U.S. patent application number 16/784045 was filed with the patent office on 2020-08-13 for pressure attenuation device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Solace Therapeutics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Albert Chum-Chi Chin, Kevin G. Connors, William H. Gruber, Roy H. Sullivan, III, Matthew J. Whitney.
Application Number | 20200254226 16/784045 |
Document ID | 20200254226 / US20200254226 |
Family ID | 1000004785585 |
Filed Date | 2020-08-13 |
Patent Application | download [pdf] |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200254226 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Connors; Kevin G. ; et
al. |
August 13, 2020 |
PRESSURE ATTENUATION DEVICE
Abstract
An pressure attenuation device for use in a body can include a
balloon comprising an outer wall and defining an interior chamber
therein. The balloon can be configured to elastically deform up to
at least to an internal pressure of 90 cm H2O. A high vapor
pressure media having a vapor pressure of between 155 cm-185 cm H2O
at 37 degrees Celsius can be positioned within the interior
chamber. The balloon can have a minimum wall thickness of between
0.001 inches-0.00175 inches.
Inventors: |
Connors; Kevin G.;
(Wellesley, MA) ; Chin; Albert Chum-Chi; (Newton,
MA) ; Sullivan, III; Roy H.; (Uxbridge, MA) ;
Whitney; Matthew J.; (Upton, MA) ; Gruber; William
H.; (Southborough, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Solace Therapeutics, Inc. |
Framingham |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004785585 |
Appl. No.: |
16/784045 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62802622 |
Feb 7, 2019 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 2210/1085 20130101;
A61M 2205/3331 20130101; A61M 2205/0216 20130101; A61M 25/10
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61M 25/10 20060101
A61M025/10 |
Claims
1-19. (canceled)
20. A pressure attenuation device for use in a body, the pressure
attenuation device comprising: a balloon comprising an outer wall
and defining an interior chamber therein, the balloon being
configured to elastically deform and increase in volume by at least
50% but less than 190% when an internal pressure within the balloon
is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O.
21. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20, wherein the
balloon is configured to elastically deform and increase in volume
by at least 65% but less than 100% when a pressure within the
balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O.
22. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20 wherein the balloon
is configured to elastically deform and increase in volume by at
least 75% but less than 90% when a pressure within the balloon is
increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O.
23. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20, wherein the
balloon is configured to elastically deform and increase in volume
by at least 20% but less than 150% when a pressure within the
balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 70 cm H.sub.2O.
24. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20, wherein the
balloon is configured to elastically deform and increase in volume
by at least 30% but less than 100% when a pressure within the
balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 70 cm H.sub.2O.
25. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20, wherein the
balloon is configured to elastically deform and increase in volume
by at least 45% but less than 60% when a pressure within the
balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 70 cm H.sub.2O.
26. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20, wherein the
balloon is configured to elastically deform and increase in volume
by at least 10% but less than 45% when a pressure within the
balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 40 cm H.sub.2O.
27. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20, wherein the
balloon is configured to elastically deform and increase in volume
by at least 18% but less than 30% when a pressure within the
balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 40 cm H.sub.2O.
28. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20, wherein the
balloon is configured to elastically deform and increase in volume
by at least 19% but less than 27% when a pressure within the
balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 40 cm H.sub.2O
29. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20 comprising a high
vapor pressure media having a vapor pressure of between 155 cm
H.sub.2O-185 cm H.sub.2O at 37 degrees Celsius.
30. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20, comprising a high
vapor pressure media having a vapor pressure of between 155 cm
H.sub.2O-165 cm H.sub.2O at 37 degrees Celsius.
31. The pressure attenuation device of claim 29 wherein the high
vapor pressure media is positioned within the interior chamber.
32. The pressure attenuation device of claim 29, wherein the high
vapor pressure media comprises a PFC.
33. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20, wherein the
balloon elastically deforms between internal pressures of 2.5 cm
H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles.
34. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20, wherein the
balloon has a natural volume of between 1 and 180 cc.
35. The pressure attenuation device of claim 20 wherein the balloon
has a minimum wall thickness of between 0.001 inches and 0.00175
inches.
36. An pressure attenuation device for use in a body, the pressure
attenuation device comprising: a balloon comprising an outer wall
and defining an interior chamber therein; and a high vapor pressure
media; the balloon being configured to deform elastically at least
up to an internal pressure within the chamber of 90 cm
H.sub.2O.
37. The pressure attenuation device of claim 36 wherein the balloon
elastically deforms between internal pressures of 2.5 cm H.sub.2O
to 90 cm H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles or
100 cycles.
38. The pressure attenuation device of claim 37, wherein the
balloon is configured to deform elastically at least up to an
internal pressure within the chamber of 100 cm H.sub.2O.
39. The pressure attenuation device of claim 38 wherein the balloon
elastically deforms between internal pressures of 2.5 cm H.sub.2O
to 100 cm H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles or
100 cycles.
40. The pressure attenuation device of claim 39, wherein the
balloon is configured to deform elastically at least up to an
internal pressure within the chamber of 120 cm H.sub.2O.
41. The pressure attenuation device of claim 40 wherein the balloon
elastically deforms between internal pressures of 2.5 cm H.sub.2O
to 120 cm H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles.
42. The pressure attenuation device of claim 36, wherein the
balloon has a natural volume of between 1 and 180 cc.
43. The pressure attenuation device of claim 36, wherein the
balloon has a minimum wall thickness of between 0.001 inches-and
0.00175 inches.
44. The pressure attenuation device of claim 43, wherein the high
vapor pressure media has a vapor pressure of between 155 cm
H.sub.2O-185 cm H.sub.2O at 37 degrees Celsius.
45. The pressure attenuation device of claim 44, wherein the high
vapor pressure media has a vapor pressure of between 155 cm
H.sub.2O-165 cm H.sub.2O at 37 degrees Celsius.
46. The pressure attenuation device of claim 45, wherein the high
vapor pressure media is positioned within the interior chamber.
47. The pressure attenuation device of claim 46, wherein the high
vapor pressure media comprises a PFC.
48. The pressure attenuation device of claim 47, wherein the high
vapor pressure media comprises a liquid at 37 degrees Celsius.
49. A method of treating urinary incontinence in a human or animal
body comprising implanting a pressure attenuation device comprising
a balloon comprising an outer wall and defining an interior chamber
therein, the balloon having a minimum wall thickness of between
0.001 inches and 0.00175 inches, the balloon being configured to
elastically deform up to at least to an internal pressure of 90 cm
H.sub.2O within a bladder of the human or animal body and inflating
the pressure attenuation device while in the bladder.
50-51. (canceled)
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/802,622, filed on Feb. 7, 2019, the entirety of
which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND
Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for
performing medical procedures on anatomical structures of the body.
Such medical procedures may involve, for example, attenuating
transient pressure waves in anatomical structures of the body, for
example, by implanting a pressure attenuation device in anatomical
structure of the body that is subjected to such pressure waves.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] Pressure waves are known to propagate through incompressible
fluids in various anatomical structures of the body. These pressure
waves may be caused by normally-occurring events within the body,
such as a beating heart, breathing in the lungs, peristalsis
actions in the GI tract, and movement of the muscles of the body.
Alternatively, these pressure waves may be caused by sudden events,
such as coughing, laughing, external trauma to the body, and
movement of the body relative to gravity. As the elasticity of the
surrounding tissues and organs, sometimes referred to as
compliance, decreases, the propagation of these pressure waves
increases. These pressure waves have many undesirable effects
ranging from discomfort to stress on the organs and tissue to fluid
leakage to renal failure to stroke to heart attack to
blindness.
[0004] Urinary tract disorders, such as frequency, urgency,
incontinence, and cystitis, are a widespread problem in the United
States and throughout the world, affecting people of all ages, both
physiologically and psychologically. Urine is primarily composed of
water and is a virtually incompressible fluid in the typical
pressure ranges that are present within the human bladder. The
relationship between the maximum urethral pressure and the
intravesical pressure for normal voiding of the bladder is
well-defined. During normal voiding, relaxation of the urethra
occurs before the detrusor muscle contracts to cause the
intravesical pressure to exceed the urethral pressure.
[0005] Intravesical pressure spikes often result from volumetric
tissue displacement in response to gravity, muscular activity or
rapid acceleration. The lack of compliance of the bladder and the
urine contained in the bladder with respect to events of high
frequency, high intensity and short wavelength results in minimal
fluidic pressure attenuation of the higher frequency pressure
wave(s) and results in high intravesical pressures that are
directly transmitted to the bladder neck and urethra, which may or
may not cause detrusor contractions. Under these conditions, the
urethra may act as a volumetric pressure relief mechanism, allowing
a proportional volume of fluid to escape the bladder, thereby
lowering the intravesical pressure to a tolerable level. The
urethra has a maximum urethral pressure value, and when the
intravesical pressure exceeds the maximum urethral pressure, fluid
will escape the bladder. Under these conditions, nerve receptors in
the bladder and/or bladder neck and/or trigone trigger a detrusor
contraction that may lead to matriculation (frequency) or may
subside without matriculation (urgency) or may lead to the
intravesical pressure exceeding the maximum urethral pressure
resulting in fluid escaping the bladder (stress incontinence).
[0006] For the vast majority of patients suffering from problems of
urinary tract disorders, such as frequency, urgency, stress and
urge incontinence and cystitis, the cause and/or contributor to
bladder dysfunction is a reduction of overall dynamic bladder
compliance, as opposed to a reduction of steady-state bladder
compliance. These patients may often have bladders that are
compliant in steady-state conditions but that become
non-dynamically compliant when subjected to external pressure
events having a short duration of, for example, less than 5 seconds
or, in some cases, less than 0.5 seconds. Reduction in dynamic
compliance of the bladder is often caused by aging, use,
distention, childbirth and trauma. In addition, the anatomical
structure of the bladder in relation to the diaphragm, stomach, and
uterus (for women) causes external pressure to be exerted on the
bladder during physical activities, such as talking, walking,
laughing, sitting, moving, turning, and rolling over. For a patient
suffering from stress incontinence due to lack of dynamic
compliance in the bladder, when the intravesical pressure exceeds
the maximum urethral pressure, leakage occurs.
[0007] In light of the foregoing, a number of attempts have been
made to combat urinary tract disorders. One such attempt has been
to implant a compressible, pressure-attenuating device in the
bladder in order to lower the intravesical pressure. This approach
is disclosed, for example, in the following documents, all of which
are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,473,
Matsuura et al., issued Jan. 27, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 7,074,178,
Connors et al., issued Jul. 11, 2006; and U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2010/0222802, Gillespie, Jr. et al., published Sep.
2, 2010. According to one aspect of the foregoing approach, a
compressible device is inserted, in a compacted state, into the
bladder of a patient through the patient's urethra, and, then, once
in the bladder, the compressible device is expanded, for example,
by inflation with atmospheric air. A delivery system may be used to
deliver the compressible device through the urethra and into the
bladder and also may be used to expand the compressible device from
its compacted state to its expanded state and to deploy the
compressible device, once expanded, from the delivery system. If
removal or replacement of the compressible device is desired, a
removal system may be used to remove the compressible device from
the bladder through the urethra.
SUMMARY
[0008] The systems, methods and devices of this disclosure each
have several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely
responsible for the desirable attributes disclosed herein.
[0009] In an aspect, the present disclosure improves upon prior
pressure attenuation devices for use in the bladder. Accordingly,
it is an object of certain embodiments of the disclosure to provide
a method and system for performing a medical procedure on an
anatomical structure, such as a bladder, of a body. The medical
procedure may be performed, for example, to attenuate transient
pressure waves in the anatomical structure and may involve, for
example, implanting a pressure attenuation device in the anatomical
structure, such as a bladder, subject to such pressure waves. Such
a method and system may be used in, but is not limited to use in,
treating urinary tract disorders.
[0010] Certain embodiments comprise a method of treating a
condition affecting the bladder. The method can include the steps
of implanting a pressure attenuation device into a human or animal
body. The condition affecting the bladder can comprise: urinary
incontinence, urinary tract cancer, an infection affecting the
bladder, or an inflammatory, condition affecting the bladder.
[0011] In certain embodiments, a pressure attenuation device for
use in a body can include a balloon comprising an outer wall and
defining an interior chamber therein. The outer wall of the balloon
can have a minimum wall thickness of between 0.001 inches and
0.00175 inches. The balloon can be configured to elastically deform
up to at least to an internal pressure of 90 cm H.sub.2O. In some
embodiments, the pressure attenuation device can also include one
or more of the following features in any combination: (a) a high
vapor pressure media having a vapor pressure of between 155 cm
H.sub.2O-185 cm H.sub.2O at 37 degrees Celsius; (b) a high vapor
pressure media media having a vapor pressure of between 155 cm
H.sub.2O-165 cm H.sub.2O at 37 degrees Celsius; (c) wherein the
high vapor pressure media is positioned within the interior
chamber; (d) wherein the high vapor pressure media comprises a PFC;
(e) wherein the balloon elastically deforms and increases in volume
by at least 10% but less than 90% when the internal pressure within
the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O;
(f) wherein the balloon elastically deforms and increases in volume
by at least 75% but less than 90% when the internal pressure within
the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O;
(g) wherein the balloon elastically deforms to at least an internal
pressure of 120 cm H.sub.2O; (h) wherein the balloon has a natural
volume of between 1 and 180 cc, between 10 and 60 cc, between 24 ml
and 40 ml, or between 25 ml and 29 ml; (i) wherein the balloon
elastically deforms between internal pressures of 2.5 cm H.sub.2O
to 90 cm H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles; (j) wherein the balloon
elastically deforms between internal pressures of 2.5 cm H.sub.2O
to 90 cm H.sub.2O for at least 25 cycles; (k) wherein the balloon
elastically deforms between internal pressures of 2.5 cm H.sub.2O
to 90 cm H.sub.2O for at least 50 cycles; and/or (1) wherein the
balloon elastically deforms between internal pressures of 2.5 cm
H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O for at least 100 cycles.
[0012] In certain embodiments, a pressure attenuation device for
use in a body can include a balloon comprising an outer wall and
defining an interior chamber therein. The device can include a high
vapor pressure media. The balloon can be configured to deform
elastically at least up to an internal pressure within the chamber
of 90 cm H.sub.2O.
[0013] In certain embodiments, a pressure attenuation device can
include a balloon comprising an outer wall and defining an interior
chamber therein. The balloon can be configured to elastically
deform up to at least to an internal pressure of 90 cm H.sub.2O. A
high vapor pressure media having a vapor pressure of between 155
cm-185 cm H.sub.2O at 37 degrees Celsius can be within the balloon.
In some embodiments, the pressure attenuation device can also
include one or more of the following features in any combination:
(a) wherein the high vapor pressure media has a vapor pressure of
between 155 cm H.sub.2O-165 cm H.sub.2O at 37 degrees Celsius; (b)
wherein the high vapor pressure media is positioned within the
interior chamber (c) wherein the high vapor pressure media
comprises a PFC; (d) wherein the balloon elastically deforms
between internal pressures of 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O for
at least 15 cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles or 100 cycles; and/or (e)
wherein the balloon has a natural volume of between 1 and 180 cc,
between 10 and 60 cc, between 24 ml and 40 ml, or between 25 ml and
29 ml.
[0014] In certain embodiments, a pressure attenuation device for
use in a body includes a balloon comprising an outer wall and
defining an interior chamber therein. The balloon can be configured
to elastically deform and increase in volume by at least 50% but
less than 190% when an internal pressure within the balloon is
increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O. In some
embodiments, the pressure attenuation device can also include one
or more of the following features in any combination: (a) wherein
the balloon is configured to elastically deform and increase in
volume by at least 65% but less than 100% when a pressure within
the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O;
(b) wherein the balloon is configured to elastically deform and
increase in volume by at least 75% but less than 90% when a
pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 90
cm H.sub.2O; (c) wherein the balloon is configured to elastically
deform and increase in volume by at least 20% but less than 150%
when a pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm
H.sub.2O to 70 cm H.sub.2O; (d) wherein the balloon is configured
to elastically deform and increase in volume by at least 30% but
less than 100% when a pressure within the balloon is increased from
2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 70 cm H20; (e) wherein the balloon is configured
to elastically deform and increase in volume by at least 45% but
less than 60% when a pressure within the balloon is increased from
2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 70 cm H.sub.2O; (f) wherein the balloon is
configured to elastically deform and increase in volume by at least
10% but less than 45% when a pressure within the balloon is
increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 40 cm H.sub.2O; (g) wherein the
balloon is configured to elastically deform and increase in volume
by at least 18% but less than 30% when a pressure within the
balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 40 cm H.sub.2O; (h)
wherein the balloon is configured to elastically deform and
increase in volume by at least 19% but less than 27% when a
pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 40
cm H.sub.2O; (i) comprising a high vapor pressure media having a
vapor pressure of between 155 cm H.sub.2O-185 cm H.sub.2O at 37
degrees Celsius; (j) comprising a high vapor pressure media having
a vapor pressure of between 155 cm H.sub.2O-165 cm H.sub.2O at 37
degrees Celsius; (k) wherein the high vapor pressure media is
positioned within the interior chamber; (l) wherein the high vapor
pressure media comprises a PFC; (m) wherein the balloon elastically
deforms between internal pressures of 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm
H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles or 100
cycles; (n) wherein the balloon has a natural volume of between 1
and 180 cc, between 10 and 60 cc, between 24 ml and 40 ml, or
between 25 ml and 29 ml; and/or (o) wherein the balloon has a
minimum wall thickness of between 0.001 inches and 0.00175
inches.
[0015] In several embodiments, a pressure attenuation device for
use in a body comprise a balloon comprising an outer wall and
defining an interior chamber therein; and a high vapor pressure
media. The balloon is configured to deform elastically at least up
to an internal pressure within the chamber of 90 cm H20. In some
embodiments, the pressure attenuation device can also include one
or more of the following features in any combination: (a) wherein
the balloon elastically deforms between internal pressures of 2.5
cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm H2O for at least 15 cycles, 25 cycles, 50
cycles or 100 cycles; (b) wherein the balloon is configured to
deform elastically at least up to an internal pressure within the
chamber of 100 cm H.sub.2O; (c) wherein the balloon elastically
deforms between internal pressures of 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 100 cm H2O
for at least 15 cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles or 100 cycles; (d)
wherein the balloon is configured to deform elastically at least up
to an internal pressure within the chamber of 120 cm H.sub.2O; (e)
wherein the balloon elastically deforms between internal pressures
of 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 120 cm H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles, 25
cycles, 50 cycles or 100 cycles; (f) wherein the balloon has a
natural volume of between 1 and 180 cc, between 10 and 60 cc,
between 24 ml and 40 ml, or between 25 ml and 29 ml; (g) wherein
the balloon has a minimum wall thickness of between 0.001
inches-and 0.00175 inches; (h) wherein the high vapor pressure
media has a vapor pressure of between 155 cm H.sub.2O-185 cm
H.sub.2O at 37 degrees Celsius; (i) wherein the high vapor pressure
media has a vapor pressure of between 155 cm H.sub.2O-165 cm
H.sub.2O at 37 degrees Celsius; (j) wherein the high vapor pressure
media is positioned within the interior chamber; (k) wherein the
high vapor pressure media comprises a PFC; and/or (l) wherein the
high vapor pressure media comprises a liquid at 37 degrees
Celsius
[0016] In certain embodiments, a pressure attenuation device
comprises one or more features of the foregoing description. In
certain embodiments, a pressure attenuation device comprises one or
more features of the foregoing description and is configured to be
placed within the bladder of a human.
[0017] Certain embodiments include a method of treating urinary
incontinence in a human or animal body comprising implanting a
pressure attenuation device comprising one or more features of the
foregoing description within a bladder of the human or animal body
and inflating the pressure attenuation device while in the bladder.
In certain embodiments, the method also include removing the device
from the bladder.
[0018] Certain embodiments include a pressure attenuation device
comprising one or more features of the foregoing description
configured to be implanted within a bladder of a human.
[0019] Certain embodiments include a pressure attenuation device
comprising one or more features of the foregoing description
configured to be implanted within a bladder of a human in an
uninflated state and then inflated within the bladder.
[0020] Certain embodiments include a pressure attenuation device
comprising one or more features of the foregoing description
wherein the balloon comprises a bulb portion and a tail
portion.
[0021] Certain embodiments include a pressure attenuation device
comprising one or more features of the foregoing description
wherein the balloon is seamless.
[0022] Further features and advantages will become apparent to
those of skill in the art in view of the detailed description of
preferred embodiments which follows, when considered together with
the attached drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] In order to better understand the disclosure and to see how
it may be carried out in practice, some preferred embodiments are
next described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
numerals denote corresponding though not necessarily identical
features consistently throughout the embodiments in the attached
drawings.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates maximum urethral pressure against
intravesical pressure during normal voiding.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates the intravesical pressure exceeding the
maximum urethral pressure in a noncompliant bladder.
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates an intravesical pressure spike exceeding
the maximum urethral pressure during stress incontinence.
[0027] FIG. 4A illustrates the relationship between intravesical
pressure and detrusor pressure during cough-induced urgency or
frequency.
[0028] FIG. 4B illustrates the relationship between intravesical
pressure and detrusor pressure during non-cough-induced urgency or
frequency.
[0029] FIGS. 5A through 5C are perspective views of a pressure
attenuation device in an inflated state, the fluids within the
inflated device not being shown.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section view of the pressure
attenuation device of FIGS. 5A through 5C.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a top view of the valve shown in FIGS. 5A through
5C.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a flowchart, schematically illustrating one method
of manufacturing the pressure attenuation device of FIGS. 5A
through 5C.
[0033] FIGS. 9A through 9D are section views, illustrating parts of
certain steps of the method shown in FIG. 8.
[0034] FIG. 10A is a schematic top plan view of a pressure
attenuation device.
[0035] FIG. 10B is a side elevational view of FIG. 10A.
[0036] FIGS. 11A-11D present graphs of attenuation/pressure
reduction vs. time for various pressure attenuation device air
volumes.
[0037] FIGS. 12A-12D show pressure vs. time curves generated by a
bench top bladder simulator.
[0038] FIG. 13A illustrates a bladder experiencing pressure which
causes urine leakage.
[0039] FIG. 13B shows the bladder of FIG. 13A with pressure
attenuation device that absorbs the pressure so that there is no
urine leakage.
[0040] FIG. 14 charts the pressure within a pressure attenuation
device verses the volume of the pressure attenuation device.
[0041] FIG. 15 shows a graph of gas volume versus time for
potential balloon loading scenarios.
