reel/Frame 048622/0328 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 18, 2019
From: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES II ACQUISITION LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC. (F/K/A APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.)
Reel/Frame 048622/0343 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 27, 2017
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC.
Reel/Frame 042106/0912 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC.
To: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES II ACQUISITION LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041224/0821 →
TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (RECORDED ON 12/3/13 AT REEL/FRAME 031756/0729 AND ON 1/2/14 AT REEL/FRAME 031910/0460) Recorded Mar 2, 2015
From: OXFORD FINANCE LLC, AS AGENT
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 035120/0740 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 2, 2015
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
To: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES II ACQUISITION LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 035120/0843 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 3, 2013
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
To: OXFORD FINANCE LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 031756/0729 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2013
From: COMERICA BANK
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 031699/0959 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 30, 2011
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
To: COMERICA BANK, A TEXAS BANKING ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 026530/0286 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2007
From: MITELBERG, VLADIMIR; NAGLREITER, BRETT E.; JONES, DONALD K.; MCWILLIAMS, DENNIS L.
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 019885/0312 →