Devices and methods for agent-assisted medical procedures
Various embodiments of bulking or cushioning agents or material and related medical devices and methods are disclosed. For example, a method of performing a medical procedure in a tract of a body may include injecting a material in a liquid phase proximate a target site between a first tissue layer and a second tissue layer, allowing the material to transition from the liquid phase to the gel phase in response to a raise in temperature of the material to approximately at or above the predetermined temperature, and performing a surgical procedure on the target site. The material may have the liquid phase at temperatures below a predetermined temperature and a gel phase at temperatures approximately at or above the predetermined temperature.
1. A method of performing a medical procedure in a tract of a body, comprising:
injecting a material that is in a liquid phase proximate a target site between a first tissue layer and a second tissue layer, the material being configured to transition to a gel phase in response to a temperature of the material reaching or exceeding a threshold temperature, wherein the first tissue layer and the second tissue layer are at or above the threshold temperature;
wherein the material transitions to a gel phase;
performing a medical procedure on the target site; and
injecting a fluid that is below the threshold temperature into the target site such that the material transitions back to a liquid phase.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising flushing away the material from the target site after the material transitions back to the liquid phase.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing a medical procedure includes removing tissue from the target site.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first tissue layer is a mucosal tissue layer, the second tissue layer is a submucosal tissue layer, and the tract is a gastrointestinal tract.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises thermally sensitive block copolymer.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is water or saline.
7. A method of performing a medical procedure in a tract of a body, comprising:
injecting a material between a mucosal tissue layer and a submucosal tissue layer so that a surface of the mucosal tissue layer protrudes into the tract, the material being configured to transition to a gel phase in response to a condition within the body;
wherein the material transitions to the gel phase; and
performing a medical procedure on the protruded surface of the mucosal tissue layer.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein performing the medical procedure includes removing tissue from the protruded surface of the mucosal tissue layer.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein removing tissue is performed with a resecting device.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the resecting device is selected from a group consisting of scissors, biopsy forceps, or a snare.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the tract is a gastrointestinal tract.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the condition in the body is a temperature of the body such that the material transitions to the gel phase in response to a temperature of the material reaching or exceeding a threshold temperature.
13. The method of claim 12 , further including injecting a fluid that is below the threshold temperature between the mucosal tissue layer and the submucosal tissue layer such that the material transitions to a liquid phase.
14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the condition within the body is a pH of the body.
15. A method of performing a medical procedure in a tract of a body, comprising:
injecting a material in a first state between a first tissue layer and a second tissue layer so that a surface of the first tissue layer protrudes into the tract, the material being configured to transition from the first state having a first viscosity to a second state having a second viscosity in response to a condition within the body, the second viscosity being greater than the first viscosity;
wherein the material transitions to the second state; and
performing a medical procedure on the protruded surface of the first tissue layer.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein performing a medical procedure includes removing tissue from the protruded surface of the first tissue layer.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein removing tissue is performed with a resecting device.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tract is a gastrointestinal tract.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the condition in the body is a temperature of the body such that the material transitions to the second state in response to a temperature of the material reaching or exceeding a threshold temperature.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first state is a liquid state and the second state is a gel state.