[0042] FIG. 16 shows an attenuation PV curve for an embodiment of
pressure attenuation device.
[0043] FIG. 17 illustrates P/V curves and elasticity of the balloon
according certain embodiments of a pressure attenuation
devices.
[0044] FIGS. 18A-B shows an embodiment of a delivery device that
may be used to deliver a pressure-attenuating device to the target
body area.
[0045] FIG. 19 shows an embodiment of a sterilizable kit comprising
certain components of a delivery device.
[0046] FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of a pressure-attenuating device
in a deflated, flattened state.
[0047] FIGS. 21-21D shows a flow chart and corresponding
illustrations of how an embodiment of the balloon can be delivered
according to certain embodiments.
[0048] FIG. 22 shows an embodiment of a removal device.
[0049] FIGS. 23A-23D, FIGS. 24A-24D, and FIGS. 25A-B show
embodiments of the jaws of an removal device.
[0050] FIGS. 26-26D shows a flow chart and corresponding
illustrations of how an embodiment of the balloon can be removed
according to certain embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0051] Medical devices, methods, and apparatuses related thereto
for use within the body are disclosed. The medical devices can
include pressurized therapeutic devices, implants, implant delivery
devices, implant retrieval devices, expandable membrane enclosures
or balloons, sponges, attenuators, space occupying members, space
creating devices, drug delivery devices, data collection devices,
nerve stimulation devices, wave producing devices, vibration
producing devices, pressure sensing devices, chemical sensing
devices, volume sensing devices, and/or therapeutic devices. The
medical devices can be used for many purposes and in many places
within the body including, but not limited to the following systems
of the human body: cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal/urological,
gastrointestinal, hepatic/biliary, gynecological, neurological,
musculoskeletal, otorhinolaryngological and ophthalmic, as well as
in and around organs of the body and in intra- and inter-organ
space. In particular, in many embodiments disclosed herein, the
medical device is a pressure attenuation device which is configured
to be placed within a patient's bladder. However, it should be
appreciated that certain embodiments, aspects, and features of the
pressure attenuation devices disclosed herein can find utility in
other places in the body as outlined above and can be used as
implants and medical devices that are not used for pressure
attenuation and/or for pressure attenuation within the bladder
and/or are used to provide other therapeutic benefits.
[0052] Embodiments of devices for treating one or more conditions
of the bladder including devices that can be used for attenuating
transient pressure waves propagating through the bladder, e.g.,
from coughing or laughing, to reduce and/or eliminate pressure
spike-related incontinence are disclosed in one or more of U.S.
Pat. Nos. 7,470,228 (Dkt. No. SOLACE.4CP1C1), 7,074,178 (Dkt. No.
SOLACE.4CP1C2), 7,540,876 (Dkt. No. SOLACE.012A), 8,574,146 (Dkt.
No. SOLACE.017A), 8,894,563 (Dkt. No. SOLACE.023A) and U.S.
Publication No. 2015/0216644 (Dkt. No. SOLACE.023NP). The entire
contents of all of the above patents and patent publications are
incorporated by reference herein for all purposes and are to be
considered a part of this specification.
[0053] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate certain graphs of physiologic response
to pressure, e.g., bladder response to transient pressure waves.
FIGS. 5A-10B illustrate structural features which can be included
in certain embodiments of a pressure attenuation device as
disclosed herein. FIGS. 11A-12D illustrate graphs of various
responses to pressure waves, including the response of a bladder,
e.g., a model bladder, to transient pressure waves with and without
a pressure attenuation device. FIGS. 13A-13B illustrates a cross
section of a bladder with and without a pressure attenuation device
which in certain embodiments can be configured according to certain
embodiments disclosed herein. FIG. 14 illustrates a pressure versus
volume curve for certain embodiments a pressure attenuation device
disclosed herein, e.g., the pressure attenuation device's
volumetric response to increases in interior pressure according to
certain embodiments.
[0054] In one particular aspect, the disclosure relates generally
to the field of urology and gynecology, and in particular to the
treatment of disorders of the urinary tract caused by sudden
fluctuations of intravesical pressure. More specifically, in this
aspect methods and devices are provided for the diagnosis and
treatment of urinary disorders such as incontinence, urgency,
frequency, interstitial cystitis, irritable bladder syndrome, and
neurogenic bladders.
[0055] Various embodiments of the pressure attenuation device can
maintain a given pressure and or volume over time, despite gaseous
exchange, are provided. Other embodiments can inflate or deflate
over a given time period. Further embodiments can provide a
constant force against, within or between a tissue, vessel, organ,
or body cavity. Certain embodiments can be designed to maintain
inflation in oxygen depleted environments.
[0056] Various instruments and implants are disclosed herein for
the implantation of pressure attenuation device devices within the
bladder via the urethra, open surgery, or percutaneously through
the abdomen, back, vagina, bowel, rectum, or perineum. Certain
embodiments of the implantable medical device can comprise one or
more expandable membrane enclosures or balloon, sponge, attenuator,
space occupying member, drug delivery device, data collection
device, nerve stimulation device, wave producing device, vibration
producing device, pressure sensing device, chemical sensing device,
volume sensing device, or a therapeutic device. From this
disclosure it will be appreciated that, although the examples
provided deal primarily with intravesical applications, the methods
and devices disclosed herein can be used to provide treatment at
sites adjacent the bladder or between layers of bladder tissue.
Further, the devices and methods herein can be used or applied
within or proximal to other organs and sites in the body such as
the heart, lung, cranium, cardiovascular system, breasts, abdominal
area or cavity, eye, testicles, intestines, stomach, or other
organs or tissues.
[0057] Some embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for
measuring and/or attenuating and/or baffling transient pressure
waves in relatively incompressible materials in organs of the body.
Illustrative embodiments discussed herein relate generally to the
fields of urology and gynecology, and in particular to the
treatment of disorders of the urinary tract exacerbated by sudden
fluctuations in intravesical pressure. However, the devices and
methods are not limited to the fields of urology and gynecology and
methods and apparatuses of embodiments disclosed herein can be used
in other organs of the body, as well, to attenuate and/or baffle
pressure transients or reversibly occupy intra- or inter-organ
space.
[0058] Certain embodiments dampen transient intravesical pressure
including pressure spikes experienced by the urinary tract. During
a transient pressure event, the bladder becomes a relatively
non-compliant environment due to a number of factors including the
pelvic skeletal structure, the compressive loads of contracting
tissues bounding the bladder, the decreased compliance of the
musculature, or the incompressible behavior of urine, nerve, or
connective tissue of the bladder. Factors contributing to the
reduced compliance of the bladder are aging, anatomic
abnormalities, or trauma to the structures of the pelvis and
abdomen.
[0059] Urine is primarily composed of water and is virtually
incompressible in the typical pressure ranges present within the
human bladder. The relationship between the maximum urethral
pressure and the intravesical pressure for normal voiding of the
bladder is well defined. With reference to FIG. 1, relaxation of
the urethra occurs before the detrusor muscle contracts to cause
the intravesical pressure 320 to exceed the urethral pressure 322
during normal voiding. The pressures discussed herein are gauge or
relative pressures except where absolute pressures and/or
atmospheric pressures are specifically mentioned.
[0060] The bladder serves two mechanical functions: 1) low-pressure
storage and 2) high-pressure voiding. During the storage or filling
phase, the bladder receives urine from the kidneys. Compliance of
the bladder is defined as the ratio of the change in volume to the
change in pressure, and the static compliance of the bladder is
measured during a typical urodynamic evaluation. The static
compliance index is measured by filling the bladder to cystometric
capacity and allowing the pressures to equilibrate for a time
period of approximately sixty seconds. The static compliance index
is calculated by dividing the bladder capacity by the detrusor
pressure at the end of filling. A normal bladder will typically
exhibit static compliance between 15 and 30 ml/cm H.sub.2O. A low
static compliance bladder typically will have a compliance index of
less than 10 ml/cm H.sub.2O. With reference to FIG. 2 which
illustrates different pressures for a non-compliant bladder, a low
static compliance bladder typically is poorly distensible and has a
high end-filling pressure. The intravesical pressure 320 increases
to higher levels to exceed the maximum urethral pressure 324. The
steady state or static compliance of the bladder is used to
diagnose patients with neuropathic problems such as damage to the
lower motor neurons, upper motor neurons, or multiple sclerosis. In
addition, the steady state compliance of the bladder is also used,
in some cases, to attempt to diagnose problems of incontinence,
including urgency, frequency, and cystitis.
[0061] In general, intravesical pressure spikes result from
volumetric tissue displacement in response to gravity, muscular
activity, or rapid acceleration. The lack of compliance of the
bladder and the urine contained in the bladder with respect to
events of high frequency result in minimal fluidic pressure
attenuation of the higher frequency pressure wave(s) and results in
high intravesical pressures that are directly transmitted to the
bladder neck and urethra, which may or may not cause detrusor
contractions. Under these conditions, the urethra can act as a
volumetric pressure relief mechanism allowing a proportional volume
of fluid to escape the bladder, to lower the intravesical pressure
to a tolerable level. The urethra has a maximum urethral pressure
value, and when the intravesical pressure exceeds the maximum
urethral pressure, fluid will escape the bladder. Under these
conditions, nerve receptors in the bladder and/or bladder neck
and/or trigone area trigger a detrusor contraction that can lead to
micturition (frequency) or can subside without micturition
(urgency) or can lead to the intravesical pressure exceeding the
maximum urethral pressure resulting in fluid escaping the bladder
(incontinence). Under these conditions, waves hitting and/or
expanding the bladder wall can cause a patient with cystitis to
exhibit significant pain.
[0062] Incontinence is common in males who have undergone radical
prostatectomy, particularly where the sphincter has been
compromised. In these patients, attenuation in the bladder reduces
the intravesical peak pressures, resulting in less urine leakage.
The attenuation requirements in these patients can include short
duration pressure changes--such as, for example, 50 to 400 ms--and
long duration pressure changes--such as, for example, greater than
500 ms--depending on the magnitude of damage to the urinary
sphincter.
[0063] An aspect of certain embodiments of the present disclosure
is the recognition that for the vast majority of patients suffering
from problems of urinary tract disorders such as frequency,
urgency, stress, and urge incontinence and cystitis, the cause
and/or contributor to the bladder dysfunction is a reduction of
overall dynamic bladder compliance rather than steady state bladder
compliance. These patients can often have bladders that are
compliant in steady state conditions, but have become non
dynamically compliant when subjected to external pressure events
having a short duration of, for example, less than 5 seconds or in
some cases less than 2 seconds or even less than 0.01 seconds.
Reduction in dynamic compliance of the bladder is often caused by
some of the same conditions as reduction of steady state compliance
including aging, use, distention, childbirth, and trauma. The
anatomical structure of the bladder in relation to the diaphragm,
viscera, and uterus (for women) causes external pressure to be
exerted on the bladder during talking, walking, laughing, sitting,
moving, turning, and rolling over.
[0064] The relationship between intravesical pressure 320 and the
maximum urethral pressure 324 for a patient suffering from stress
incontinence due to lack of dynamic compliance in the bladder is
illustrated in FIG. 3. When the patient coughs (or some other
stress event occurs), a spike 326 will occur in the intravesical
pressure. Intravesical pressure spikes in excess of 120 cm H.sub.2O
have been urodynamically recorded during coughing, jumping,
laughing, or sneezing. When the intravesical pressure exceeds the
maximum urethral pressure value, leakage occurs. In order to retain
urine during an intravesical pressure spike, the urinary retention
resistance of the continent individual needs to exceed the pressure
spike. Urinary retention resistance can be simplified as the sum
total of the outflow resistance contributions of the urethra,
bladder neck, and meatus. In female patients, it is generally
believed that the largest resistance component is provided by the
urethra. One measure of urinary resistance is the urodynamic
measurement of urethral leak pressure. The incontinent individual
typically has a urethral leak pressure less than 80 cm H.sub.2O.
The decline of adequate urinary retention resistance has been
attributed to a number of factors including reduced blood flow in
the pelvic area, decreased tissue elasticity, neurological
disorders, deterioration of urethral muscle tone, and tissue
trauma.
[0065] In practice, the urethral leak point pressure is determined
by filling the bladder with a known amount of fluid and measuring
the intravesical and abdominal pressures when there is a visible
leak from the urethra while the patient is "bearing-down"
(valsalva). With an attenuation device in the bladder, the measured
intravesical leak point pressure typically increases due to the
absorption of some the abdominal energy by the attenuation device.
In this case, the patient has to push harder to achieve the same
intravesical pressure. Since the abdominal muscles and muscles
surrounding the urethra both contract simultaneously during a
valsalva maneuver, the measured intravesical leak point pressure
and urethral resistance increases when the attenuation device is in
the bladder.
[0066] Urinary disorders, such as urgency, frequency, otherwise
known as overactive bladder, and interstitial cystitis are caused
or exacerbated when rapid pressure increases or rapid volume
increases or other irritable conditions within the bladder cause
motor neurons to send signals to the brain to begin the cascade of
events necessary for urination. External pressure exerted on the
bladder can result in a detrusor contraction that can result in
urgency, frequency, or incontinence. See FIGS. 4A (cough-induced
urgency/frequency) and 4B (non-cough-induced urgency/frequency).
With reference to FIG. 4A, a coughing event 328 induces increased
intravesical pressure 320 which results in increased detrusor
pressure 330. An increase in the detrusor pressure 330 generally is
associated with increased urgency, frequency, or incontinence.
Urinary disorders such as interstitial cystitis or irritable
bladder conditions are a chronic inflammatory condition of the
bladder wall, which includes symptoms of urgency and/or frequency
in addition to pain. Therefore, the problem of a pressure spike in
the functionally noncompliant bladder can be further exacerbated by
a nearly simultaneous contraction of the bladder and a relaxation
of the urethra.
[0067] Some embodiments provide methods and devices for treating
and/or compensating for reduced dynamic compliance of the bladder.
In some embodiments, an attenuation device having a compressible
element is placed within the human urinary bladder in a manner that
allows the compressible element to act as a pressure attenuator to
attenuate transient pressure events. The term attenuator or
pressure attenuation device can refer generally to devices that
attenuate pressure, force, or energy by dissipating or dampening
the pressure, force, or energy. Gases, such as atmospheric air,
carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and certain perfluorocarbons (PFC) are
very compressible in the pressure ranges typically encountered in
the human bladder, and can be used in attenuation devices inserted
in the bladder. Furthermore, when compared to the tissues
encompassing urine, gases are significantly more compliant than the
immediate environment. The addition of a volume of gas acts as a
low rate spring in series with the native fluidic circuit of the
urinary tract.
[0068] In accordance with some embodiments, a pressure attenuation
device is placed within the human urinary bladder. The attenuation
device can be a pressurized container. The container can take many
forms including a sphere. The pressure attenuation device can be
untethered in the bladder and can remain in the bladder for between
several hours and one year, between one week and six months, or
between one day and three months. In certain embodiments, the
pressure attenuation device can include a balloon with a relaxed
(unstretched or natural) volume of between 1 and 500 cc, more
preferably between 10 and 180 cc, and, more preferably still,
between 25 and 60 cc, and, more preferably still, between 25 and 29
cc. In certain embodiments, two or more discreet pressure
attenuation devices are used. In such embodiments, the sum of the
volumes of the pressure attenuation devices can equal the desired
uncompressed displacement.
[0069] The pressure attenuation device can be a unitary component
but can, in certain embodiments, be comprised of two or more
subcomponents. The pressure attenuation device can be made with or
without a seam. The pressure attenuation device can comprise a
balloon having an average wall thickness between 0.0003 and 0.005
inches in certain embodiments, or between 0.0008 and 0.0025 inches
in certain embodiments or between.002 and 0.0035 inches in certain
embodiments, and between 0.001 and 0.00175 inches in certain
embodiments. In some embodiments, the minimum wall thickness of the
outer wall of the balloon is between 0008 and 0.00325 inches in
certain embodiments, between 0.002 and 0.0035 inches in certain
embodiments, and between 0.001 and 0.00175 inches in certain
embodiments. In some embodiments, the minimum wall thickness
location of the balloon is at the equator of the balloon. In some
embodiments, the equator of a balloon is the widest diameter of the
balloon along an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis of the balloon. In some embodiments, the equator of a balloon
is the widest diameter along an axis that is perpendicular to the
transverse axis of the balloon. In other embodiments, the balloon
wall thickness could be varied from these ranges. In some
embodiments described herein, pressure attenuation device is
free-floating in the bladder as has been described. In other
embodiments, the pressure attenuation devices could be surgically
affixed to the bladder wall through the use of suture, staples and
other accepted methods, or placed submucosally or intramuscularly
within the bladder wall. Other embodiments could also include
pressure attenuation devices with programmable, variable, and
adjustable buoyancy by using ballasting, specific
inflation/deflation solutions, alternative materials of
construction, or by other means.
Pressure Attenuation Device
[0070] A pressure attenuation device (also referred to herein as
"device") comprising a balloon can be placed within a body, such as
the bladder. The balloon can form a compressible element that can
act as a pressure attenuator to attenuate transient pressure
events. In certain embodiments, gases, such as atmospheric air,
carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and certain perfluorocarbons (PFC), can
be used to inflate the pressure attenuation device and can act as a
low or variable rate spring in series with the native fluidic
circuit of the urinary tract. The pressure attenuation device can
take many forms including a sphere, some examples of which are
outlined herein.
[0071] In some embodiments, the balloon of the pressure attenuation
device can include outer wall that defines a interior chamber
within the outer wall. The device can also include a valve that can
allow for the addition or removal of substances from within the
balloon. In some embodiments, an pressure attenuation device for
use in a body comprises a balloon having an outer wall defining an
interior chamber therein. The balloon can be defined by a number of
parameters, including, but not limited to, a natural volume, a
maximum volume, wall material, wall stiffness, and wall thickness.
Certain embodiments of constructing the balloon and pressure
attenuation device will be described below FIGS. 5A-10B along with
certain structural aspects of the balloon and pressure attenuation
device, which can be utilized in the embodiments described
herein.
[0072] Additional embodiments of an implantable pressure
attenuation device are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,473,
incorporated by reference herein. See for example, FIGS. 5, 5A,
7A-C, 8A-E, 13-25, and 27-31, and the accompanying discussion,
including at columns 9-12, 13-14, 17-20, and 21-24. See also the
disclosure from U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,950, incorporated by reference
herein, as well as, FIGS. 32A-33C, 36-38, 47A-C, 49 and the
accompanying discussion, including at columns 15-18, 30-35, and
39-40.
[0073] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0222802 (now
U.S. Pat. No. 8,574,146) incorporated by reference herein discloses
still additional embodiments of implantable pressure attenuation
devices. See for example, FIGS. 5-5N, 8A-8B, 10A, 11C, 34A-35D,
37A-37B, 38A-51C, and the accompanying discussion, including
paragraphs [0127]-[0152], [0167]-[0168], [0174], [0177],
[0233]-[0242], [0354]-[0438], and [0466]-[0475].
[0074] Referring now to FIGS. 5(A) through 6, various embodiments
of a pressure attenuation device 17 (also referred to herein as
"device 17" or "device") will now be described. As shown in these
figures, in the illustrated embodiment, the device 17 can comprise
a balloon 1711 and a valve 1713. The valve 1713 can serve to
regulate the flow of fluid into and out of the balloon 1711. The
balloon 1711 can comprise an outer wall 1709 that can define an
interior chamber 1707 (see FIG. 6).
[0075] The balloon 1711 can be made of flexible material such as an
elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the balloon 1711 e.g.,
the outer wall 1709 (all or most of the outer wall 1709) of the
pressure-attenuating device 17 can be constructed out of flexible
material such as an elastomeric material. Such elastomeric
materials for the balloon 1711 and the outer wall 1709 include, but
are not limited to, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyester
copolymer, polyamide copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene,
polystyrene/polybutadiene copolymer, thermoplastic polyurethanes,
and combinations thereof.
[0076] Examples of polyesters include polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) polymers and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) polymers.
Examples of commercially available PET polymers include the Selar
PT family of PET polymers (e.g., Selar PT8307, Selar PT4274, Selar
PTX280), which are commercially available from E. I. DuPont de
Nemours (Wilmington, Del.), the Cleartuf family of PET polymers
(e.g., Cleartuf 8006), which are commercially available from
M&G Polymers (Apple Grove, W. Va.), the Traytuf family of PET
polymers (e.g., Traytuf 1006), which are commercially available
from the Shell Chemical Company (Houston, Tex.), and the Melinar
family of PET polymers (e.g., Melinar 5922C), which are
commercially available from E. I. DuPont de Nemours (Wilmington,
Del.).
[0077] Examples of commercially available PBT polymers include the
Celanex family of polymers, commercially available from Ticona
(Summit, N.J.), the Riteflex family of polymers, commercially
available from Ticona (Summit, N.J.), the Hytrel family of PBT
copolymers (e.g., Hytrel 5556, Hytrel 7246, Hytrel 4056),
commercially available from E. I. DuPont de Nemours (Wilmington,
Del.), and the Arnitel family of PBT copolymers (e.g., Arnitel
EM630), commercially available from DSM (Erionspilla, Ind.).
[0078] Examples of polyamides include the nylon family of polymers,
such as, for example, aliphatic nylons and aromatic nylons.
Examples of aliphatic nylons include nylon 12, nylon 6, nylon 6/10,
nylon 6/12 and nylon 11. Nylon 12 is commercially available from,
for example, Atofina (Philadelphia, Pa.). Nylon 12 is also
commercially available as the Grilamid family of polymers from EMS
(Sumter, SC.) and as the Vestamid family of polymers from
Daicel-Degussa Ltd. Nylon 6 is commercially available from, for
example, HoneyWell (MorristoWn, N.J Nylon 6/ 10 is commercially
available from, for example, BASF (Mount Olive, N.J.). Nylon 6/12
is commercially available from, for example, Ashley Polymers
(Cranford, N.J.). Nylon 11 is commercially available from EMS
(Sumter, S.C.).
[0079] Examples of aromatic nylons include the Grivory family of
polymers (commercially available from EMS (Sumter, S.C.)), nylon
MXD-6 polymers (commercially available from Mitsubishi Gas Chemical
(Tokyo, Japan)), and the Trogamid family of polymers (commercially
available from Degussa AG (Germany).
[0080] Additional examples of polyamides include polyether block
polyamide copolymers (commercially available, for example, as the
Pebax family of polymers (e.g., Pebax 2533, Pebax 3533, Pebax 4033,
Pebax, 5533, Pebax 6033, Pebax 7033, Pebax 7233) from Atofina
(Philadelphia, Pa.)).
