Granted Patent B2

US 12,727,930 · App. 18/776,154 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Inventors: Matthew Nojoomi (Houston, TX); David Waters (Houston, TX); Aedan Mangan (Cleveland, OH); Eric Ryba (Durango, CO); Michael Mulanix (Lakewood, CO)

Assignee: Ictero Medical, Inc.

A61B18/0218A61B2017/00336A61B2018/0016A61B2018/00214A61B2018/00535A61B2018/00577A61B2018/00642A61B2018/00791A61B2018/0212

Abstract

Claims (27)

1 . A method, comprising:

transitioning a first expandable body disposed on a distal end of a first shaft into an expanded configuration to retain the distal end of the first shaft within a gallbladder lumen of a subject, the first shaft defining a first lumen;

advancing a distal portion of a second shaft through the first lumen and into the gallbladder lumen, the second shaft defining a second lumen that terminates at a plurality of nozzle openings disposed on the distal portion of the second shaft;

transitioning a second expandable body disposed on the distal portion of the second shaft into a deployed configuration to position the plurality of nozzle openings at a minimum radial distance away from a wall of the gallbladder lumen;

delivering, via the second lumen and the plurality of nozzle openings, and after transitioning the second expandable body, a cryogenic ablation medium into the gallbladder lumen such that the cryogenic ablation medium can contact and ablate the wall of the gallbladder lumen;

evacuating, via an evacuation path defined in part by one or both of the first and second shafts, fluids from within the gallbladder lumen while delivering the cryogenic ablation medium;

measuring an intraluminal pressure of the gallbladder lumen via a pressure sensor operatively coupled to a pressure sensing lumen defined within the first shaft, the pressure sensing lumen having a distal opening that is communicatively coupled to the gallbladder lumen when the distal end of the first shaft is disposed in the gallbladder lumen;

controlling the delivery of the cryogenic ablation medium based on the intraluminal pressure of the gallbladder lumen; and

heating, using a heating element, at least a portion of the evacuation path to reduce formation of ice within the evacuation path.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring a temperature of the wall of the gallbladder lumen using a temperature sensor; and

confirming whether the wall of the gallbladder lumen has been ablated based on the temperature.

3 . A method, comprising:

transitioning a retention mechanism disposed on a distal end of an introducer into an expanded configuration to retain a distal tip of an introducer within a gallbladder of a subject;

advancing a distal end of an ablation catheter into the gallbladder via a lumen of the introducer, the ablation catheter defining a second lumen and including a plurality of nozzle openings and an expandable body disposed on the distal end of the ablation catheter, the expandable body formed of a plurality of elongate members;

transitioning the expandable body into a deployed configuration such that the plurality of elongate members expand outward from a longitudinal axis of the ablation catheter to position the plurality of nozzle openings at least a predetermined distance from a wall of the gallbladder;

conveying, via the second lumen, a cryogenic ablation fluid to the plurality of nozzle openings;

dispensing the cryogenic ablation fluid from the plurality of nozzle openings in a spray pattern to cause the cryogenic ablation fluid to contact the wall of the gallbladder and phase change into a cryogenic ablation gas;

measuring an intraluminal pressure of the gallbladder via a pressure sensor operatively coupled to a pressure sensing lumen defined within the ablation catheter, the pressure sensing lumen having a distal opening that is communicatively coupled to the gallbladder when the distal end of the ablation catheter is disposed in the gallbladder; and

controlling the dispensing of the cryogenic ablation fluid based on the intraluminal pressure of the gallbladder lumen.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

evacuating at least a portion of the cryogenic ablation gas from the gallbladder via the first lumen.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

heating, using a heating element of the ablation catheter, at least a portion of the length of the introducer to prevent clogging during the evacuation.

6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

measuring a temperature of the wall of the gallbladder using a temperature sensor; and

confirming whether the wall of the gallbladder has been ablated based on the temperature.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (178)