[0081] When inflated, the balloon 1711 can comprise a generally
spherical bulb portion 1714 and an inverted tubular tail portion
1717 extending into bulb portion 1714, tail portion 1717
terminating in an opening 1719 (FIG. 6). The balloon can contain an
inflation media also referred to herein as a pressure media. The
inflation media 1705 can contain a high vapor pressure media such
that the balloon can contain the high vapor pressure media 1705. In
some embodiments, the balloon can be inflated with other gases in
addition to the high vapor pressure media. In such embodiments, the
inflation media can contain other gasses in addition to the high
vapor pressure media such as air, nitrogen, oxygen, argon,
hydrogen, oxygen, helium, carbon dioxide, neon, krypton, xenon,
radon, and etc. In the illustrated embodiment, an area of increased
wall thickness or retaining feature 1715 can be disposed on bulb
portion 1714 opposite to tail portion 1717. The retaining feature
1715 can be a portion of the pressure attenuation device 17 that is
used to retain the pressure attenuation device 17 into the window
of a delivery system. The retaining feature 1715 can be an area of
the balloon 1711 that is the same or higher wall thickness than
adjacent areas of the balloon 1711, or a member that is more rigid
than the balloon 1711, which can be integral to or adhered to the
balloon 1711, as an example. In the certain embodiments, balloon
1711 can be made of a sufficiently transparent material to permit
the contents housed by the balloon 1711 to be seen.
[0082] The balloon 1711 can be seamless and can be substantially
arcuate, with the only exception being tail portion 1717, which is
inverted and to which the valve 1713 can be welded or otherwise
attached. To minimize the potential for encrustation, to maximize
patient tolerability, or for other reasons, it is preferable that
over 95% of the external surface area of balloon 1711 be
continuously arcuate and that less than 5% of the surface area of
the balloon the balloon 1711 not be arcuate. More preferably, over
97% of the external surface area of the balloon 1711 is
continuously arcuate and less than 3% of the external surface area
is not arcuate. Even more preferably, over 99% of the external
surface area of the balloon1711 is continuously arcuate and less
than 1% of the surface area is not arcuate.
[0083] For example, some embodiments of the balloon 1711 can have
an overall surface area of 4,586 mm.sup.2. The external surface
area of the continuously arcuate portion of the balloon 1711 can be
4,575 mm.sup.2. The ratio of continuously arcuate surface area to
non-arcuate surface area for this embodiment is 401:1. This ratio
is preferably from 100:1 to 1500:1 and more preferably from 400:1
to 600:1. The diameter of the tail portion 1717 can be 0.15 inch,
and the diameter of bulb portion 1714 is 1.58 inches. The ratio of
the diameter of the bulb portion 1714 to the diameter of tail
portion 1717 is 10.53:1. This ratio is preferably between 6:1 and
20:1 and more preferably greater than 8:1. Without limitation to
any particularly theory or embodiment, it is believed that such a
ratio can serve to keep tail portion 1717 inverted within bulb
portion 1714.
[0084] The valve 1713, which is also shown in FIG. 7, can be formed
from a pair of matching, appropriately shaped, flat sheets of
elastomeric material. In certain embodiments, valve can be formed
in a different manner or from a different component. In illustrated
embodiment, the pair of matching flat sheets can be heat-sealed to
one another along their respective sides to form a pair of seams
1720-1 and 1720-2 and can also be molded so as to define a proximal
section 1721, an intermediate section 1723, and a distal section
1725. Proximal section 1721 can be generally flat or generally
frusto-conical in shape and can include outer surfaces 1721-1 and
1721-2 that can be fixedly mounted within opening 1719 of the
balloon 1711 (FIG. 6) by a flat weld (where proximal section 1721
is flat) or by a circumferential weld (where proximal section 1721
is frusto-conical.) The proximal section 1721 can include an end
surface 1722, which can be a surface or mating surface, intended to
interface the distal end 1527 of push-off member, thereby allowing
push-off member to push the device 17 off a distal end of an
inflation tube. In some embodiments, this surface 1722 is a 90
degree flat surface. Other surfaces, such as a concave or convex
surface may also interact with the distal end of push-off member.
The shape of the distal end of the pushoff member can be flat,
concave, convex, or a shape that permits interaction with the end
surface 1722. Intermediate section 1723 can be generally
cylindrical and can be reduced in inner diameter and in outer
diameter as compared to proximal section 1721. Moreover,
intermediate section 1723 can be reduced in inner diameter as
compared to the outer diameter of an inflation tube and can include
an inner side surface 1724 that can be used to make a stretch
interference fit with the inflation tube so as to seal against the
inflation tube or to prop open valve 1713, which will close upon
release, thereby enabling the balloon 1711 to be inflated under
high pressure with minimal leaking. For example, where the outer
diameter of the inflation tube can be in the range of about
0.001-5.00 inch, preferably about 0.005-0.50 inch, more preferably
about 0.010-0.125 inch, the inner diameter of intermediate section
1723 can be correspondingly smaller, for example, in the range of
about 0.0005-4.900 inch, preferably about 0.001-0.49 inch, more
preferably about 0.005-0.120 inch. Moreover, the wall thickness of
intermediate section 1723 can be in the range of about 0.0001-2.00
inch, preferably about 0.001-0.24 inch, more preferably about
0.005-0.050 inch. In certain applications, the nominal pressure
exerted on the self-sealing valve 1725 is relatively low, e.g.,
below 3 psi. Therefore the surface area of the contact area of the
two surfaces must be sufficient to resist flow during use. This is
can be accomplished with a structure 1725 that has a width
typically less than 1 inch, more preferably less than 0.5 inches,
and more preferably less than 0.25 inches. To maintain valve
function, the length of the structure 1725 can be greater than the
width of structure 1725, more preferably the length is greater than
1.5 times the width of the structure 1725, and more preferably
greater than two times the width of the structure 1725. Distal
section 1725 can be a generally elongated, flattened structure that
is self-sealing (i.e., biased, independently of its environment,
towards a closed state) and that has a distal end 1727 through
which fluid inputted to valve 1713, in the manner discussed herein,
can exit valve 1713 to occupy the space defined by the balloon
1711. Preferably, distal section 1725 is made sufficiently long to
minimize the escape of fluid from within the balloon 1711 through
valve 1713.
[0085] Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a flowchart,
schematically depicting one possible method 1731 for making the
device 17. Method 1731 can begin with a step 1731-1 of providing a
tubular member, which can be, for example, an extruded tube 1733 of
elastomeric material having a pair of open ends 1734-1 and 1734-2
(see FIG. 9A). Method 1731 can continue with a step 1731-2 of
closing off end 1734-2 to form a tube 1735 having a closed end
1735-1 (see FIG. 9B). Method 1731 can then continue with a step
1731-3 of blowing up or expanding tube 1735 to form a generally
spherical portion 1736 and a generally cylindrical tail portion
1737 (see FIG. 9C). (Step 1731-3 can further include pulling on the
closed end 1735-1 during said expansion of tube 1735.) Method 1731
can then continue with a step 1731-4 of inserting valve 1713 into
tail portion 1737 and joining, such as by either a circumferential
weld or a flat weld, proximal section 1721 to tail portion 1737.
Method 1731 can then conclude with a step 1731-5 of inverting the
combination of valve 1713 and tail portion 1737 into generally
spherical portion 1736, thereby forming the device 17. In some
embodiments, to prevent the valve 1713 and tail portion 1737 from
reversing this inverting step 1731-5 during use, the valve and tail
portion can be anchored to the balloon wall in any method known in
the art including but not limited to use of an adhesive or welding
the distal end of the valve to the balloon wall, for example. An
embodiment is to fabricate the balloon to provide increased
resistance to the reversal of inverting step 1731-5 with one or
more of the following features: 1) an increase in wall thickness or
stiffness on the balloon near the area of the balloon where the
tail protrudes (for example, a circumferential increase in balloon
thickness 1736-1 that measures more than two times the diameter of
the tail, and more preferably more than 1.5 times the diameter of
the tail, and more preferably more than 1 time the diameter of the
tail, and this circumferential wall thickness is less than 0.075
inches, and more preferably less than 0.050 inches, and more
preferably less than 0.025 inches; 2) a wall thickness of the tail
1737 that is at least 1 time the wall thickness of the balloon
1736, more preferably at least 1.5 times the wall thickness of the
balloon 1736, more preferably at least two times the wall thickness
of the balloon 1736, more preferably at least three times the wall
thickness of the balloon 1763; 3) a balloon with a measured angle
between the wall of the balloon near the tail opening and the tail
1736-2 of at least 45 degrees, more preferable greater than 70
degrees, more preferable greater than 80 degrees, and more
preferable approaching 90 degrees; and 4) a measured radius where
the tail 1737 interfaces with balloon 1736 of less than 0.5 inches,
more preferably less than 0.1 inches, more preferably less than
0.075 inches, more preferably less than 0.035, and preferably 0.015
inches. Preferably, device 17 is dimensioned so that spherical
portion 1736, when expanded, has a diameter that is approximately
6-20 times the diameter of the entry port defined by the interface
of spherical portion 1736 and inverted tail portion 1737. In some
embodiments, the shape, thickness and material of closed end 1735-1
forms the integral retaining member 1715 in the wall of the
balloon. In some embodiments, the valve is not inverted and only
the tail is inverted such that the tail is inverted and both the
tail and valve are moved into the spherical portion.
[0086] The balloon 1711 can alternatively be made using a dip
process. For example, Brash et al., "Development of block
copolyether-urethane intra-aortic balloons and other medical
devices," Journal of Biomedical Research, 7(4):313-34 (1973), which
is incorporated herein by reference, describe a manufacturing
process that can be used to manufacture the balloon 1711. A mandrel
is formed from expendable wax, and then dipped using commonly known
balloon dipping methods to form a balloon. Upon cure of the balloon
material, the wax is melted and removed, resulting in the desired
balloon.
[0087] One advantageous feature of device 17 is that it can be
devoid of seams on its exterior surface. The absence of such seams
can be desirable since such seams can rub up against and cause
irritation with the bladder or other anatomical structure in which
device 17 is positioned. In addition, such seams can become
encrusted, over time, with biological sediment from the anatomical
structure in which device 17 is positioned, which encrustation can
exacerbate irritation or can otherwise be regarded as unhygienic or
undesirable.
[0088] Embodiments of balloon have been described as having certain
properties and characteristics as described in relation to specific
test procedures. In some embodiments, the balloon can be
substantially homogeneous such that the entirety of the balloon
exhibits the properties. For example the balloon wall thickness can
be substantially homogenous over the surface of the balloon. In
some embodiments, the balloon wall thickness varies throughout
balloon. In some embodiments, a portion of the inflatable the
balloon that is less than the entirety of the balloon can exhibit
the properties. For example a portion of the inflatable the balloon
wall could exhibit the characteristics described.
[0089] As discussed herein, in some embodiments, the balloon/can
have a substantially uniform wall thickness. In some embodiments,
the average wall thickness of the outer wall of the balloon is
between 0.0003 and 0.005 inches, or between 0.0008 and 0.0025
inches and in certain embodiments between 0.002 and 0.0035 inches,
and certain embodiments between 0.001 and 0.00175 inches. In some
embodiments, the minimum wall thickness of the balloon is between
0.0008 and 0.00325 inches, and in certain embodiments between 0.002
and 0.0035 inches, and certain embodiments between 0.001 and
0.00175 inches. In some embodiments, the thinnest location of the
balloon also referred to as the location of minimum wall thickness
is at an equator of the balloon. In some embodiments, the balloon
wall thickness varies based on materials and manufacturing
processes. In some embodiments, the balloon wall thickness is not
homogenous and can be varied. In some embodiments, the wall
thickness can be varied dependent upon geometric configurations of
the balloon. In some geometric configurations the balloon can be
configured so that different portions of the balloon have different
thicknesses and exhibit different properties based on how the
balloon is configured to be placed within the patient. In some
embodiments, the minimum wall thickness also referred to herein as
the thinnest thickness of the inflatable balloon 1711 is measured
from the thinnest portion of the balloon, which in some examples is
at the equator of the balloon. In some embodiments, the equator of
a balloon is the widest diameter of the balloon along an axis that
is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the balloon. In some
embodiments, the equator of a balloon is the widest diameter along
an axis that is perpendicular to the transverse axis of the balloon
. One can measure the thickness of the balloon by measuring the
outer wall. One can measure the thickness of the balloon by
pinching a deflated balloon and measuring two walls (double wall
thickness) of the balloon together and dividing the value by two.
In some embodiments, the average thickness of the inflatable
balloon 1711 is an average of thickness from various regions of the
inflatable the balloon, such as at the equator, regions near the
poles, and etc. In some embodiments, the double wall thickness is
used as a measurement for thickness of the inflatable the balloon.
In some embodiments, the wall thickness at the equator of the
balloon is the thinnest portion having the minimum wall thickness
and can determine the stress and strain of the inflatable the
balloon 1711.
[0090] Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, additional embodiments of a
pressure attenuation device 66 are illustrated in which the device
66 constructed in a different manner. In the illustrated embodiment
of FIGS. 10A and 10B, the inflatable balloon 68 is illustrated as
having a generally circular profile, although other profiles can be
used.
[0091] The balloon 68 illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B comprises an
outer wall 70, for separating the contents of the device 66 from
the external environment. Outer wall 70 can comprise a first
component 74 and second component 76 bonded together such as by a
seam 78. In the illustrated embodiment, the first component 74 and
second component 76 are essentially identical, such that the seam
78 is formed on the outer periphery of the balloon 68. Seam 78 can
be accomplished in any of a variety of manners known in the medical
device bonding arts, such as heat bonding, adhesive bonding,
solvent bonding, RF or laser welding, or others known in the
art.
[0092] The outer wall 70, formed by a bonded first component 74 and
second component 76, defines an interior cavity or interior chamber
72. As is discussed elsewhere herein, interior chamber 72
preferably comprises a media that can include a compressible
component, such as gas, or foam. Other media or structures capable
of reduction in volume through a mechanism other than strict
compression can also be used. For example, a material capable of
undergoing a phase change from a first, higher volume phase to a
second, lower volume phase under the temperature and pressure
ranges experienced in the bladder can also be used. In some
embodiments, the media comprises a liquid that forms a solid or
foam after implantation. In some embodiments, the media comprises a
solid.
[0093] To facilitate filling the interior chamber 72 following
placement of the device 66 within the bladder, the balloon 68 is
preferably provided with a valve 80. In the illustrated embodiment,
the valve 80 is positioned across the seam 78, and can be held in
place by the same bonding techniques used to form the seam 78. The
valve 80 can be omitted in an embodiment in which the attenuation
device 66 is self-expandable.
[0094] The valve 80 generally comprises an aperture 82, for
receiving a filling tube therethrough. The aperture 82 is in fluid
communication with the interior chamber 72 by way of a flow path
83. At least one closure member 84 is provided for permitting one
way flow through flow path 83. In this manner, a delivery system
and filling device can be used to displace closure member 84 and
introduce compressible media into the interior chamber 72. Upon
removal of the filling device, the closure member 84 prevents or
inhibits the escape of compressible media from the interior chamber
72 through the flow path 83.
[0095] Thus, the closure member 84 is preferably movable between a
first orientation in which it obstructs effluent flow through the
flow path 83 and a second position in which it permits influent
flow through the flow path 83. Preferably, the closure member 84 is
biased in the first direction. Thus, forward flow can be
accomplished by either mechanically moving the closure member 84
into the second position such as using a filling tube, or by moving
the closure member 84 into the second position by exerting a
sufficient pressure on the compressible media in flow path 83 to
overcome the closure bias. Any of a wide variety of valve designs,
including those discussed elsewhere herein, can be used in the
device 66 or device 17 described above.
[0096] In order to minimize trauma during delivery of embodiments
of the device 17, 66 described herein, the device 17, 66 is
advantageously expandable from a first, reduced cross-sectional
configuration to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration.
The device 17, 66 can thus be transurethrally deployed into the
bladder in its first configuration, and enlarged to its second
configuration once positioned within the bladder to accomplish a
pressure attenuation function. Preferably, a crossing profile, or a
greatest cross-sectional configuration, of the attenuation device
17, 66 when in the first configuration is no greater than about 30
French in certain embodiments, 24 French (8 mm) in certain
embodiments, and, no greater than about 30 French in certain
embodiments, no greater than about 24 French in certain
embodiments, no greater than about 18 French (6 mm) in certain
embodiments, and in certain embodiments no greater than about 14
French. This can be accomplished, for example, by rolling a
deflated balloon about a longitudinal axis, while the interior
chamber is evacuated. Once positioned within the bladder, the
interior chamber 72 can be filled with an inflation media, such as
a high vapor pressure media or such as a high vapor pressure media
in combination with other gases, to produce a pressure attenuation
device 17, 66.
[0097] Various coatings can be used to enhance the biocompatibility
of the implantable devices 17, 66 and associated insertion or
removal devices described herein. Lubricating coatings, substances,
and substrates can be used to facilitate insertion or removal. In
some embodiments, the device incorporates biocompatible coatings or
fillers to minimize irritation to the bladder wall and mucosa
and/or to inhibit the formation of mineral deposits (encrustation)
or biofilm formation. Such device treatments can also inhibit
films, deposits or growths within or on the surface of the device.
Materials can be coated onto the surface or incorporated within the
wall of the device. Biocompatible lubricating substances can be
used to facilitate the placement of the attenuation device/fill
tube within a lumen of an introducer.
[0098] As shown in FIGS. 13A-C, the human urinary bladder 5 is a
solid, muscular, and distensible organ that sits on the pelvic
floor. It collects urine excreted by the kidneys prior to disposal
by urination. Urine enters the bladder 5 via the ureters (not
shown) and exits via the urethra 7.
[0099] The walls of the bladder 5 are mostly comprised of muscle
tissue. This muscle tissue is known as the detrusor muscle, and is
a layer of the urinary bladder wall made of smooth muscle fibers
arranged in spiral, longitudinal, and circular bundles. When the
bladder 5 is stretched, nerves are activated which signals to the
parasympathetic nervous system to contract the detrusor muscle.
This encourages the bladder 5 to expel urine through the urethra 7.
For the urine 104 to exit the bladder, both the internal sphincter
and the external sphincter need to open. The urinary bladder 5 can
contain a wide range of urine volumes, from 0 to as much as about
600 ml of urine. Typically, in a female, bladder urine volumes
range from 0 to about 300 ml. Typically, in a female, a full
bladder will contain about 250 to 300 ml.
[0100] The neck of the bladder is the area immediately surrounding
the urethral opening; it is the lowest and most fixed part of the
organ. In the male it is firmly attached to the base of the
prostate, a gland that encircles the urethra. The bladder neck is
commonly more or less funnel-like in shape. The angle of
inclination of the sides of this funnel varies based on the degree
to which the bladder is full, and also varies during filling and
emptying of the bladder. A very full distended bladder will have a
bladder neck with more oblique walls, and a bladder that is
emptying or empty will be more acute. The posterior portion of the
bladder neck that is contiguous with the base of the bladder has a
region containing a high density of sensory nerves. This region is
triangular in shape and is known as the trigone region. This
inverted triangle defined by the urethra (the vertex of the
triangle) and the ureteral orifices at each corner of the base of
the triangle. The ureteral orifices are the locations where the
ureters enter the bladder.
[0101] The highest concentration of sensory nerve receptors in the
bladder can be found in the trigone region. Anything that causes
pressure, friction, or irritation on this region can cause a number
of morbidities, including urgency, frequency, pain and/or
irritation. The bladder neck contains stretch receptors, and
anything that lodges in or otherwise stretches the bladder neck
will likewise be very uncomfortable. When designing a device that
is to reside in whole or in part in the bladder, the comfort of
that device will be significantly impacted by the device's ability
to minimize or avoid contact with these two particularly sensitive
areas.
[0102] In addition, the bladder does not contract or expand
uniformly. For example, when the bladder is full it is
quasi-spheroid or ovoid in shape. Its muscular walls are stretched
out. During micturition, as the bladder empties, the superior and
inferolateral walls contract. Wrinkles, or rugae, form in these
walls as they shrink. The bladder neck and trigone area is more
firmly anchored to underlying tissue and does not shrink as
significantly or form rugae. Consequently the shrinkage of the
bladder is not uniform and most of the reduction in size comes from
the shrinkage of the superiolateral and inferolateral walls, and
from the superior wall, or dome, becoming convex as it collapses
towards the trigone and bladder neck area.
[0103] Accordingly, intravesical implants can preferably be
configured to avoid, or not be capable of entering the bladder neck
and trigone area. This can reduce or eliminate irritation to these
sensitive areas containing the majority of the pain receptors in
the bladder. Also, recognizing the non-uniform contraction of the
bladder as it empties, other embodiments can include devices that
reside in the folded perimeter of the bladder and/or comprise an
open center (such as a toroid) or perforated center (i.e., a
central region that permits flow through) that does not contact the
sensitive trigone area, and optionally can remain in a relatively
fixed location.
[0104] If the implant gets too large, then it can diminish the
urine storage capacity of the bladder to the point where the
patient may need to urinate more frequently. Accordingly, one or
more embodiments of devices are adapted to not occupy more than 10%
of a typical functional capacity of the bladder. In other
embodiments, the volume of the implant can be as high as 20%- 50%
of functional capacity. In other embodiments, the volume of the
implant can be as high as 50%-over 100% of functional capacity.
[0105] In certain embodiments, the pressure attenuation devices
provided herein can be suitable for providing a platform for an
intravesical device comprising a drug delivery device, data
collection device, attenuation device, nerve stimulation device,
wave producing device, vibration producing device, pressure sensing
device, chemical sensing device, volume sensing device, pH sensing
device, or a therapeutic device. Such functions may be in addition
to or as an alternative to the pressure attenuation functions
described herein.
[0106] As discussed previously, the pressure attenuation device 17,
66 can be at least partially expandable. Expansion facilitates
delivery by allowing the device 17, 66 to assume a first delivery
profile for passage through the urethra or surgical opening in the
bladder and to assume a second expanded profile operable to prevent
the implant from entering the trigone region. In some embodiments,
the expanded device 17, 66 can be characterized by one or more
dimensions greater than the smallest cross-section distance of the
trigone region. FIG. 13B schematically illustrates an embodiment of
a pressure attenuation device 17, 66, which can be configured
according to the embodiments described herein, positioned within
the bladder 5.
Attenuation
[0107] FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate the principle of attenuation (i.e.,
pressure reduction) with various attenuation device air volumes.
The data for these graphs were generated using a bench top bladder
simulation program. Here, the maximum spike pressure is 2.0 psi.
The spike event duration is approximately 40 ms, which is
approximately equivalent to the duration of a coughing or sneezing
event. With reference to FIG. 11A, a test was conducted with a 250
ml rigid plastic container filled with synthetic urine or water. A
regulated pressure of 2.0 psi was introduced into the container via
a controlled solenoid valve. A pressure transducer detected the
pressure rise. Here, the pressure rise time (Tr) of the container
pressure 422 to reach 2.0 psi was approximately 40 msec. With
reference to FIG. 11B, a similar test was conducted on a 250 ml
rigid plastic container. Here, an attenuation device filled with 15
ml of air was placed inside the container filled with synthetic
urine. Here, the Tr of the container pressure 424 to reach 2.0 psi
was approximately 195 msec. Thus, the attenuation device slowed the
rise time by 4.8.times.. During the spike event (i.e., when time
equaled 40 msec), the pressure inside the container reached 0.7 psi
(vs. 2 psi), resulting in a 65% reduction of pressure vs. baseline.
With reference to FIG. 11C, a similar test was conducted; the only
difference being that the attenuation device was filled with 25 ml
of air. Here, the Tr of the container pressure 426 to reach 2.0 psi
was approximately 290 msec. Thus, the attenuation device slowed the
rise time by 7.25.times.. During the spike event (i.e., when time
equaled 40 msec), the pressure inside the container reached 0.5 psi
(vs. 2 psi), resulting in a 75% reduction of pressure vs. baseline.
With reference to FIG. 11D, a similar test was conducted; the only
difference being that the attenuation device was filled with 30 ml
of air. Here, the Tr of the container pressure 428 to reach 2.0 psi
was approximately 340 msec. Thus, the attenuation device slowed the
rise time by 8.5.times.. During the spike event (i.e., when time
equaled 40 ms), the pressure inside the container reached 0.4 psi
(vs. 2 psi), resulting in an 80% reduction of pressure vs.
baseline.
[0108] FIGS. 12A-12D show pressure vs. time curves generated by a
bench top bladder simulator. FIG. 12A shows the baseline
pressure-time curve without an attenuation device. FIG. 12B shows
the pressure-time curve with an attenuation device having a 15 cc
air volume. FIG. 12C shows the pressure-time curve with an
attenuation device having a 25 cc air volume. FIG. 12D shows the
pressure-time curve with an attenuation device having a 30 cc air
volume.
[0109] Embodiments of the pressure attenuation devices 17, 66
discussed herein can have the ability to treat and/or prevent
stress urinary incontinence by attenuating pressure within the
bladder in a manner as described above . For example, a method of
preventing stress urinary incontinence can include providing a
pressure attenuation devices 17, 66 operable to reversibly occupy
intravesical space in response to a pressure increase event within
a bladder said response operable to impede the rate of an
intravesical pressure increase event during an initial period. The
initial period can be around 0 milliseconds to 1 second from the
event. This can beneficially allow time for neurological signaling
of a guarding reflex to increase the outlet resistance of an
external urinary sphincter sufficient to prevent leakage of urine
through said sphincter after said initial period. The selected
treatment period can beneficially facilitate rehabilitation of a
neuromuscular system of the bladder and restoration of
continence.
Pressurized Implants
[0110] All liquids (and for that matter solids) will evaporate at a
given temperature until they saturate the space above the liquid
with their vapor. The pressure exerted by that saturated vapor is
the vapor pressure. The vapor pressure goes up with temperature and
when a liquid is heated until its vapor pressure is greater than
one atmosphere, it boils while trying to maintain the space above
it at its vapor pressure, now more than one atmosphere. Likewise if
the vapor of a liquid is concentrated (e.g., compressed) to be
present at a partial pressure (concentration) greater than its
vapor pressure, it condenses. Some liquids have very low vapor
pressures (e.g., cooking oil, high molecular weight PFCs) and some
have high vapor pressures (e.g., alcohol, gasoline, lower molecular
weight PFCs). Within this document the abbreviation, PFC, is used
for perfluorocarbon.
[0111] Partial pressure is both a measure of pressure (force/area)
and a unit of gas concentration (at constant temperature,
proportional to moles/volume). A "p" placed in front of the
chemical symbol of a gas generally denotes it as the partial
pressure of that gas, e.g., pCO.sub.2. The total of all partial
pressures inside a container is the gas pressure measured inside
that container. Diffusion is controlled by the difference in
concentration across a boundary or membrane and thus for gases the
rate is proportional to the difference in partial pressures of the
gas on both sides of a membrane.
[0112] Gas tension is a measure of the amount of a gas dissolved in
a liquid (e.g., O.sub.2 or CO.sub.2 in blood, urine). It is a
preferred measurement for the liquid systems described here. Gas
tension is defined as the partial pressure of a gas that would
equilibrate with the liquid sample causing it to contain the same
quantity (g/ml or moles/liter) of that gas as is in the test
sample. It is expressed as a partial pressure with units of mm Hg,
torr, or cm H.sub.2O.
[0113] Many of embodiments of the devices described herein rely on
compliance to attenuate or buffer pressure spikes, such as in the
bladder. Compliance is the change in volume (V) of a device per
unit change in applied pressure (P) on the device (dV/dP). This is
the slope at any point in a plot of volume (V) of the device vs.
pressure (P) applied to the device. For example, compliance is
often calculated from V vs. P curves of the lung to indicate the
effort needed to breathe. In our case it is a measure of how
capable a device is of dampening a pressure spike. High compliance
means a large device volume reduction to relieve a given pressure
spike. Since the V vs. P curve is often non-linear, the slope,
dV/dP=compliance, is not constant throughout the working region of
a device. Internal gas pressures, geometry of the device, volume of
the device and elasticity of the skin of the device can be chosen
to maximize compliance under the conditions expected for each
application.
[0114] Tables and charts are readily available which show the vapor
pressure of a given PFC as a function of temperature and can be
useful in designing a device with certain pressure properties, as
shown herein.
[0115] For liquids, the amount of dissolved gas is stated as a gas
tension. This is the equilibrated partial pressure of the gas that
results in the amount of dissolved gas. Since this is the liquid
concentration that is relevant for diffusion across biological
membranes, it is commonly used in medicine for gases in the blood
e.g., pO.sub.2 or pCO.sub.2 and has units of pressure, e.g., mm Hg,
or cm H.sub.2O. Gas tensions are actually a measure of saturation
level rather than true concentrations. Thus, a sample of blood with
an N.sub.2 tension of 593 mm Hg or O.sub.2 tension of 160 mm Hg
would be saturated with those gases when exposed to a gas mixture
containing partial pressures of 593 mm Hg of N.sub.2 or 160 mm Hg
of O.sub.2. This is regardless of how many moles or milligrams per
ml were dissolved in the sample. Unlike gaseous systems where
compression of the system elevates the gaseous partial pressures in
the system, gas tensions of gas molecules dissolved in an
incompressible liquid are not affected by hydrostatic
pressures.
[0116] Another factor to consider is the fact that a vessel/balloon
containing a gas and/or a liquid could be constructed of an elastic
material. As the pressure of gas inside the balloon increases
relative to the pressure outside the vessel, the vessel can seek to
expand to neutralize the difference in pressure between inside and
outside the vessel. As the vessel expands it will stretch and exert
a force which countermands the force of the gas pressure within.
This is sometimes known as skin tension causing skin pressure.
Thus, an equilibrium state could exist where the pressure outside
such an elastic vessel is 760 mm Hg, the pressure inside the vessel
is 780 mm Hg, and the skin tension of the vessel exerts a force on
the gas within it that is equal and opposite to the expansionary
force of the extra 20 mm Hg within the vessel.
[0117] It is important to consider the gases and the concentrations
of those gases which can be found within the body when placing an
implant therein. Generally, there is a close relation to the gases
found in the ambient atmosphere outside the body, and those within.
In normal air, the largest component is nitrogen. The components of
a gas are, in fact referred to according to their partial
pressures. That is, when it is said that air is 78% nitrogen, it
means that this is the percentage of the total gas pressure due to
nitrogen. The second most common component is oxygen, whose partial
pressure contributes 21% of total atmospheric pressure. Other gases
make up the remaining 1% (e.g., CO.sub.2 is 0.04% and thus can be
neglected in most calculations discussed herein) of the total
pressure. Also, the body does not metabolize nitrogen, and it is
present within the body's fluids, and its partial pressure
contribution is related to its contribution outside the body,
limited by its solubility in the respective fluids. Thus, if the
ambient pressure is 760 mm Hg, then the total pressure is 760 mm
Hg, the partial pressure of nitrogen is 593 mm Hg or 78%. The
partial pressure of oxygen, expressed as pO.sub.2, is 160 mm Hg, or
21%. The partial pressure of the remaining gases would be about 8
mm Hg, or about 1%.
[0118] The nitrogen concentration in blood is related to nitrogen's
solubility in blood but, since it is not metabolized, its gas
tension is essentially equal to the nitrogen partial pressure in
air. The oxygen concentration in blood is more complex, since
oxygen is actively bound to hemoglobin in the blood--boosting
blood's capability to carry oxygen. Also, unlike nitrogen, oxygen
is metabolized in the body, so its concentration can vary
significantly within the body. The amount of oxygen present in
blood varies and is reported as "oxygen saturation," or the % of
the maximum oxygen that blood can carry or the oxygen tension
pO.sub.2. For a healthy person, this is typically in the range of
95 to 98%. Venous blood is typically in the range of 60 to 80%.
When considering the diffusion of oxygen across membranes the
preferred measurement is the oxygen tension or pO.sub.2. Oxygen
concentration in fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous humor
and bladder urine also varies.
[0119] In the article "Noninvasive Oxygen Partial Pressure
Measurement of Human Body Fluids in Vivo Using Nuclear Magnetic
Imaging" by Zaharchuk et al. (Acad. Radiol. 2006; 13:1016-1024), a
table of gas tensions of oxygen in various body fluids is detailed.
Information from that article is summarized in Table 1, below. The
authors, Zaharchuk et al., attempted to measure partial pressure of
gases in the body using MM. In an effort to verify their
measurements they performed a literature review to see what other
researchers had estimated the partial pressures to be.
[0120] In Table 1, the oxygen partial pressure for particular
bodily fluids is given. The middle column is Zaharchuk's
measurement and the right column is what they found by studying the
literature. Also, one should note that the partial pressure of
oxygen in the atmosphere is 160 mm Hg and thus fully air
equilibrated fluids, if there were no consumption, would have
oxygen tensions of 160 mm Hg.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Body Fluids and Oxygen Partial Pressure
Values Actual pO.sub.2 measured Literature Review "best by
Zaharchuk estimate" range Body Fluid et al. (mm Hg) of pO.sub.2 (mm
Hg) Cerebrospinal fluid in 52 +/- 14 30-74 Lateral ventricles
Cerebrospinal fluid in 62 +/- 29 31-74 Cisterna magna Cerebrospinal
fluid in 138 +/- 46 Not Found in the cortical sulcal Literature
Cerebrospinal fluid in 69 +/- 22 40-57 lumbar subarachnoid Vitreous
Humor 63 +/- 34 9-20 Bladder Urine 63 +/- 16 25-80
[0121] Pressure within the abdomen and within the bladder is
typically measured in units of "centimeters of water" or cm
H.sub.2O, where 1.0 mm Hg corresponds to 1.33 cm H.sub.2O. So, for
example, the partial pressure of oxygen in atmospheric air is about
212 cm H.sub.2O, and the partial pressure of oxygen in bladder
urine is approximately 84 cm H.sub.2O. Hence, there is a partial
pressure "deficit" of oxygen in bladder urine corresponding to
approximately 128 cm H.sub.2O.
[0122] Provided herein are improved pressurizable, compressible,
and/or expandable devices for attenuating pressure waves or spikes
in the body and for preventing or relieving various pathological
conditions and improving surgical outcomes.
[0123] Several of the therapeutic devices herein are comprised of
implantable balloons, vessels, enclosures, envelopes, pistons, or
hydraulic devices that contain gas or gas/liquid mixtures. Such
devices can define a range of permeability. Examples of such
devices can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,532 and US Publication
No. 2007-0156167 herein incorporated by reference. Various
embodiments herein provide for rapid, delayed, or controlled in
situ inflation or deflation. In other embodiments, the devices are
further comprised of relatively soft, distensible, thin, and
consequently gas permeable membranes. Over time these devices will
deflate and become ineffective or fail unless fitted with a "gas
generator" of a selected high vapor pressure media. Certain other
methods and devices provided herein include the maintenance of
inflation for a selected period of time by providing the pressure
attenuation device with a high vapor pressure media.
[0124] In some embodiments, the pressure attenuation device 17, 66
as described herein is placed in the bladder to attenuate pressure
spikes that would otherwise cause urinary incontinence. As shown in
FIGS. 13A and 13B, pressure "P" on the bladder, for example from
physical activity can cause urine leakage 104 in those who suffer
from urinary incontinence. Embodiments of the implant 17, 66
(schematically illustrated in FIG. 13B as positioned within the
bladder) can be positioned within the bladder to absorb the
pressure in the bladder so that there is no urine leakage.
[0125] The pressure within the bladder is typically a little bit
higher than atmospheric pressure, since it typically contains urine
which displaces the bladder's muscular walls. The walls of the
bladder, through their muscle tone and mass, exert force on the
urine inside, resulting in typical pressures that can be around 15
cm H.sub.2O above atmospheric in some patients. For the sake of
simplifying discussion in this document, we will simply use this
number as an approximation of average bladder pressure. If the
balloon is under-filled with air such that there is no skin
pressure to consider, then there will be a situation immediately
before the balloon is placed in the bladder where the pressure
within the bladder is atmospheric plus 15 cm H.sub.2O, and the
pressure within the balloon is atmospheric pressure. When the
balloon is placed within the bladder, the balloon will
instantaneously compress, so that its contents are at the same
total pressure as the hydraulic pressure with which the urine in
the bladder is pressing on the balloon. That is, the now slightly
compressed gas will press outwards on the walls of the balloon with
the same force that the liquid in the bladder will push inwards.
This "force equilibrium" of exactly equal and opposite forces
exerted from within the balloon outwards, and outside the balloon
inwards is one equilibrium that should be considered in this
example.
[0126] In the force equilibrium, the liquid or hydraulic pressure
within the bladder pushes on the balloon, and the now slightly
compressed gas within the balloon pushes outwards on the liquid.
The inwardly pushing forces should balance with the outwardly
pushing forces or the balloon will either burst or collapse.
[0127] The second equilibrium to be considered is partial pressure
equilibrium. The partial pressures of the individual gas
constituents within the balloon will seek to equilibrate with the
gas tensions of the dissolved gas in the liquid outside the
balloon.
[0128] In this example, first assume that initially, before the
balloon was inserted, that the proportions of gas in atmospheric
air were in the balloon, and that the same proportions of dissolved
gas existed in the urine. The balloon was compressed slightly when
it was inserted, so all of the partial pressures of the gas
constituents increased by an amount proportional to the decrease in
volume due to the compression. This results in a situation where
there will be higher partial pressures of the individual gas
components inside the balloon versus the gas tensions of the same
gases outside the balloon. This will result in diffusion of these
gases out of the balloon into the urine. As the gases leave the
balloon, the balloon will shrink to maintain the force balance. In
this example, this net out-of-the-balloon gas diffusion will
continue until the balloon is completely empty. The rate of
deflation will be a function of the permeability of the membrane to
the gases held within and the difference between the hydrostatic
pressure in the bladder and the total gas tension of gases
dissolved in the urine.
[0129] In one aspect of certain embodiments of the disclosure is
the addition of a high vapor pressure media such as PFC to the
contents of the balloon. Since some selected or preferred PFCs have
high vapor pressures, the partial pressure of the PFC will add to
the existing partial pressures of the other gases to increase the
overall gas pressure in the device. A small amount of liquid high
vapor media such as PFC within the balloon serves as a reservoir or
generator and will offset losses due to slow diffusion and maintain
a constant PFC partial pressure.
[0130] The stable size of the balloon depends on the maintenance of
a supply of liquid high vapor pressure media such as PFC inside the
balloon, the balance of force as regulated by balloon size, and the
balance of partial pressures. If any of these key factors moves out
of balance the balloon will either grow or shrink.
Selection and Determination of the Vapor Pressure or Partial
Pressure PFC Element
[0131] In a simplified embodiment involving an air-filled balloon
placed into the bladder or other liquid filled bodily organ one
will note that the device will float in the bladder and rest near
the top of the bladder. It will not deflate; therefore there is
equilibrium between the air inside the balloon and the liquid
pressing upon it. The gas molecules inside the balloon provide an
internal force (F.sub.int) that presses outwards, and the hydraulic
pressure of the urine provides an external force (F.sub.ext) that
presses inward on the balloon. For the balloon to exist, the forces
should be in balance as illustrated here, that is
F.sub.int=F.sub.ext. The internal force is created by the pressure
of the gas inside the balloon.
[0132] In this example, the gas inside the balloon was normal
atmospheric air, at sea level, when it was inserted. So its total
pressure before insertion was approximately 760 mm Hg which is
approximately equal to 1000 cm H.sub.2O. This total pressure of
1000 cm H.sub.2O is, as described by Dalton's law, equal to the sum
of the partial pressures of its gas components. Normal atmospheric
air is comprised of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1%
other gases. Since the total pressure is 1000 cm H2O, we can
surmise that the partial pressure of nitrogen or P.sub.N2 is equal
to 780 cm H.sub.2O, the partial pressure of oxygen or Poe is
roughly 210 cm H.sub.2O, and the partial pressure of other gases or
P.sub.OG is 10 cm H.sub.2O. The partial pressures and total
pressure of the balloon outside the bladder are shown in Table
2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Internal Balloon Pressure When Outside the
Bladder P.sub.N2= 780 cm H.sub.2O P.sub.O2= 210 cm H.sub.2O
+P.sub.OG= 10 cm H.sub.2O Balloon total pressure= 1000 cm
H.sub.2O
[0133] As soon as the balloon is inserted into a urine filled
bladder or organ, it will be subjected to hydraulic pressure due to
the muscle tone of the abdomen and bladder pressing on the urine
within. This is a frequently measured physiological parameter, and
15 cm H.sub.2O is a typical value, so we will use this in our
example. Now, the patient into whom the balloon has been inserted
is residing at sea level, so this "inside the bladder" (or
intravesical) pressure is equal to the sum of atmospheric pressure
plus the 15 cm H.sub.2O, or 1015 cm H.sub.2O. This means that in
order to satisfy the force equilibrium, the total pressure inside
the balloon changes so that it equals 1015 cm H.sub.2O also. It
does this by compressing and getting smaller. The balloon will
instantaneously compress as it is inserted into the bladder.
According to Boyle's law, the pressure and volume of a gas are
directly proportional according to the relationship:
P.sub.1V.sub.1=P.sub.2V.sub.2. This means that in order for the
gases' volume to decrease, its pressure increases, in this case by
15 cm H.sub.2O or by 1.5%.
[0134] The total pressure of the gas inside the balloon has now
changed, due to the compression, but the molar quantities and
proportions of the gases within has not changed. Table 3 shows the
partial pressures and total pressure of the balloon inside the
bladder are (with rounding).
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Internal Balloon Pressure When Inside the
Bladder P.sub.N2 = 780 + 1.5% = 792 cm H.sub.2O P.sub.O2 = 210 +
1.5% = 213 cm H.sub.2O +P.sub.OG = 10 + 1.5% = 10 cm H.sub.2O
Balloon total pressure= 1015 cm H.sub.2O
[0135] In this example, gas diffusion equilibrium should also be
considered. Urine in the body, like other body fluids, contains
dissolved gas. The amount of gas dissolved in these fluids is
governed by the gases' solubility in the fluid, and whether or not
it reacts chemically or biologically with the fluid. For example,
blood can contain a much higher percentage of oxygen than water,
due to the fact that the oxygen is bound to the hemoglobin in red
blood cells. The gas tensions of gases in urine will be different
than the partial pressures of gases found in atmospheric air (most
likely lower). The gas tensions will also not be governed by the
hydraulic pressure of the fluid, since these fluids are, relative
to gas, incompressible and hydraulic pressure does not affect their
solubility.
[0136] In an embodiment wherein the balloon is constructed of a
material that is permeable to gas, the gas will seek to diffuse
from the high partial pressures in the balloon into the liquid
where the gas tensions are lower. For example, consider the fact
that the partial pressure of oxygen in bladder urine could be
around 84 cm H.sub.2O (as described previously) and in this
example, the partial pressure of oxygen is 213 cm H.sub.2O in the
balloon. This gradient will result in oxygen exiting the balloon at
a rate determined by the gas permeability of the wall of the
balloon. As the oxygen exits, the balloon will shrink to maintain
the force equilibrium. This exiting of oxygen, and balloon
shrinkage will be echoed by nitrogen and the other gases present,
although at varying rates. The end result will be complete
deflation of the balloon over time.
[0137] A means to maintain balloon inflation, as described herein,
is to provide a supply of liquid PFC inside the balloon. The liquid
PFC will rapidly vaporize, and provide a supply of PFC gas whose
partial pressure is "locked" at the vapor pressure of the PFC. This
PFC will not diffuse out of the balloon as it is not soluble in
water or urine. Let's consider a balloon containing a PFC whose
partial pressure is 120 cm H.sub.2O, plus normal air, inserted into
the bladder as before. Table 4 shows the partial pressures, if the
balloon was hypothetically filled outside the bladder at
atmospheric pressure, before the PFC has a chance to vaporize.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Internal Balloon Pressure Before
Vaporization P.sub.N2= 780 cm H.sub.2O P.sub.O2= 210 cm H.sub.2O
P.sub.OG= 10 cm H.sub.2O +P.sub.PFC= 0 cm H.sub.2O Balloon total
pressure= 1000 cm H.sub.2O
[0138] In an example embodiment, outside the bladder situation, as
the PFC vaporizes, the balloon will expand to maintain the force
equilibrium. The gas quantities and proportions other than the PFC
will remain constant, so they are, in effect, diluted by the PFC
whose partial pressure will be fixed at its vapor pressure of 12-cm
H.sub.2O. Thus, moments later, the partial pressures in the now
expanded balloon will be as shown in Table 5. The balloon will have
expanded 12%, the partial pressures of the constituent gases other
than PFC will maintain their proportions since the moles of gas are
the same; however they will reduce proportionally as shown:
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Internal Balloon Pressure After Vaporization
P.sub.N2= 686 cm H.sub.2O P.sub.O2= 185 cm H.sub.2O P.sub.OG= 9 cm
H.sub.2O +P.sub.PFC= 120 cm H.sub.2O Balloon total pressure= 1000
cm H.sub.2O
[0139] If this balloon is placed into the bladder, then the bladder
pressure, 15 cm H.sub.2O, should equilibrate to a new total
pressure of 1015 cm H.sub.2O as before. The balloon will shrink by
1.5% and the new partial pressures are shown approximately in Table
6.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Internal Balloon Pressure After Vaporization
When Inside the Bladder P.sub.N2= 697 cm H.sub.2O P.sub.O2= 189 cm
H.sub.2O P.sub.OG= 9 cm H.sub.2O +P.sub.PFC= 120 cm H.sub.2O
Balloon total pressure= 1015 cm H.sub.2O
[0140] If the gas tension of dissolved gas in the urine is lower
than the new partial pressures in the balloon, gas will be driven
out of the balloon at a rate which is regulated by the gas
permeability of the balloon, and the balloon will shrink. If the
partial pressure of the dissolved gas in the urine is higher than
these new partial pressures, then gas will be drawn into the
balloon at a rate which is regulated by the gas permeability of the
balloon, and the balloon will grow. However, the partial pressure
of the PFC will remain fixed. Note that for simplicity, this
example excluded the impact of the skin tension of the balloon. The
next example will consider skin tension.
[0141] The partial pressure of the PFC can be selected by tuning
its vapor pressure. In order to maintain a balloon whose volume is
stable, the PFC should be selected so that a diffusion balance is
maintained. The formula can be derived as follows. First, the
pressure inside the balloon equals the pressure outside the
balloon, or else the balloon will collapse or burst.
P.sub.Inside Balloon=P.sub.Bladder-avg+P.sub.Skin-tension (1)
[0142] As discussed herein, P.sub.Inside Balloon (the pressure
inside the balloon) is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of
the gases within the balloon. As shown here, it is also equal to
the hydraulic pressure pushing upon it plus the pressure due to the
balloon skin. The term, P.sub.Bladder-avg, comprises the hydraulic
pressure pushing upon the balloon due to abdominal pressure,
bladder muscle tension and other factors. The skin pressure,
P.sub.Skin-tension, is the inward force exerted by the stretching
material of a balloon's walls, or in other cases, simply the weight
exerted on the gas within by a flaccid under inflated balloon. This
equation is simply another version of the "force equilibrium"
equation described earlier.
[0143] At the same time, recall that the total pressure within the
balloon is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the gases
it contains:
[0144] Note: All pressures below are absolute pressures
P.sub.Inside Balloon=P.sub.N2-balloon+P.sub.O2-balloon+P.sub.other
gases-balloon+P.sub.PFC (2)
[0145] Since the partial pressure of the other gases is only 1% of
the sum of all the non PFC gases, this can be approximated as being
zero, so:
P.sub.Inside Balloon=P.sub.N2-balloon+P.sub.O2-balloon+P.sub.PFC
(3)
[0146] Equation (1) from the force equilibrium was as follows:
P.sub.Inside Balloon=P.sub.Bladder-avg+P.sub.Skin-tension (1)
[0147] Therefore combining equations (1) and (3) gives:
P.sub.Bladder-avg+P.sub.Skin-tension=P.sub.N2-balloon+P.sub.O2-balloon+P-
.sub.PFC (4)
[0148] Over time, gas diffusion will occur, and P.sub.N2-balloon
and P.sub.O2-balloon will equilibrate to values that approximate
the partial pressures of oxygen and nitrogen dissolved in the urine
(their gas tensions). Therefore:
P.sub.N2-balloon+P.sub.O2-balloon=P.sub.Dissolved gas (6)
[0149] And by combing (4) and (6) we get:
P.sub.Bladder-avg+P.sub.Skin-tension=P.sub.Dissolved gas+P.sub.PFC
(7)
Or
P.sub.PFC=P.sub.Bladder-avg+P.sub.Skin-tension-P.sub.Dissolved gas
(8)
[0150] Where:
[0151] P.sub.PFC=The desired vapor pressure of the PFC.
[0152] P.sub.Bladder-avg=The average bladder pressure over time
(i.e., course of a day) or more generally, the anatomical
environment/hydrostatic average.
[0153] P.sub.dissolved-gases=The total gas tension of bladder
urine.
[0154] P.sub.skin tension=The inward force exerted by the skin of
the balloon.
[0155] More generally, the equation for selecting a PFC suitable
for maintaining a pressurized device according to one or more
aspects of the disclosure in a given anatomical environment is:
P.sub.PFC=P.sub.anatomical
environment/hydrostatic-avg+P.sub.Skin-tension-P.sub.Dissolved gas
(9)
[0156] In another embodiment the selection for the high vapor
pressure element can be described as:
atmospheric pressure+Ppfc=external pressure or loads on implant
(10)
[0157] Where the external loads include: tension generated by skin
of the balloon, normal somatic pressure during fill and void of
organ (if applicable), transient somatic pressure, e.g., abdominal,
patient generated valsalva, bodily weight on organ e.g., abdominal
weight on bladder or on bladder wall/balloon when the bladder is
empty, differential between gas tensions in body fluid and partial
pressures within balloon.
[0158] Having shown how to determine an appropriate vapor pressure
for the PFC element, one can now select an appropriate mixture of
PFCs to approximate this value. The P.sub.PFC can be selected by
mixing PFCs of different vapor pressures, and calculating the
composite vapor pressure based on the proportions of the moles of
the individual PFCs.
[0159] One consideration is the average pressure within the desired
area of the body (P.sub.anatomical environment/hydrostatic-avg). In
the example of a device implanted in the bladder, the average
pressure within the area of the body would be a time average of the
pressure in the bladder (P.sub.Bladder-avg). This would encompass
the average of: the low pressure of slowly filling bladder;
pressure spikes from events such as laughs, coughs or sneezes;
higher pressures achieved during micturition, or during valsalva.
Other hollow organs and tissue sites would similarly vary in
pressure ranges, from which an average value could be
calculated.
[0160] Another consideration is the total gas tension of the bodily
fluid in the particular area of the body (P.sub.Dissolved gas) to
be treated. This includes all the dissolved gases in the bodily
fluid such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or other gases. In
the bladder, the bodily fluid is urine. The total gas tension in
urine can vary based on the patient's diet, presence of substances
in the urine that bind oxygen or other gases, or the gases that the
patient is inhaling. For example, a patient breathing pure oxygen
would have a higher oxygen gas tension. It is also worth noting
that gas tension will almost always be less than the hydrostatic,
anatomical pressure, or bladder/organ/implantation site pressure.
Also note that the driving force for deflation is that the
concentration of gases inside the device is higher than the total
gas tension outside the device.
[0161] Several of these parameters will vary from patient to
patient. For example, average bladder pressure in men is generally
higher than that of women. Average bladder pressure can vary from
person to person within a gender based on how full each individual
lets their bladder get before voiding. Also, average bladder
pressure can vary due to pathology, for example, due to a condition
known as detrusor instability which causes undesired contractions
of the bladder's muscular walls. Bladder pressure can also vary due
to physical activity. One would expect that the average bladder
pressure of a weight lifter would be higher during a weight lifting
competition than it is for a sedentary individual. As mentioned
herein, the bladder gas tensions can vary based on diet, lung
function, metabolic rate, and other factors.
[0162] An additional consideration is the skin tension of the
balloon. The skin tension of the balloon can vary based on many
factors, including the material of the balloon, the thickness of
the material, and its means of construction. It can also vary based
on how "stretched" it is. For example, a balloon that has a volume
of 3 ml when empty and is filled with 15 ml will be much more
stretched than the same balloon filled to 5 ml.
[0163] It is conceivable that a balloon that has a stable volume
over time could be created by measuring each of the above
parameters and selecting the PFC based on that. Also, an individual
could be "titrated" so that various PFCs are tried and one that is
stable over time is selected. A combination of the two methods
could be used as well--for example, gross measurement of physical
parameters followed by "trying" PFCs of different partial
pressures.
[0164] Various means could be used to achieve this measurement
and/or titration. For example, a pressure sensor that resides in
the bladder and either transmits data out of the bladder
telemetrically, or stores it for later retrieval, could be used to
determine average bladder pressure. Pressure information of other
hollow organs such as the eye, heart, cranium, lungs, stomach,
liver, gall bladder, etc. or bodily sites could similarly be
obtained. Sensors, such as those used for blood gas measurement
could be used to measure the total gas tension of urine in the
bladder and the individual tensions of the constituent gases.
Finally, balloons can be selected or filled in order to achieve a
desired skin tension. Test device involving balloons with strain
gauges and pressure gauges to record or transmit data for short
time could also be used to determine pressures and skin tension
values.
[0165] Two examples of how the gas pressures in urine could be
measured include the use of a blood gas analyzer, such as those
available from Radiometer America Inc. or the MRI approach
described by Zaharchuk et al., referenced herein.
[0166] A blood gas analyzer can be used to sample gases in the
urine. A patient's bladder would be allowed to fill normally. A
catheter or tube would be inserted into the patient's bladder.
Urine would be extracted into a syringe or vial. The vial would be
inserted into the machine, and standard readouts can be obtained.
PO.sub.2 (partial pressure of oxygen in the sample) is an
example.
[0167] The blood gas analyzer runs the risk of inaccuracies related
to how quickly the measurement is performed. The sample can become
contaminated in the time between taking the sample and sending to
the lab. Also, the measurement may not be as accurate as needed
since there is measurement error in the machine. A difference of 10
cm H.sub.2O can be enough to make the difference with regard to a
balloon inflating or deflating thus, these inaccuracies can be make
the error too great to be useful.
[0168] Concerning MRIs, MRI machines are big, and expensive. Thus,
it is not practical to place every patient inside an MRI machine.
Furthermore the accuracy of the method ranges from +/-14 mm Hg to
+/-46 mm Hg. 14 mm Hg corresponds to +/-18.6 cm H.sub.2O, too broad
a range for most applications described herein.
[0169] A preferred method is to "titrate" the PFC. First, based on
the information described herein the Physician can estimate the
relative gas partial pressures in urine and the needed partial
pressure of the PFC. For example, the estimate can be in the range
of 100 to 130 cm H.sub.2O. A clinical study can be performed in
which a series of patients are studied using balloons containing
PFC with a partial pressure of 110 cm H.sub.2O. The state of these
patient's balloons upon removal would be monitored carefully. One
possible result is that on average the balloons could be decreasing
slightly in size over a 3 month period. Continuing the example,
another series of patients could be studied using a PFC with a
vapor pressure of 120 cm H.sub.2O. Upon examining their balloons
after 3 months, one possible result is that their balloons could be
growing slightly in size over 3 months. This result would tell us
that the ideal vapor pressure would be in between 110 and 120 cm
H.sub.2O. The next step would be to try a series of patients with a
vapor pressure of 115, and so on.
[0170] One advantage of the titration method is that the desired
outcome is the best partial pressure on average over time. The
partial pressure of oxygen in urine, for example, will change over
the course of the day. It is likely to be different during sleeping
and waking hours. It can also be affected by diet, for example,
eating foods rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C) can affect oxygen
partial pressure. The titration method yields the value that is
optimum for the long term successful inflation of the balloon.
Other methods that provide an instantaneous measurement (such as
blood gas monitors or MRI) would not provide this benefit. It would
be impractical to make such measurements many times over the course
of a day, days, or even weeks or months.
Setting the Vapor Pressure of the Selected PFC Element
[0171] The PFC vapor pressure of the PFC element or additive can be
set by choosing the molecular weight/number of carbons and isomer
form of the PFC (rings, branched, linear) or using hetero-atoms
such as Br or H. These pure compounds will have a constant vapor
pressure throughout the life of the device as it very slowly looses
PFC through the aqueous fluid surrounding the device.
[0172] Intermediate vapor pressures can also be produced by using
mixtures of PFCs, though these mixtures will change component
ratios after initial vaporization and slowly through the life of
the device. If mixtures are used, an excess quantity of PFC should
be put in the device to minimize the vapor pressure changes (unless
we want the vapor pressure and thus inflation pressure to slowly
decrease). The vapor pressure of a liquid mixture can be predicted
by Raoult's Law where the total vapor pressure is the sum of each
component PFC vapor pressure times its mole fraction in the liquid.
This means the most volatile component leaves faster and the vapor
pressure of the remaining PFC mixture slowly drifts toward the
vapor pressure of the least volatile component in the mixture. This
effect is exacerbated as the higher vapor pressure PFCs also are in
general lower in molecular weight so they also diffuse faster and
have higher water solubilities.
[0173] Examples of PFCs suitable for use as a high vapor pressure
media in various devices described herein include:
perfluoropropane, perfluorobutane, perfluoropentane,
perfluorohexane, perfluoroheptane, perfluorooctane,
perfluorononane, perfluorodecane, perfluorooctylbromide,
perflubron, and perfluorodecylbromide. As explained herein, two or
more PFCs can be combined to form a liquid mixture with a
particular vapor pressure according to their mole fraction in the
liquid. A preferred range of vapor pressures for a PFC element in
one or more embodiments is around 50-200 cm H.sub.2O. In other
embodiments the preferred range of selected vapor pressures for a
PFC element is around 100-150 cm H.sub.2O. In other embodiments,
for example in the bladder, the preferred range of selected vapor
pressures for a PFC element is around 115-130 cm H.sub.2O, around
120 cm H.sub.2O or around 115-117 cm H.sub.2O. For example, in some
embodiments a mixture of about 0.5 mole perfluorooctane and about
0.5 mole perfluoroheptane can result in a vapor pressure of between
around 115 and 130 cm H.sub.2O at 37.degree. C. In another example,
a mixture of 0.545 mole perfluorooctane and 0.455 mole
perfluoroheptane can result in a vapor pressure of about 120 cm
H.sub.2O. The preferred range of selected vapor pressures for a PFC
element can be based in part on pO.sub.2 of the anatomical
structure. Thus, for example, areas of the body with a pO.sub.2
similar to that of the bladder can also use a similar PFC pressure
range. As pO.sub.2 increases the desired PFC vapor pressure range
decreases.
[0174] Volumes of the PFC element are generally limited by the
volume of the organ or tissue site in which the implant containing
the PFC element is implanted and by the duration in which the
pressurization is intended to be maintained. A preferred range of
volumes for a PFC element within an implant according to one or
more embodiments is around 0.1-10 ml and more preferably around
0.2-0.6 ml in certain applications involving the eye or the
bladder. Total volumes of implants such a balloons or the balloons
according to one or more embodiments can vary from 0.1 ml to 1.0
L.
[0175] The preferred volume for an implant will vary based on a
variety of factors. The following example demonstrates some of the
considerations for the total volume of an implant in a particular
application. A pressurized implant is added to the bladder in order
to attenuate pressure pulses in the bladder associated with stress
urinary incontinence leakage. The clinical efficacy (preventing
leakage) is increased by increasing the volume of the implant. In
testing, it has been determined that efficacy increases
proportionally to size.
[0176] The functional capacity of a typical urinary bladder is
commonly in the range of 200 to 300 ml. This depends on many
characteristics such as gender, age, health status, etc. If the
implant is too large it will impact the bladder's ability to
perform its primary function of storing urine. "Residual volume" is
a parameter that is commonly measured by urologists and it
describes the measured quantity of urine remaining in a patient's
bladder after they have completed voiding (i.e., they think they
are empty). Based on the experience of urologists it has been
determined that a balloon as large as 30 to 40 ml will not likely
be noticed by patients, specifically with regard to increasing
their frequency of urination. Thus, a preferred balloon volume for
the bladder is between 20 and 30 ml.
Selection of a PFC and Enclosure Skin Tension System
[0177] As discussed herein, one equation for the desired PFC vapor
pressure is:
P.sub.PFC=P.sub.anatomical environment/hydrostatic
avg+P.sub.Skin-tension-P.sub.Dissolved gas (9)
[0178] It is possible that a skin tension and PFC could be chosen
so that the two associated parameters for these characteristics are
much, much larger than the other two parameters (for example
between 5 and 20 times and preferably 10 times). For example in the
bladder, if P.sub.Bladder-average is on the order of 15 cm H.sub.2O
above atmospheric pressure, or about 1015 cm H.sub.2O absolute
pressure; P.sub.dissolved-gases is on the order of 880 cm H.sub.2O;
then a balloon could be selected so that its skin tension pressure
is 10,000 cm H.sub.2O or greater, and a PFC could be chosen with a
vapor pressure that is approximately the same amount. Then, in
theory, a system could be designed that is relatively independent
of the average anatomical environment pressure, here bladder
pressure, and independent of the gas tension of dissolved gases.
This is because, in this example, P.sub.PFC and P.sub.skin-tension
are approximately equal, and much larger than the other two terms.
Similarly, devices used in other anatomical environments and
applications such as ophthalmic, vascular, cardio-vascular, renal,
pulmonary, intracranial, etc., could be designed with similarly
appropriate and corresponding skin tension and P.sub.PFC
values.
Implant Compliance
[0179] An objective of certain devices according to one or more
aspects of the disclosure is to supply compliance, dV/dP or a
maximum change in volume with an elevation of pressure (P.sub.h,
hydrostatic pressure). The presence of an elastic skin only
slightly reduces the compliance of the device. Since the compliance
(dV/dP) of a gas obeying Boyle's law,
P.sub.1/P.sub.2=V.sub.2/V.sub.1, is inversely proportional to the
absolute pressure of the gas inside the device (P.sub.g); as long
as the added skin pressure (P.sub.skin) is significantly less than
one atmosphere (760 mm Hg, 1,033 cm H.sub.2O), the compliance of
the gas is only slightly reduced with an elastic skin (a skin
pressure of 5% of an atm, 50 cm H.sub.2O, has 95% of the dV/dP of
gas without a skin).
[0180] The other cause for a reduction in compliance is that, as
the device volume reduces under an external pressure increase, the
pressure caused by the skin goes down, relieving some of the added
pressure and reducing some of the volume change. This effect is
controlled by the slope of the volume vs. pressure curve (V/P
curve) of the device, which in turn is determined by the skin
materials and geometry. In the case of an inelastic bag, the V/P
curve starts at zero pressure at zero volume and then jumps
vertically to the volume when the bag is full (a full inelastic bag
does not stretch with more gas pressure inside) for any measurable
pressure. This bag has no compliance at pressures that completely
fill it, as the slope of the V/P curve is zero. On the other hand,
a skin that is very stretchy/elastic (e.g., thin silicone) has a
very gradual change in skin pressure as the volume changes (can be
designed to have a large V/P slope at the operating volume) and
only slightly reduces the device compliance. The small magnitudes
of these effects are seen in a toy latex balloon that changes
diameter/volume nearly as much as a free gas when the barometric
pressure or altitude is changed.
[0181] The compliance reducing effects of the skin are reduced and
in some cases overcome by the compliance increasing effects of the
presence of PFC vapors, e.g., their ability to condense when
compressed.
[0182] The vapor pressure of the PFC can be chosen to inflate the
device at equilibrium to a volume where the V/P curve of the device
has a very large positive slope or in other cases just below where
the slope decreases, thereby limiting maximum volume.
[0183] The V/P curve of a device can be calculated from the known
elastic properties of the material (stress/strain relationship) and
mechanical principles (the law of Laplace, P.sub.skin=2 times the
skin tension over device radius). In many cases it can be better to
measure the V/P curve of a device by inflating it with any fluid
(e.g., air or air plus PFC) and then adjusting it. The device V/P
curve can be adjusted, for example, by lowering the V/P slope using
a thicker or stiffer skin material. Modifying the geometry of the
device can also adjust the curve, e.g., the 1/radius law discussed
herein, means that a long small radius cylinder will have a
shallower, lower slope V/P curve than a sphere of the same
volume.
[0184] The V/P curves of the various devices described herein can
be modified in many ways using unique geometry, so that even
essentially inelastic materials can have an elastic V/P curve.
Providing Skin Tension Bias to Sustain Implant Volume in Changing
Pressure Environment
[0185] Various embodiments of devices described herein comprise
balloons, or enclosures comprising a porous vessel where internal
gases and external gases dissolved in the body fluid interchange
over time. Such balloons will tend to expand or contract as the
result of an imbalance between the outside "loads" and the internal
forces supporting the balloon. With correct PFC vapor pressure
selection a small bias can be created where the balloon will grow
until the tension in the skin, e.g., polymer skin, counteracts the
bias of the PFC. The bias can be defined as the sum of all the
partial pressures inside the balloon (PFC+air) minus the external
sum of gas tensions or load in the surrounding environment. Turning
to the equilibrium equation discussed previously, the PFC element
in this embodiment should be greater than or equal to the other
factors:
P.sub.PFC.gtoreq.P.sub.anatomical environment/hydrostatic
avg+P.sub.Skin-tension-P.sub.Dissolved gas (11)
[0186] A balloon's internal pressure verses volume can be plotted
as shown in FIG. 14. In the region from about 0 to 14 ml of volume,
designated as up to "A", the "balloon" is essentially a bag of air
with zero skin tension. When in this "bag region" the balloon can
have markedly decreased patient tolerability. At about 14 ml the
bag becomes a balloon. Increasing amounts of volume put stress on
the skin of the balloon and exert pressure on the internal gases
(as in the region around "B"). Depending upon the balloon material
and construction, this region of the graph showing the additional
volume being gained will be fairly linear. This is analogous to the
elastic region of a stress vs. strain curve, which will remain
linear until either the elastic limit of the material is reached or
the material fails.
[0187] As the volume increases, the balloon continues to stretch
until the wall thickness decreases such that the balloon no longer
exerts increasing levels of force on the internal gases. At this
point the balloon continues to increase in size, however, the
pressure inside the balloon levels off and eventually drops before
the balloon fails. This area is designated with the letter "C". In
balloons that yield, either due to molecular motion or thinning of
the wall, this region of the graph can show slower growth or even
diminishing pressure with added volume. The actual shape of the
curve is material dependent. The shape shown, for example, is
consistent with the behavior of silicone. Similar graphs can be
made for other materials.
[0188] In the region before "A" and the region designated by "C"
the balloon is unstable and tends to change volume as the result of
gaseous interchange across the skin barrier. In the region
designated by "C," the balloon can expand and becomes unstable,
then shrink (e.g., when pressure goes back down). In the region
designated by "A," the balloon can be considered "underinflated," a
condition that can negatively affect implant tolerability. Balloon
stability is created when a positive bias exits where the sum of
the internal partial pressures is greater than the external gas
tensions by an amount less than the height of the curve at "C",
approximately 30 cm H.sub.2O in this example. The positive bias
will increase the balloon's volume until the skin tension increases
the internal pressure to offset the bias. At this point the balloon
will be stable. It would take more internal pressure than exists
within the balloon to further increase in volume, and it is not
able to shrink as the positive bias forces the balloon volume
higher than the bag region (before "A").
[0189] In this way a balloon can be engineered to remain stable in
volume (as opposed to completely shrinking or expanding until
failure) over extended periods of time while experiencing changes
in pressure. This can be done by selecting a PFC with a slight bias
over the anticipated load but, counteracted by the skin tension
profile of the balloon for that pressure range.
[0190] One method of controlling the size of an air and high vapor
pressure media filled porous balloon in situ uses the skin tension
in the balloon wall to offset a purposely created difference
between the external load and the internal resistance. This would
be unnecessary if it were possible to perfectly set the PFC vapor
pressure to offset the external load. However, because the pressure
in the bladder fluctuates and different patients have different
average bladder pressures it can be useful for a device to have
some tolerance to naturally occurring fluctuations and/or to be
able to be used in different patients. By using the skin tension in
the manner prescribed here tolerance can be added to the naturally
occurring variations in average external load on the balloon.
[0191] It has been shown that in the initial under-filled or "bag"
region "A" of the curve or in the post-yield region "C", it is
extremely difficult to control the balloon volume over time. In
order to control the balloon volume over time in these regions, the
PFC vapor pressure would have to be set precisely and the variation
within and between patients would need to be very small.
Conversely, by using the increasing pressure with volume nature of
the "elastic" region "B" of the curve the balloon can find its own
equilibrium and become stable in volume.
[0192] For example, if the average external load across a
population were 100 cm H.sub.2O and the average external load
across the patient population varied from 90 to 110 cm H.sub.2O
then the PFC can be blended to yield a vapor pressure of 120 cm
H.sub.2O. Assuming the balloon is not initially over-filled, the
balloon would gain volume by sucking dissolved gasses from the
surrounding liquid environment. As the balloon increased in volume
the pressure would go up due to the tension created in the balloon
wall. This wall stress will offset the excess vapor pressure of the
PFC blend and the balloon will stop growing and be at
equilibrium.
[0193] Another advantage to designing the system to equalize on
this part of the curve is that the balloon volume changes little
with changes in the external load. This is because in order to
offset small changes in external load a relatively large change in
pressure is required.
[0194] The slope of the pressure vs. volume curve in this region is
the result of the elastic modulus of the material and the geometry
of the balloon. The acceptable limits of this curve are bounded by
comfort and irritation which can be affected by high sloped (or
stiff) balloons and poor volume control from balloons with low
slopes in this region of the curve. Slopes of between 1 and 20 cm
H.sub.2O/ml of volume have been shown to provide bounds to these
criteria. Slopes between 3 and 8 cm H.sub.2O/ml of volume can be
advantageous. As previously mentioned the slope can be designed
into the balloon by the selection of material (elastic modulus) and
geometry (shape and wall thickness).
Attenuation Device with Improved Performance at Various
Elevations
[0195] As discussed herein, the partial pressure of oxygen in
atmospheric air is about 212 cm H.sub.2O, and the partial pressure
of oxygen in bladder urine is approximately 54-120 cm H.sub.2O.
Hence, there is a partial pressure "deficit" of oxygen in bladder
urine corresponding to approximately 129 cm H.sub.2O. However, one
aspect of the disclosure herein is the recognition that depending
on a number of factors, one of which may be elevation (altitude)
the partial pressure of oxygen in atmospheric air can change and
alter the partial pressure deficit of oxygen in the bladder urine.
Depending on the external environment, this can have little effect.
However, in some external environments, the partial pressure
deficit of oxygen can have a meaningful effect on the system
balance. The embodiments of the pressure attenuation device 17, 66
and associated balloons 1711, 68 described herein can be configured
as discussed in this section to address this system balance and
provide improved performance and device robustness across a range
of elevations (altitudes) and/or across a range of urine pO.sub.2
values. According to certain embodiments, the balloons described
herein can advantageously be configured to elastically expand
through large ranges of pressure and a large number of cycles
between such ranges of pressure. In this manner, an advantage of
such embodiments is that if a patient travels from, for example,
sea level to a high elevation and then returns back sea level, the
balloon advantageously remains elastic and does not plastically
deform when the patient returns to sea level.
[0196] The oxygen concentration in bodily fluids, unlike the
concentration of nitrogen, is relatively complex, since oxygen is
actively metabolized in the body. An aspect of this disclosure is
the recognition that the concentration of oxygen can vary
significantly within the body. The amount of oxygen present in
blood varies and is reported as "oxygen saturation," or the % of
the maximum oxygen that blood can carry or the oxygen tension
pO.sub.2. For a healthy person, this is typically in the range of
95 to 98%. Venous blood is typically in the range of 60 to 80%.
When considering the diffusion of oxygen across membranes the
preferred measurement is the oxygen tension or pO.sub.2. Oxygen
concentration in fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous humor
and bladder urine also varies. The partial pressure of oxygen in
the urine is generally about 54-120 cm H.sub.2O.
[0197] Turning, once again, to equation 8, shown below, the forces
that can impact balloon volume include, but are not necessarily
limited to balloon skin tension (which, as discussed herein,
depends on or is a function of balloon volume), average detrusor
pressure, and the partial pressure of dissolved gases in the
bladder.
P.sub.PFC=P.sub.Bladder-avg+P.sub.Skin-tension-P.sub.Dissolved gas
(8)
[0198] Where:
[0199] P.sub.PFC=The vapor pressure of the PFC.
[0200] P.sub.Bladder-avg=The average bladder pressure over time
(i.e., course of a day) or more generally, the anatomical
environment/hydrostatic average. This can be approximated as the
average detrusor pressure, which, in a normal or healthy bladder is
between about 6 to 15 cm H.sub.2O.
[0201] P.sub.dissolved-gases=The total gas tension of bladder
urine. As discussed herein, nitrogen is not metabolized by the body
and can be ignored in the above equation because the partial
pressure of nitrogen in the atmosphere can be assumed to be
approximately equal to the partial pressure of nitrogen in the
body, including in the urine within the body. In much the same way,
as the other gases in atmospheric air comprise only about 1% of the
air, they can be ignored as imparting only a negligible effect.
However, unlike nitrogen, oxygen is metabolized by the body. And,
unlike the other gases in atmospheric air, e.g., the 1%, oxygen
comprises a comparatively large percentage of the air. Therefore,
the differential between the body's partial pressure of oxygen,
e.g., oxygen saturation, and the atmospheric partial pressure of
oxygen cannot be neglected as negligible. Therefore, the partial
pressure of dissolved gases can be approximated as the partial
pressure deficit of oxygen. The partial pressure of oxygen in the
urine is normally about 54-120 cm H.sub.2O and the partial pressure
of oxygen in the atmosphere is normally about 216 cm H.sub.2O;
consequently an approximate partial pressure deficit of oxygen is
about 100 cm H.sub.2O.
[0202] P.sub.skin tension=The inward force exerted by the skin of
the balloon.
[0203] FIG. 15 illustrates a simplified graph of gas volume versus
time for potential balloon loading scenarios (e.g., three different
ratios of total internal loads to total external loads). The
middle, solid line, represents a balloon having a total internal
vapor pressure that is equal to the total external forces. When the
total external loads are equal to the total internal loads, the
balloon with neither shrink nor expand, e.g., the gas volume
remains constant because the balloon is at equilibrium. The lower
dashed line represents a balloon having a total internal vapor
pressure that is less than the total external forces. When the
total external loads on the balloon are greater than the total
internal vapor pressure, the gas volume of the balloon will
decrease over time. Finally, the upper dashed line represents a
balloon having a total internal vapor pressure that is greater than
the total external forces. When the total external loads on the
balloon are less than the total internal vapor pressure, the gas
volume of the balloon will increase over time.
[0204] The vapor pressure of the gases contained within the
balloon, e.g., PFC, relative to the "load" exerted on the gas in
the balloon determines the stability of the balloon's volume. As
applied to a balloon implanted within the body, e.g., within the
bladder, maintaining a substantially constant volume can be
desirable. As discussed herein, increasing volume of the balloon
can sometimes be undesirable. For example, overly increasing the
balloon volume can compromise the balloon, causing it to become
unstable, plastically deform, and experience other, undesirable,
effects. In much the same way, decreasing the volume can cause be
undesirable under certain circumstances. For example, overly
decreasing the balloon volume can decrease the attenuating effects
of the balloon and can allow the underinflated balloon to settle in
the trigone region of the bladder, causing discomfort to the
patient, among other, undesirable, effects.
[0205] One or more environmental conditions can affect the force
balance of Equation (8) and, consequently, the performance of an
implanted balloon. For example, the partial pressure of oxygen in
the atmosphere is elevation dependent. High elevations can have a
number of effects on a pressure attenuation device. For example, a
pressure attenuation device could expand comparatively rapidly when
exposed to increasingly elevation. Expansion can be due, among
other things, to the wall of the balloon being too weak to limit
growth of the device. As the wall of the inflatable implant
expands, it can thin, e.g., it can thin significantly. Thinning of
the membrane wall can compromise the integrity of the balloon. For
example, when the membrane wall is thinned sufficiently it can lose
its ability to elastically deform and can plastically deform.
Plastic deformation of the balloon can deleteriously affect the
ability of the device to attenuate transient pressure waves. The
thinning of the membrane can increase the permeability of the
membrane to both gas and liquid, resulting in the increased
exchange or loss of gas and/or liquid, potentially reducing the
stability of the balloon or the longevity of the balloon in a
patient. Furthermore, at higher elevations, increasing volumes of
air components can be "pulled" out of the inflatable implant,
leaving the PFC. In this case, when more than one PFC is used
(e.g., when, as discussed herein, more than one PFC is used to
"tailor" (i.e. "program", "determine", or "set") the vapor
pressure), the higher vapor pressure component(s) will be lost at a
higher rate than the lower vapor pressure components(s). One or
more of these factors can contribute to reduction in implant
volume, which can correspond to decreased efficacy.
[0206] As discussed herein, the partial pressure oxygen deficit is
dependent on the partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere.
Therefore, Equation (8) is dependent on elevation. While small
elevational changes can have only negligible effects on Equation
(8) and balloon performance, large elevational changes can have
more serious consequences. Consider the following elevational data
provided for sea level, 5000 ft high elevation, and on an
airplane.
TABLE-US-00007 Location Sea Level High Elevation Airplane Elevation
0 ft 5000 ft 8000 ft Atmospheric 1030.0 cm H.sub.2O 888.5 cm
H.sub.2O 792.5 cm H.sub.2O Pressure pN.sub.2 79% 813.7 cm H.sub.2O
701.9 cm H.sub.2O 626.1 cm H.sub.2O pO.sub.2 21% 216.3 cm H.sub.2O
186.6 cm H.sub.2O 166.4 cm H.sub.2O
As can be seen, the partial pressure of oxygen at 5000 ft high
elevation is 29.7 cm H.sub.high elevation O less than the partial
pressure of oxygen at sea level. And, the partial pressure of
oxygen in an airplane at 8000 ft is 49.9 cm H2O less than the
partial pressure of oxygen at sea level.
[0207] Based on Equation (8), to achieve equilibrium at 5000 ft
high elevation, either the external forces on the balloon must be
increased or the internal forces (e.g., the internal vapor
pressure) must be decreased. In some situations, a gas and/or
liquid having a lower vapor pressure when implanting the device,
e.g., for a resident living at 5000 ft. high elevation.
[0208] Changing the vapor pressure of the gases internal to the
balloon can leave the balloon appropriate for higher elevations,
but inappropriate for lower elevations, such as sea level (e.g.,
the balloon can impermissibly shrink because of the increased
pressures at sea level). In some embodiments, should the balloon
pressure become less than 0, the balloon can lodge into the trigone
area of the bladder and become an irritant and negatively impact
the patients ability to tolerate the balloon.
[0209] Beyond the variabilities that elevation increase can impose
on the inflatable implants disclosed herein, one aspect of the
present disclosure is that the partial pressure of oxygen in the
urine, e.g., the pO.sub.2 deficit, can contribute to system
variability. The pO.sub.2 of urine provided herein is, for
simplicity's sake, frequently stated as 116 cm H.sub.2O. However,
the literature reports that, due to numerous factors (e.g.,
environmental and/or physiological factors, among others) the
partial pressure of oxygen in the urine ranges from about 50 to
about 120 cm H.sub.2O. Some factors that can change, e.g., increase
or decrease, the partial pressure of oxygen in the urine include:
hydration, diet, kidney function, general health, and acute
elevation changes. For example, air travel from seal level can
increase the deficient partial pressure imbalance of oxygen by
about 22 cm H.sub.2O after about 6 hours at elevation due to the
change in partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere. Therefore,
a pressure attenuation device that can adapt or compensate for
variations, e.g., minor variations or major variations, in the
partial pressure imbalance of oxygen in the urine can be desirable.
In certain embodiments of the device and balloon disclosed herein,
this deficient partial pressure imbalance of oxygen due to a change
of partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere can be addressed by
programming or setting the skin tension of the balloon in a range
of elevations.
[0210] Average detrusor pressure is another variable that can vary
from patient to patient. As discussed herein, the walls of the
bladder, through their muscle tone and mass, exert force on the
urine inside, resulting in typical pressures that can be around 15
cm H.sub.2O greater than atmospheric in some patients. And, for the
sake of simplifying discussion, that value is used herein as a
rough approximation of average bladder pressure. However, average
detrusor pressure can vary. For example, in some patients the
average detrusor pressure can be 20 cm H.sub.2O, 19 cm H.sub.2O, 18
cm H.sub.2O, 17 cm H.sub.2O, 16 cm H.sub.2O, 15 cm H.sub.2O, 14 cm
H.sub.2O, 13 cm H.sub.2O, 12, 11 cm H.sub.2O, 10 cm H.sub.2O, 9 cm
H.sub.2O, 8 cm H.sub.2O, 7 cm H.sub.2O, 6 cm H.sub.2O, 5 cm
H.sub.2O, or 4 cm H.sub.2O.
[0211] In light of the above, an improved pressure attenuation
device and/or balloon according to embodiments of the present
disclosure can have balloon skin tension and balloon vapor pressure
sufficient to meet a sufficient range of the variable conditions
described above. For example, Table 7, below shows characteristics
of a balloon (e.g., skin tension and balloon vapor pressure)
according to certain embodiments that would be sufficient for the
lower and upper values, e.g., average or reasonable lower and upper
values, of elevation, pO.sub.2, and average detrusor pressure of a
wide range of conditions.
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 7 Representative Pressure Attenuation Device
Operating Ranges Sea Level Sea Level 5000 ft Airplane Low pO.sub.2
High pO.sub.2 High pO.sub.2 High pO.sub.2 Urine Urine Urine Urine
External Loads PO.sub.2 ATM 216 cm H.sub.2O 216 cm H.sub.2O 186 cm
H.sub.2O 166 cm H.sub.2O PO.sub.2 Urine 80 cm H.sub.2O 100 cm
H.sub.2O 100 cm H.sub.2O 115 cm H.sub.2O .fwdarw. PO.sub.2 Deficit
136 cm H.sub.2O 116 cm H.sub.2O 86 cm H.sub.2O 51 cm H.sub.2O
P.sub.Bladder-avg 15 cm H.sub.2O 6 cm H.sub.2O 6 cm H.sub.2O 6 cm
H.sub.2O Skin Tension 9 cm H.sub.2O 38 cm H.sub.2O 68 cm H.sub.2O
103 cm H.sub.2O of balloon Tot. External 160 cm H.sub.2O 160 cm
H.sub.2O 160 cm H.sub.2O 160 cm H.sub.2O Internal Pressure Vapor
Pressure 160 cm H.sub.2O 160 cm H.sub.2O 160 cm H.sub.2O 160 cm
H.sub.2O of Pfc? Total Internal 160 cm H.sub.2O 160 cm H.sub.2O 160
cm H.sub.2O 160 cm H.sub.2O Total. 0 cm H2O 0 cm H2O 0 cm H2O 0 cm
H2O Combined (equilibrium) (equilibrium) (equilibrium)
(equilibrium)
Ranging from seal level low urine pO.sub.2 to airplane high urine
pO.sub.2, the total environmental load on the implant, including
the average detrusor pressure and the PO.sub.2 deficit ranges from
about 57 cm H.sub.2O to about 151 cm H.sub.2O. In situations where
120 cm H.sub.2O PFC is used, the balloon could deflate when the
patient is at sea level with or without low PO.sub.2. As will be
explained below, increased vapor pressure can be used to create
higher skin tensions which can advantageously allow the balloon to
remain inflated at sea level.
[0212] Various modifications to the pressure attenuation devices
disclosed herein can be made to account for or compensate for both
patient and environmental variabilities. For example, the balloon
may be inflated with an inflation media. The inflation media may
include a fluid at body temperature (37 degrees Celsius) and in
certain embodiments the fluid may be one or more high vapor
pressure media that may serve as a pressure regulator to help keep
device 17 inflated. The one or more high vapor pressure media may
be, for example, one or more liquid perfluorocarbons (PFCs),
preferably one or more liquid PFCs having a vapor pressure greater
than 50 Pa. The one or more liquid PFCs may comprise a
perfluorinated heptane, a perfluorinated octane, or one or more
combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the one or more
liquid PFCs are a mixture of perfluoroheptane and perfluorooctane.
In some embodiments, in addition to the high vapor pressure media,
the inflation media can include other gasses in addition to the
high vapor pressure media such as air, nitrogen, oxygen, argon,
hydrogen, oxygen, helium, carbon dioxide, neon, krypton, xenon,
radon, and etc. In certain embodiments, the high vapor pressure
media inside the balloon, e.g., the PFC, can be increased, the
permeability of the balloon can be decreased to slow intra-day
volume changes, and/or the pressure/volume relationship of the
balloon can be changed via skin tension. In some embodiments, the
high vapor pressure media inside the balloon, e.g., the PFC, can
have vapor pressure from 155-185 cm H.sub.2O in one embodiment,
from 155-175 cm H.sub.2O, in another embodiment, from 155-165 cm
H.sub.2O in another embodiment and from 157-163 cm H.sub.2O in
another embodiment 160 cm H.sub.2O in another embodiment 151-165 cm
H.sub.2O. The vapor pressure values discussed and claimed herein
are gauge pressures measured at sea level at a temperature of
37.degree. C. In some embodiments, the ranges of the vapor pressure
of the high vapor pressure media inside the balloon described in
this paragraph can be combined with the ranges, values and/or
features of the balloon described herein such the natural balloon
volume, percent increases in volume when the pressure within the
balloon is increased a certain amount, wall thickness of the
balloon, and/or the elastic deformation range of the balloon.
Advantageously, vapor pressures within these ranges can be used to
create higher skin tensions which can advantageously allow the
balloon to remain inflated at sea level.
[0213] FIG. 16 shows the equivalent attenuation PV curve, e.g.,
pressure versus volume, for an embodiment of an embodiment of a
pressure attenuation device subjected a 140 cm H.sub.2O pulse. As
illustrated, a pressure attenuation device can achieve an
equivalent attenuation at higher internal pressures if the volume
of the pressure attenuation device is increased at the high
internal pressures. According, in certain embodiments, the volume
of the balloon of the pressure attenuation device advantageously
increases with increasing internal pressure.
[0214] As noted above, the high vapor pressure media within the
balloon can be formed of various components having the desired
vapor pressures. In one embodiment it can comprise one or more PFCs
that can be combined to form a liquid mixture with a particular
vapor pressure according to their mole fraction in the liquid. The
one or more liquid PFCs may comprise a perfluorinated heptane, a
perfluorinated octane, or one or more combinations thereof. The one
or more liquid PFCs can be a mixture of perfluoroheptane and
perfluorooctane. For example, in some embodiments a mixture of
about 0.193 mole perfluorooctane and about 0.807 mole
perfluoroheptane can result in a vapor pressure of around 160 cm
H.sub.2O at 37.degree. C. In another example, a mixture of about
0.1 mole perfluorooctane and 0.9 mole perfluoroheptane can result
in a vapor pressure of about 170 cm H.sub.2O. In some embodiments,
the balloon can be inflated with and/or also contain other gasses
in addition to the high vapor pressure media such as air, nitrogen,
oxygen, argon, hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, neon, krypton,
xenon, radon, and etc.
[0215] FIG. 14, which was discussed above, shows an example balloon
internal pressure versus balloon volume curve. Balloon internal
pressure versus balloon volume curves (P/V) can be useful to
characterize the performance of attenuating balloons. As shown by
region A in FIG. 14, balloon P/V curves generally begin with an
initial, relatively horizontally flat region where the balloon is
in a "bag" like state. The initial flat region corresponds to the
initial filling of the balloon before the wall of the balloon
begins to apply any load to the fluids inside the balloon. As shown
by region B in FIG. 14, the point at which the initial flat region
increases sharply corresponds to the balloon's initial volume or
natural volume. The pressure increases rapidly after the initial
volume because that is the point at which the balloon wall begins
to impart a load, e.g., the load imparted by the balloon wall
changes from effectively zero to a positive value. As shown by
region C in FIG. 14, after reaching their initial volume, the
balloons continue to grow in volume. Because the balloon wall is
applying inward forces on the fluids within the balloon, the
pressures increase relatively quickly after the initial volume has
been exceeded. Depending on the characteristics of the balloon,
including thickness, stiffness, balloon shape, balloon volume,
etc., the balloon will have a range of volumes in which its wall
changes size elastically without plastic deformation. Elastic
deformation allows the balloon to shrink, elastically, if the
pressure decreases. As shown by region C in FIG. 14, the elastic
region of the curves has a relatively constant slope, e.g., the
slope does not vary significantly from a given value. Most
materials have a finite amount of elastic deformation after which
they deform plastically, e.g., they do not regain (e.g., fully
regain), their original shape after the deforming force is removed.
As shown by region D in FIG. 14, the beginning of the plastic
deformation region is frequently where the slope of the line
changes markedly and remains substantially constant. After the
plastic region is reached, the balloon will likely fail to shrink
once the deforming force is removed. An aspect of the present
disclosure is the recognition that plastic deformation is generally
undesirable in the context of inflatable pressure attenuators,
whereas elastic deformation is generally desirable in the same
context.
[0216] Operating within an elastic deformation range can be
desirable for a pressure attenuation device. This is because
elastic deformation allows the implant to adapt to increased
forces, whether inside the balloon or outside the balloon, then
regain its original configuration after the forces decrease to
their original levels. Therefore, the elastic region can be
considered to encompass the device's operating range. Balloon
embodiments having elastic regions encompassing larger ranges of
volumes and larger pressures may be desirable as such balloons may
be able to withstand a broader range of environmental changes.
[0217] Balloon P/V curves may be characterized, at least partially,
by the percentage of volumetric change for a given change in
internal pressure within the balloon. For example, certain balloon
embodiments increase by some non-zero volume (by comparison to its
natural volume) when the pressure within the balloon is increased
from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O, e.g., transition from a bag to the balloon's
natural volume, to a greater pressure. FIG. 17 illustrates P/V
curves 1701 of embodiments of a balloon according certain
embodiments of the pressure attenuation devices. Curve 1 1702,
curve 1704, curve 1706, and curve 1708 represent different
embodiments of balloons that can remain elastic between internal
pressures of 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to at least 90 cm H.sub.2O and can
have P/V curves according to certain embodiments. In addition, the
balloons according to these embodiments can be inflated with a high
vapor pressure media within the pressure ranges described herein.
The balloon pressures discussed herein and also claimed (also
referred to as "internal pressure" or "internal balloon pressure"
or "pressure within the balloon" are gauge pressures measured at
sea level at a temperature of 37.degree. C.
[0218] With reference to FIG. 17, in some embodiments, of a
pressure attenuation device, the balloon increases in volume when
the internal pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm
H.sub.2O to 15 cm H.sub.2O by less than 10%, less than 9.5%, less
than 8%, less than 7%, less than 5.5%, or less than 4%,. In some
embodiments, the balloon increases in volume when the internal
pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 15
cm H.sub.2O by between 3-10%, between 4.0-9.5%, between 4.5-8%,
between 4.5-7.0% or about 5%. Within these ranges, the balloon
preferably elastically expands and does not plastically deform. In
certain embodiments, within these ranges, the balloon can
elastically expand between 2.5 to 15 cm H.sub.2O for at least 15
cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles, 100 cycles, or greater. In certain
embodiments, these ranges of percent increases in volume when the
internal pressure within the balloon is increased a certain amount,
can be combined with the ranges of vapor pressures for the high
vapor pressure media inside the balloon described above, the values
and/or features of the balloon described below such as the natural
balloon volume, wall thickness of the balloon, and/or the elastic
deformation range of the balloon.
[0219] In some embodiments, the balloon increases in volume when
the internal pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm
H.sub.2O to 20 cm H.sub.2O by less than 15%, less than 13%, less
than 12%, less than 11%, less than 10%, less 8%, less than 6%, or
less than 5%. In some embodiments, the balloon increases in volume
when the internal pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5
cm H.sub.2O to 20 cm H.sub.2O by between 4-13%, between 5-12.%,
between 6-11%, between 6.5-10% or between 6.5 and 8%, . Within
these ranges, the balloon preferably elastically expands and does
not plastically deform. In certain embodiments, within these
ranges, the balloon can elastically expand between 2.5 to 20 cm
H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles, 100 cycles,
or greater. In certain embodiments, these ranges of percent
increases in volume when the internal pressure within the balloon
is increased a certain amount, can be combined with the ranges the
vapor pressures for the high vapor pressure inside the balloon
described above, the values and/or features of the balloon
described herein such as additional ranges of percent increases in
volume when the pressure within the balloon is increased a certain
amount, the natural balloon volume, wall thickness of the balloon,
and/or the elastic deformation range of the balloon.
[0220] In some embodiments, the balloon increases in volume when
the internal pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm
H.sub.2O to 30 cm H.sub.2O by less than 25%, less than 22.5%, less
than 19%, less than 16%, less than 12%, or less than 11%. In some
embodiments, the balloon increases in volume when the internal
pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 30
cm H.sub.2O by between 10-25%, between 11-22.5%,between 12-19 cm
H.sub.2O, or between 13-16 cm H.sub.2O. In certain embodiments,
within these ranges, the balloon can elastically expand between 2.5
to 30 cm H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles, or
100 cycles. Within these ranges, the balloon preferably elastically
expands and does not plastically deform. In certain embodiments,
within these ranges, the balloon can elastically expand between 2.5
to 30 cm H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles, 100
cycles, or greater. In certain embodiments, these ranges of percent
increases in volume when the internal pressure within the balloon
is increased a certain amount, can be combined with the ranges of
vapor pressures for the high vapor pressure media inside the
balloon described above, the values and/or features of the balloon
described herein such as additional ranges of percent increases in
volume when the pressure within the balloon is increased a certain
amount, the natural balloon volume, wall thickness of the balloon,
and/or the elastic deformation range of the balloon.
[0221] In some embodiments, the balloon increases in volume when
the internal pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm
H.sub.2O to 40 cm H.sub.2O by less than 45%, less than 40%, less
than 30%, less than 27%, less than 19%, or less than 15%. In some
embodiments, the balloon increases in volume when the internal
pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 40
cm H.sub.2O by between 10-45%, between 15-40%, between 18-30%, or
between 19-27%. Within these ranges, the balloon preferably
elastically expands and does not plastically deform. In certain
embodiments, within these ranges, the balloon can elastically
expand between 2.5 to 40 cm H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles, 25
cycles, 50 cycles, 100 cycles, or greater. In certain embodiments,
these ranges of percent increases in volume when the internal
pressure within the balloon is increased a certain amount, can be
combined with the ranges vapor pressures for the high vapor
pressure media inside the balloon described above, the values
and/or features of the balloon described herein such as additional
ranges of percent increases in volume when the pressure within the
balloon is increased a certain amount, the natural balloon volume,
wall thickness of the balloon, and/or the elastic deformation range
of the balloon.
[0222] In some embodiments, the balloon increases in volume when
the internal pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm
H.sub.2O to 70 cm H.sub.2O by less than 150%, less than 100%, less
than 90%, less than 75%, less than 60%, less than 55%, less than
45%, or less than 40%. In some embodiments, the balloon increases
in volume when the internal pressure within the balloon is
increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 70 cm H.sub.2O by between
20-150%, between 30-100%, between 40-90%, between 40-75%, between
45-60% or between 50-55%. Within these ranges, the balloon
preferably elastically expands and does not plastically deform. In
certain embodiments, within these ranges, the balloon can
elastically expand between 2.5 to 70 cm H.sub.2O for at least 15
cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles, 100 cycles, or greater. In certain
embodiments, these ranges of percent increases in volume when the
pressure within the balloon is increased a certain amount, can be
combined with the ranges of vapor pressures for the high vapor
pressure media inside the balloon described above, the values
and/or features of the balloon described herein such as additional
ranges of percent increases in volume when the pressure within the
balloon is increased a certain amount, the natural balloon volume,
wall thickness of the balloon, and/or the elastic deformation range
of the balloon.
[0223] In some embodiments, the balloon increases in volume when
the internal pressure within the balloon is increased from 2.5 cm
H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O by less than 190%, less than 100%, less
than 90%, or less than 85%, less than 70%. In some embodiments, the
balloon increases in volume when the internal pressure within the
balloon is increased from 2.5 cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O by at
least 10% but less than 90%, or by between 50-190%, between
60-150%, between 65-100%, between 75-90% or between 80-85%. Within
these ranges, the balloon preferably elastically expands and does
not plastically deform. In certain embodiments, within these
ranges, the balloon can elastically expand between 2.5 to 90 cm
H.sub.2O for at least 15 cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles, or 100
cycles or greater. In certain embodiments, these ranges of percent
increases in volume when the pressure within the balloon is
increased a certain amount, can be combined with the ranges vapor
pressures for the high vapor pressure media inside the balloon
described above, the values and/or features of the balloon
described herein such as additional ranges of percent increases in
volume when the pressure within the balloon is increased a certain
amount, the natural balloon volume, wall thickness of the balloon,
and/or the elastic deformation range of the balloon.
[0224] In certain embodiments, the balloon for the pressure
attenuation device for the bladder may be characterized by their
ability to inflate, stay below a certain volume, withstand certain
pressures, and withstand certain pressure changes while remaining
elastically deformable, all while appropriately attenuating the
transient pressure event, as discussed elsewhere herein.
[0225] As discussed herein, bag-like inflatable implants, e.g.,
implants below their natural volume, can be undesirable due to
their potentially low tolerability. The balloons of certain
embodiments the pressure attenuation devices disclosed herein will
have varying volumes based on the balance of forces, e.g., internal
forces vs. external forces. The range of volumes may be bounded by
the balloon natural volume on the lower end (as volumes below the
natural volume, in which the implant is "bag-like" may be
undesirable) and bounded by the inflatable implant's maximum volume
on the upper end.
[0226] In some embodiments, the balloon of the pressure attenuation
device of the embodiments described above, has a natural volume in
certain embodiments of between 0.1 and 500 cc, in certain
embodiments between 1 and 180 cc, in certain embodiment, between 10
and 60 cc. In certain embodiments, the balloon has a natural volume
of between 25-30 ml, between 20-35 ml, between 22.5-32.5 ml, or 27
ml. In certain embodiments, these ranges of natural volume can be
combined with the percent increases in volume when the internal
pressure within the balloon is increased a certain amount and/or
the ranges of vapor pressure of the high vapor pressure media
described above and/or the wall thickness of the balloon, and/or
the elastic deformation ranges of the balloon embodiments described
herein. It is also anticipated that in certain embodiments, more
than one pressure attenuation device can be used within the bladder
and/or pressure attenuation device with more than one balloon can
be used within the bladder. In such embodiments, the total volume
of the more than one pressure attenuation device and/or more than
one balloon can be within the natural volume ranges described
above.
[0227] In certain embodiments, the maximum volume of the balloon of
the pressure attenuation device, advantageously is no more than 10%
of the volume of the patient's bladder. This is because if the
device gets too large, it can occupy too much of the volume of the
bladder and diminish its capacity to the point where the patient
will need to urinate more frequently. In some embodiments, the
maximum volume of the balloon compared to the volume of the
patient's bladder should be less than 50%, less than 45%, less than
40%, less than 35%, less than 30%, less than 25%, less than 20%,
less than 15%, less than 10%, or less than 5%. The volume of an
adult bladder is 400-600 ml. Therefore, absolute volumes may be
determined by taking the disclosed percentage of 400-600 ml. For
example, in an embodiment in which the balloon's maximum volume is
less than 10%, the absolute maximum volume of the balloon is
between 40-60 ml.
[0228] Balloon maximum value may be a function of several discussed
variables, including, but not limited to, partial pressure of
oxygen in the urine, balloon internal vapor pressure, elevation,
etc. However, the balloons maximum volume should be independent of
the balloon's natural volume. That is to say, that regardless of
the initial, natural volume of the balloon advantageously does
exceed the maximum volume value. This is because it can be
undesirable for the balloon to occupy over a certain threshold of
the bladder's volume due to commensurate decreases in the bladder's
functional capacity. For example, given a maximum volume of 50 ml:
a balloon having a natural volume of 10 ml could in certain
embodiments have a maximum operating range of a 10-50 ml; a balloon
having a natural volume of 20 ml could in certain embodiment have a
maximum operating range of 20-50 ml, a balloon having a natural
volume of 30 ml could have in certain embodments a maximum
operating range of 30-50 ml; etc.
[0229] Certain embodiments of the balloon 1711, 68 discussed herein
are able to withstand internal pressures of at least 90 cm H.sub.2O
without plastically deforming. In certain embodiments, the balloon
1711, 68 is able to withstand internal pressures of at least 100 cm
H.sub.2O without plastically deforming. In certain embodiments, the
balloon 1711, 68 is able to withstand internal pressures of at
least 110 cm H.sub.2O without plastically deforming. In certain
embodiments, the balloon 1711, 68 is able to withstand internal
pressures of at least 120 cm H.sub.2O without plastically
deforming.
[0230] In certain embodiments, the balloon can elastically deform
when the internal pressure within the balloon is increased from 0
cm H.sub.2O-90 cm H.sub.2O, from 0 cm H.sub.2O to 100 cm H.sub.2O,
and/or from 0 cm H.sub.2O-120 cm H.sub.2O. Within these ranges, the
balloon can elastically deform for at least 1 cycle, for at least 5
cycles, 25 cycles, 50 cycles, 100 cycles or greater between the
maximum and minimum pressure within these ranges. In certain
embodiments, these ranges wherein the balloon can elastically
deform can be combined with the ranges of percent increases in
volume when the pressure within the balloon is increased a certain
amount described above and/or can be combined with the ranges of
vapor pressures for the high vapor pressure media inside the
balloon described above, the values and/or features of the balloon
described herein such as the natural balloon volume, and/or the
wall thickness of the balloon.
[0231] In certain embodiments, when the internal pressure within
the balloon is increased from 0 cm H.sub.2O to 90 cm H.sub.2O, from
0 cm H.sub.2O to 100 cm H.sub.2O, and/or from 0 cm H.sub.2O to 120
cm H.sub.2O for at least 1 cycle, for at least 5 cycles, 25 cycles,
50 cycles, 100 cycles or greater between the maximum and minimum
pressure within these ranges the volume of the balloon for a given
internal pressure changes within +/-1%, +/-5%, and/or +/-10%. In
certain embodiments, these ranges wherein the volume of the balloon
remains remain within a certain range for a given pressure can be
combined with the ranges of percent increases in volume when the
pressure within the balloon is increased a certain amount described
above and/or can be combined with the ranges vapor pressures for
the high vapor pressure media inside the balloon described above,
the values and/or features of the balloon described herein such as
the natural balloon volume, and/or the wall thickness of the
balloon
[0232] The ability to withstand a given internal pressure without
plastically deforming may be a function of how long the balloon is
subjected to the increased internal pressure. In some embodiments,
the balloon is able to withstand the pressures disclosed herein
without plastic deformation for about 6 hours. In some embodiments,
the inflatable implant is able to withstand the pressures disclosed
herein without plastic deformation for at least 12 hours, 24,
hours, 36 hours, 48 hours, 60 hours, or 72 hours. In some
embodiments, the inflatable implant is able to withstand the
pressures disclosed herein without plastic deformation for at least
1 week, at least 2 weeks, at least 3 weeks, or at least 4 weeks. In
some embodiments, the balloon is able to withstand the pressures
disclosed herein without plastic deformation (for at least 2
months, at least 3 months, at least 4 months, at least 5 months, at
least 6 months, at least 1 year, at least 2 years, or at least 3
years. In some embodiments, the balloon remains elastic through the
ranges discussed herein at after 15, 25, 50, or 100 cycles.
[0233] In some embodiments, balloons falling within the P/V
performance parameters and/or plastic deformation disclosed herein
also have an increased internal vapor pressure offset by an
increased skin tension, e.g., due to an increased thickness or
other material property(ies). In some embodiments, the balloon's
internal vapor pressure is greater than 150 cm H.sub.2O. In some
embodiments, the balloon's internal vapor pressure is great than
155 cm H.sub.2O, greater than 160 cm H.sub.2O, greater than 165 cm
H.sub.2O, greater than 170 cm H.sub.2O, or greater than 175 cm
H.sub.2O. In some embodiments, the balloon/s internal vapor
pressure is between 155-185 cm H.sub.2O. In some embodiments, the
balloon's internal vapor pressure is between 155-175 cm H.sub.2O,
between 155-165 cm H.sub.2O, or between 157-163 cm H.sub.2O, and in
another embodiment about 160 cm H.sub.2O.
[0234] The tables below, table 8(A) and 8(B), show the volume and
percent change in volume for various representative balloon
embodiments (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6)which are also
illustrated in FIG. 17.
TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 8(A) Volume for Balloon Embodiments at Set
Pressures Pressure (cm H.sub.2O) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 2.5 27 ml
25.5 ml 23.5 ml 21 ml 27.5 ml 25 ml 15 29.5 ml 27 ml 24.75 ml 22 ml
29.4 ml 26.5 ml 20 30 ml 28 ml 25.25 ml 22.5 ml 30 ml 27 ml 30 32.5
ml 30 ml 26.75 ml 23.75 ml 31.5 ml 29.5 ml 40 36 ml 32.5 ml 29.4 ml
25.25 ml 33.5 ml 30 ml 70 52 ml 43 ml 36 ml 31.25 ml 42 ml 36 ml 90
70 ml 54 ml 43 ml 35.5 ml 51 ml 42 ml
TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 8(B) % Volume Change Compared to Initial
Volume at 2.5 cm H2O Pressure (cm H.sub.2O) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
2.5 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 15 9% 6% 5% 5% 7% 6% 20 11% 10% 7% 7% 9% 8%
30 20% 18% 14% 13% 15% 18% 40 33% 27% 25% 20% 22% 20% 70 93% 69%
53% 49% 53% 44% 90 159% 112% 83% 69% 85% 68%
[0235] In some embodiments, the balloon does not burst when its
internal pressure is less than or equal to 90 cm H.sub.2O, less
than or equal to 70 cm H.sub.2O, cm H.sub.2O, less than or equal to
40 cm H.sub.2O, less than or equal to 20 cm H.sub.2O, or less than
or equal to 10 cm H.sub.2O.
[0236] In some embodiments, the inflatable balloon can also have
relatively low deflection values and have high burst test
pressures. Table X below provides example data of deflection and
test pressures at different volumes and pressures of cm H.sub.2O
for two different embodiments of a balloon of a pressure attention
device (with the first 4 rows of Table X corresponding to one
embodiment and the second 4 rows of the Table X corresponding to a
second embodiment). The deflection and test pressures of Table X
can be determined on a balloon using the test fixture and
procedures described in paragraphs [0457] to [0465] and FIGS.
146-153 of U.S. Patent Publication 2015/0216644, the entirety of
which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes
and included in this application. As indicated in the table below,
in some embodiments, the balloon can withstand a test pressure of
at least 15 cm H.sub.2O and/or 20 cm H.sub.2O without bursting
and/or having a minimum deflection of 6 mm or less and/or 5 mm.
TABLE-US-00011 TABLE X Pressure and Test Pressure Characteristics
Volume Pressure Deflection Bt Test Pressure ml cmH20 mm cmH20 27 20
6 35 no burst 30 40 6 27 no burst 36 70 6 26 no burst 42 <90 5
31.25 no burst 30 20 5 25 no burst 34 40 5 74 no burst 42 <70 5
28 no burst 42 <70 5 24 no burst
[0237] Table 9, below, provides data for three different
embodiments of a balloon of an embodiment of the pressure
attenuation device. Of course, while certain parameters are shown,
one or more parameters may be changed. Within these parameters, the
balloon preferably elastically expands and does not plastically
deform.
TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 9 Example Balloon Characteristics Performance
Attribute Embodiment 1 Embodiment 2 Embodiment 3 Natural Volume 26
ml 28 ml 25-29 ml (room temp.) Inflated Volume 30 .+-. 2 ml 30 .+-.
2 ml (room temp.) Wall Thickness 0.00205- 0.00210- 0.002- (2x)
0.00325 inches 0.00315 inches 0.0035 inches Volume 27 ml 30 ml
26-31 ml Observed at 20 cm H.sub.2O Volume 36 ml 43 ml 35-44 ml
Observed at 70 cm H.sub.2O Volume 42 ml 51 ml 41-52 ml Observed at
90 cm H.sub.2O Pressure 0.67-0.78 psi 0.60-0.75 psi 0.5-0.9 psi
Attenuation at 2 psi Volume after 67 27 ml 30 ml 25-30 m days At
140 cm H.sub.2O
Limiting Implant Expansion
[0238] In another embodiment two or more PFCs with different vapor
pressures are mixed to give an average vapor pressure based on the
mole fraction of the components. As the PFC mixture diffuses out of
the device over time the more volatile component will diffuse
proportionately to its mole fraction in the mix, therefore the mole
fraction of the higher vapor pressure component will go down and
the vapor pressure of the mix will likewise be reduced. This
phenomenon could be used to control the ultimate size of the
balloon. As the balloon expands, the vapor pressure of the PFC mix
will go down placing an upper limit on balloon volume.
[0239] In some embodiments, the skin tension of the balloon could
be used advantageously to limit balloon expansion. As the balloon
expands, the tension of the balloon material will increase until
the excess gas pressure in the balloon will be offset by the
tension in the balloon skin.
[0240] In addition, just as skin geometries and other features of
the implant 66 can change the V/P curve; these same or similar
features can limit expansion, deflation or the rate of change of
the implant.
[0241] In some embodiments, an implant has a high surface to volume
ratio to affect a rapid rate of change. The implant shape can be
selected from cylindrical, spiral, or ridged. In another embodiment
a slow rebound or rapid inflation is desired and thus a low surface
area to volume ratio is desired and a spherical design is
selected.
[0242] In a further embodiment the quantity of PFC in a balloon
could be used to limit expansion. A precise quantity of PFC could
be added to the balloon such that as the balloon expands the PFC
would volatilize to maintain its partial pressure until the PFC
liquid reservoir is depleted. The PFC gas would then dilute with
further expansion and the internal pressure of the balloon would be
limited.
[0243] Devices described herein containing PFC and other gases can
be placed into pressure equilibrium with the environment in which
they are deployed. Since no natural environment is truly at
constant pressure, the balloon system would need to gain external
gases during low external pressure times and lose gas during high
pressure times. The loss of gas would need to balance with the gain
of gas for long term stability.
Delivery of Implant and Removal of Implant
[0244] As noted above, the pressure attention devices 12, 66
according to the embodiments described herein can be
transurethrally deployed into the bladder in its first
configuration, and enlarged to its second configuration once
positioned within the bladder to accomplish a pressure attenuation
function. Preferably, a crossing profile, or a greatest
cross-sectional configuration, of the attenuation device 17, 66
when in the first configuration is no greater than 24 French (8
mm), and, preferably, no greater than 18 French (6 mm). This can be
accomplished, for example, by rolling a deflated balloon about a
longitudinal axis, while the interior chamber is evacuated. Once
positioned within the bladder, the interior chamber 72 is filled
with the media to produce a pressure attenuation device 17, 66.
After a certain period of time, the pressure attention devices 12,
66 can be deflated and removed from the bladder.
[0245] With reference to FIGS. 18A to 26D, further embodiments of
devices and methods are disclosed which can be used to insert
and/or remove the pressure attention devices 12, 66 embodiments
described herein. Further details for such insertion and removal
devices can be found for example, in the following documents, U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. US2015/0216644A1, Cahill et al.,
published Aug. 6, 2015 and U.S. patent application Ser. No.
16/557,555 filed Aug. 30, 2019, the entirety of these applications
are all incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
Delivery Device
[0246] The pressure attenuation devices disclosed herein may be
delivered to an anatomical structure in a compacted or deflated
state and, after being delivered to the anatomical structure, may
be inflated and deployed. Preferably, the delivery of the device to
the anatomical structure in a deflated state is accomplished by
positioning device in its deflated state within a window of a
catheter, with distal end of inflation tube sealed against
intermediate section of valve in the manner discussed above. The
balloon may be folded within catheter in a manner complementary to
the shape of window so as to maximize the likelihood that device
may be retained within catheter window prior to being inflated and
may be released through window once inflated.
[0247] Certain embodiments of a delivery device are described in
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0222802, incorporated
by reference herein. See for example: FIGS. 6-18H, and the
accompanying discussion, including at paragraphs [0153]-[0206].
Embodiments of a delivery device are also provided in U.S. Pat. No.
6,976,950, incorporated by reference herein. See for example: FIGS.
6-11A, 34A-35B and 48A-48D, and the accompanying discussion,
including at columns 13-16, and 35.
[0248] A delivery device 15 may be inserted through the passageway
created by an access device. As shown in FIGS. 18A-B, the delivery
device 15 may be used to deliver a pressure-attenuating device to
the body, such as to the bladder. The delivery device 15 may
deliver the pressure attenuation device in a compacted state which
may then be inflated and released. The steps of inflation and/or
release may be performed by the delivery device. The delivery
device 15 can include a delivery tube, an inflation tube, a
connection to inflation media and a release mechanism, among other
features.
[0249] Referring now to FIG. 19, there is shown a top view of one
embodiment of a sterilizable kit comprising certain components of a
delivery device 15, the sterilizable kit being represented
generally by reference numeral 1751.
[0250] Kit 1751 may comprise a sheet of support material 1753,
which may be a sheet of cardboard or a similarly suitable support
material. Kit 1751 may further comprise a sealed pouch 1755
surrounding support material 1753, pouch 1755 defining a sealed
cavity 1757. Pouch 1755 may be made of a transparent material, such
as one or more transparent polymer sheets. Kit 1751 may further
comprise the components of delivery device 15 nearly being fully
assembled, except that an additional syringe for inflation media is
not present and that syringe 1691 is not attached to the remaining
components of delivery device 15. Syringe 1691 may be disposed
within cavity 1757 and may be mounted on support material 1753, and
the remainder of delivery device 15 may be disposed within cavity
1757 and may be mounted on support material 1753 at a distance from
syringe 1691. Syringe 1691 may be opened to drawn in a volume of
air corresponding to the volume of air one wishes to dispense
therefrom into device 17. Although not visible in FIG. 19, kit 1751
may further comprise pressure-attenuating device 17, 66, which may
be loaded within window catheter 1641 of delivery device 15 and may
be coupled to inflation tube 1741 in the manner described above.
Kit 1751 may further comprise a removable protective sleeve 1759,
which may be inserted over catheter 1641 to ensure retention
pressure-attenuating device 17 within catheter 1641 during shipping
and/or storage. (Sleeve 1759 is removed from catheter 1641 prior to
use; alternatively, sleeve 1759 may be replaced with cover 1703,
which may be retained for use in the manner described above.) All
of the components of kit 1751 are made of a material that may be
sterilizable by a suitable sterilization technique, such as gamma
radiation.
[0251] An advantageous feature of kit 1751 is that the air
contained within syringe 1691 may become sterilized during the
sterilization procedure applied to kit 1751. In this manner, one
may minimize the introduction of air into pressure-attenuating
device 17 that may contain undesirable microorganisms. For similar
reasons, microbial filters may alternatively or additionally be
appropriately positioned within fluid connector 1423 and/or check
valves 1441 and 1443.
[0252] Referring now to FIG. 20, the pressure-attenuating device 17
is shown in a deflated, flattened state with internal retention
member 1715 on the lower layer of the balloon prior to being
folded. A plurality of imaginary fold lines 1741-1, 1741-2, and
1741-3 are shown on balloon 1711 to depict where balloon 1711 may
be folded. According to one embodiment, balloon 1711 may first be
folded about line 1741-1, then about line 1741-2, and then about
line 1741-3. Alternatively, balloon 1711 may be folded about line
1741-2, then about line 1741-1, and then about line 1741-3. When
device 17 is inflated, balloon 1711 may unfold in an order opposite
to the order in which it had previously been folded. In an
alternate embodiment, the balloon includes an integral retention
member 1715, which is on top of the balloon when folded along line
1741-1 described above. The integral retention member may be
circular, rectangular, oval or any shape so long as it is
sufficiently wide to extend beyond the opening in the window, more
preferably greater than 1.5 times the opening in the window, more
preferably two times the opening in the window. This dimension
permits the retention member to be tucked under the catheter on one
or more sides of the window when the folded balloon is secured in
the catheter.
[0253] It is to be understood that, although pressure-attenuating
device 17 has been described herein as being inflatable,
pressure-attenuating device 17 could be expandable in ways other
than by inflation. For example, pressure-attenuating device 17
could be self-expandable, for instance, by virtue of being made of
a shape-memory material.
[0254] Some of the advantageous features of using a delivery device
15 to deliver pressure-attenuating device 17 are that, due to the
orientation and placement of window, there is a controlled
deployment of pressure-attenuating device 17 away from the trigone
of the patient and pressure-attenuating device 17 is kept away from
the walls of the bladder while being inflated, such contact with
the walls of the bladder possibly impeding the opening of valve to
inflate device 17.
[0255] Referring now to FIG. 21, there is shown a flowchart,
schematically depicting one possible method 1771 of implanting
pressure-attenuating device in an anatomical structure of a
patient, such as a bladder. Method 1771 may begin with a step
1771-1 of installing an access device 13 in a patient in any of the
manners discussed above. Where, for example, an access device is
used to provide transurethral access to the bladder, said
installing step may comprise inserting a distal end of obturator,
covered by sleeve 181, through the urethra 182 and into the bladder
183 and then removing obturator, whereby an access path extending
across the urethra and into the bladder may be created (see FIG.
21A). Method 1771 may then continue with a step 1771-2 of inserting
a distal end of a delivery device 15 through the access device 13
and into the anatomical structure of a patient. This may be done by
inserting distal end of delivery device 15 through the remaining
installed portion of access device 13 and into the bladder of the
patient (see FIG. 21B). (Prior to insertion of delivery device 15
into an access device 13, pressure-attenuating device 17 may be
loaded into delivery device 15.)
[0256] Method 1771 may then continue with a step 1771-3 of
inflating pressure-attenuating device 17 (see FIG. 21C). Said
inflating step may be effected by fully a depressing piston to
dispense a first fluid medium from a first syringe into
pressure-attenuating device 17 and then by fully a depressing
piston to dispense a second fluid medium from a second syringe into
pressure-attenuating device 17. Method 1771 may then continue with
a step 1771-4 of releasing pressure-attenuating device 17 from
delivery device 15 (see FIG. 21D), thereby allowing device 17 to
float freely in the bladder or other anatomical structure. Said
releasing step may be affected by a deactivating safety and then by
a squeezing trigger, thereby causing a push-off member to slide
distally until a push-off member pushes device 17 off of a distal
end of an inflation tube. Method 1771 may then proceed with a step
1771-5 of withdrawing the delivery device from the access device
13. This may be done by withdrawing delivery device 15 from the
remaining installed portion of an access device 13 while holding
the remaining installed portion of access device 13 stationary in
the patient. (Access device 13 may thereafter be removed from the
patient or may remain in the patient to provide a conduit through
which observational, removal, or other devices may be
inserted.)
Removal
[0257] A removal device may be inserted through the passageway
created by an access device. The removal device may be used to
capture, to deflate and/or to remove the pressure-attenuating
device. The removal device may also be used to view the inside of
the anatomical structure, as well as the pressure-attenuating
device. This viewing may be done during all or part of the
capturing, deflating, and/or removing the pressure-attenuating
device.
[0258] Certain additional embodiments of a removal device are
described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0222802,
incorporated by reference herein. See for example: FIGS. 19A-22B,
23H, and 24-29C and the accompanying discussion, including at
paragraphs [0207]-[0274]. Additional embodiments of a removal
device and/or the insertion device which can be in certain
arrangements in combination with the embodiments of a pressure
attenuation device herein can also be found in U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/725210, filed Aug. 30, 2018, the entirety of
which is also hereby incorporated by reference herein.
[0259] Embodiments of a removal device are also provided in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,976,950, incorporated by reference herein. See for
example: FIGS. 12, and 20-23, and the accompanying discussion,
including at columns 18-21, and 25-26.
[0260] Referring now to FIG. 22, removal device 19 according to a
certain embodiment is shown. The removal device 19 can include a
pair of scissor-like handles that can be used to articulate a pair
of jaws 1981, 1983 as will be described below. Removal device 19
may further comprise a pair of jaws 1981 and 1983 (FIGS. 23A-D,
FIGS. 24A-D, FIGS. 25A-B). FIGS. 25A-B, show jaw 1983 and jaw 1981
assembled on removal device 19. The jaws can include corresponding
teeth 1997, 2017 which can be used to grip or secure an implant.
The jaws may also include one or more surface damaging or
compromising structures. For example, the surface damaging
structure 2003, 2023 can be a needle, knife, sharpened tooth, etc.
In some embodiments, the surface damaging structure can be a
canulated needle that can also serve to allow the media within in
the implant to escape or otherwise be removed. In some embodiments,
having the opening in the needle extend the entire length of the
exposed needle structure permits the balloon to continue to deflate
even when the needle has penetrated completely through the balloon.
Additionally, the orientation of the sharp edge towards the distal
end of the grasper has the advantage of preventing lacerating the
balloon film during the tensile removal of the deflated or
partially deflated balloon thru the sheath. Additionally, the
proximity of the needle relative to adjacent teeth can improve the
function of the removal system. Specifically, if the space between
the tip of the needle and the tip of an adjacent tooth is between
0.05 and 10 times the difference in height between the tip of the
needle and the tip of the adjacent tooth. This distance prevents
the balloon from "tenting" over the needle and adjacent teeth
without needle penetration of the balloon.
[0261] Jaw 1981, which is also shown separately in FIGS. 23A-D, may
comprise an elongated member 1985 (which may be, for example,
approximately 1.55-2.5 inches in length), preferably made of a
medical-grade stainless steel or a similarly suitable material.
Member 1985 may be shaped to include a proximal portion 1987 and a
distal portion 1989. Proximal portion 1987, which may comprise a
generally flat and arcuate arm, may be shaped to include a first
transverse opening 1991 proximate to a proximal end 1987-1 of
proximal portion 1987 and a second transverse opening 1993 spaced
distally a short distance from first transverse opening 1991. A
pivot pin 1995 may be received within opening 1991 of proximal
portion 1987, as well as within opening 1967 of arm 1961, so as to
pivotally couple jaw 1981 to arm 1961. A pivot pin 1996 may be
received within opening 1993 of proximal portion 1987, as well as
within opening 1933 of bracket 1921, so as to pivotally couple jaw
1981 to bracket 1921. Distal portion 1989 of member 1985 may be
shaped to include a row of teeth 1997 facing towards jaw 1983, the
row of teeth 1997 extending proximally from approximately the
distal end of distal portion 1989. Each tooth 1997 may extend
substantially across the width of distal portion 1989 and may have
a height of, for example, approximately 1-10 mm, preferably
approximately 5 mm. Each tooth 1997 may have a dulled peak 1997-1
that has a radius of, for example, 0.001-0.250 inch, preferably
0.005-0.050 inch, more preferably 0.010-0.25 inch. A first
transverse opening 1999 may be provided in distal portion 1989
amongst teeth 1997, and a second transverse opening 2001 may be
provided in distal portion 1989 amongst teeth 1997, first and
second transverse openings 1999 and 2001 being spaced apart from
one another by a short distance. A cannulated needle 2003 may be
fixedly mounted in transverse opening 1999, needle 2003 having a
sharpened end 2003-1 facing towards jaw 1983. Preferably, needle
2003 has a height that exceeds the height of teeth 1997 so that
sharpened end 2003-1 extends beyond dulled peaks 1997-1. Needle
2003 may have an inner diameter of, for example, approximately
0.0005-0.500 inch, preferably approximately 0.005-0.250 inch, more
preferably approximately 0.010-0.050 inch, and may have an outer
diameter of, for example, approximately 0.001-0.750 inch,
preferably approximately 0.010-0.300 inch, more preferably
approximately 0.015-0.075 inch.
[0262] Jaw 1983, which is also shown separately in FIGS. 24A-D, may
comprise an elongated member 2005 (which may be, for example,
approximately 1.55-2.5 inches in length), preferably made of a
medical-grade stainless steel or a similarly suitable material.
Member 2005 may be shaped to include a proximal portion 2007 and a
distal portion 2009. Proximal portion 2007, which may comprise a
generally flat and arcuate arm, may be shaped to include a first
transverse opening 2011 proximate to a proximal end 2007-1 of
proximal portion 2007 and a second transverse opening 2013 spaced
distally a short distance from first transverse opening 2011. A
pivot pin 2015 may be received within opening 2011 of proximal
portion 2007, as well as within opening 1973 of arm 1963, so as to
pivotally couple jaw 1983 to arm 1963. Pivot pin 1996 may be
received within opening 2013 of proximal portion 2007, as well as
within opening 1933 of bracket 1921, so as to pivotally couple jaw
1983 to bracket 1921. In this manner, proximal movement of rod
1941, which may be caused by pivotal movement of ring portion 1807
of member 1801 towards ring portion 1823 of member 1803, may cause
arms 1961 and 1963 to pivot towards each other which, in turn, may
cause jaws 1981 and 1983 to pivot towards each other. On the other
hand, distal movement of rod 1941, which may be caused by pivotal
movement of ring portion 1807 of member 1801 away from ring portion
1823 of member 1803, may cause arms 1961 and 1963 to pivot away
from one another which, in turn, may cause jaws 1981 and 1983 to
pivot away from one another. Jaws 1981 and 1983 may open to an
angle of, for example, approximately 20-150 degrees.
[0263] Distal portion 2009 of member 2005 may be shaped to include
a row of teeth 2017 facing towards jaw 1981. The row of teeth 2017
may be staggered relative to teeth 1997 so that the peaks 1997-1 of
teeth 1997 may be aligned with the spaces between teeth 2017 when
jaws 1981 and 1983 are closed and so that the peaks 2017-1 of teeth
2017 may be aligned with the spaces between teeth 1997 when jaws
1981 and 1983 are closed. Each tooth 2017 may extend substantially
across the width of distal portion 2009 and may be shaped and
dimensioned similarly to each of teeth 1997. A first transverse
opening 2019 may be provided in distal portion 2009 amongst teeth
2017, and a second transverse opening 2021 may be provided in
distal portion 2009 amongst teeth 2017. Opening 2019 may be
appropriately positioned and appropriately dimensioned to receive
cannulated needle 2003 of jaw 1981 when jaws 1981 and 1983 are
closed. (By receiving the sharpened end 2003-1 of needle 2003,
opening 2019 facilitates and promotes full closure of jaws 1981 and
1983 around an inflated device 17, as opposed to having needle 2003
be deflected from the compressed and inflated device 17.) Opening
2019 may have an inner diameter of, for example, approximately
0.002-0.100 inch, preferably 0.010-0.300 inch, more preferably
0.015-0.100 inch. Opening 2021 may be aligned with opening 2001 of
jaw 1981 when jaws 1981 and 1983 are closed, and a cannulated
needle 2023 may be fixedly mounted in opening 2021 so as to be
receivable within opening 2001 of jaw 1981 when jaws 1981 and 1983
are closed. Cannulated needle 2023 may have a sharpened end 2023-1
facing towards jaw 1981, and needle 2023 and opening 2001 may be
dimensioned similarly to needle 2003 and opening 2019,
respectively.
[0264] Preferably, teeth 1997 and 2017 are dimensioned
appropriately so that, when jaws 1981 and 1983 are closed, a small
gap 2018 (seen best in FIG. 109(d)) is left between the respective
rows of teeth 1997 and 2017 that enables device 17 to be trapped
between teeth 1997 and 2017 while minimizing any tearing of device
17 by teeth 1997 and 2017. In this manner, device 17 may be
securely held or gripped between teeth 1997 and 2017 while
cannulated needles 2003 and 2023 puncture device 17. Moreover,
because needles 2003 and 2023 are cannulated, the fluid contents of
device 17 may be quickly evacuated from device 17 through needles
2003 and 2023 without having needles 2003 and 2023 plug the same
puncture holes they create.
[0265] It is to be understood that, although cannulated needles
2003 and 2023 are described herein as being used to puncture device
17, other puncturing devices, such as, but not limited to, blades,
scissors, pins, hooks, or the like, may alternatively or
additionally be used.
[0266] In addition, it is to be understood that, although
cannulated needles 2003 and 2023 are described herein as being
oriented generally perpendicular to members 1985 and 2005,
respectively, cannulated needles 2003 and 2023 need not be so
oriented and may be oriented, for example, so that sharpened ends
2003-1 and 2023-1 are angled towards proximal portions 1987 and
2007, respectively.
[0267] Additionally, it is to be understood that, although both jaw
1981 and jaw 1983 are described herein as being movable, one could
make one of jaws 1981 and 1983 stationary and the other of jaws
1981 and 1983 movable.
[0268] Referring now to FIG. 26, there is shown a flowchart,
schematically depicting one possible method 2051 of using removal
device 19 to remove an implanted pressure-attenuating device 17
from an anatomical structure of a patient, such as a bladder.
Method 2051 may begin with a step 2051-1 of installing an access
device 13 in a patient in any of the manners discussed above.
Where, for example, an access device 13 can be used to provide
transurethral access to the bladder, said installing step may
comprise inserting a distal end of an obturator, which may be
covered by sleeve, into the urethra 182, advancing the obturator
and sheath through the urethra 182 and into the bladder 183, and
then removing the obturator, whereby an access path extending
across the urethra 182 and into the bladder 183 may be created (see
FIG. 26A). Method 2051 may then continue with a step 2051-2 of
inserting the distal end of a removal device 19 through the access
device 13 and into the anatomical structure of the patient. This
can be done by inserting the distal end of removal device 19
through the remaining installed portion of the access device 13 and
into the bladder of the patient (see FIG. 26B). Where the method
2051 is performed in the bladder, or other fluid filled structure,
the method may then continue with a step 2051-3 of emptying the
structure of liquid, such as through stopcock valve 287, until the
inflated pressure-attenuation device 17 comes into alignment with
removal device 19. For example, urine can be removed from the
bladder until the pressure- attenuation device 17 is aligned with
opened jaws 1981 and 1983 as observed through a scope (see FIG.
26C). Method 2051 may then continue with a step 2051-4 of engaging
the inflated pressure-attenuation device 17 with the removal device
19. This may also include deflating the inflated
pressure-attenuation device 17. For example, the jaws 1981 and 1983
can close around pressure-attenuation device 17, causing
pressure-attenuating device 17 to deflate over the next several
seconds (see FIG. 26D). Method 2051 may then conclude with a step
2051-5 of withdrawing removal device 19, together with the deflated
pressure-attenuating device 17 from the anatomical structure
through the access device 13. The implanted pressure-attenuating 17
may be held between jaws 1981 and 1983 and may be removed through
the remaining installed portion of access device 13 while the
remaining installed portion of access device 13 is held stationary
in the patient. If, for some reason, pressure-attenuating 17 has
not deflated completely as it is being withdrawn from the patient,
the distal end 64 of sheath 61 may advantageously serve as a
fulcrum to help to compress pressure-attenuating 17 sufficiently
for its facile withdrawal from the patient. (Access device 13 may
thereafter be removed from the patient or may remain in the patient
to provide a conduit through which observational, removal, or other
devices may be inserted.)
Coatings
[0269] Despite the hydrophobic tendencies and relative insolubility
of PFCs in water and bodily fluids, PFCs will diffuse out of
certain enclosures. This can be minimized by various surface
treatments including lubricity coatings, anti-microbial coatings,
acid or basic pH coatings, drug eluting or containing coatings,
roughening, or establishing a positively or negatively charged
surface. Both the interior and/or the exterior of the balloons
disclosed herein can be treated and each could be treated in a like
or different matter. For example they can be charged + on the
outside and - on the inside or rough on the outside to form and
capture bubbles and smooth on the outside to be non-irritating. The
inside and outside of the enclosure can be hydrophilic or
hydrophobic, alternatively the inside and outside can be treated to
have opposite attractiveness to water.
[0270] Examples of suitable coatings for various devices disclosed
herein include: aqueous hydrogels on inside to prevent bubble
formation, butyl rubbers to hold in PFCs, metal coatings,
nano-crystallized silver based antimicrobial coating,
polyvinylpryrrolidone based coatings, drug coatings including
duloxetine hydrochloride, neurotransmitters mediating drugs,
analgesics, antiseptics, antibiotics, incontinence treatment drugs,
anti-cancer drugs, cystitis treating drug, and oxybutynin.
Initial and Automatic Inflation
[0271] Certain embodiments involve the inflation of implants
described herein with initial infusions of various media, including
gases or liquids, such as air, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide,
PFC, etc. The initial infusion can be before or after the device is
implanted. The initial infusing can be delivered via a syringe,
tube, capsule, ampule, cannula, or other delivery device.
[0272] In another embodiment, a self-inflating implant comprising a
selected PFC element and an enclosure at least partially permeable
to nitrogen and oxygen is provided. After implantation, the PFC
vapor will dilute any air component gases within the enclosure and
cause the air component gases in the anatomical structure to
diffuse into the enclosure until equilibrium is reached thereby
inflating the enclosure device.
[0273] In some embodiments, a pressurized implant is adapted to
inflate over time to a selected volume or pressure and then deflate
in response to an elevated pressure. For example, an implant is
inserted within a bladder and inflates to a first selected pressure
or volume. Upon the application of an external load or pressure,
such as when the patient voids the bladder, the implant reaches a
second selected pressure, at which point the implant is adapted to
rapidly decrease in volume as the high vapor pressure element
within the implant condenses into liquid. When the external load is
removed, such as, after the bladder is empty, the implant will
gradually return to its first selected volume or pressure. Thus, by
providing an implant operable to attenuate bladder pressure spikes
within a certain range and then quickly deflate at the time of
voiding, a diminished and more comfortable volume is present at the
time of emptying of the bladder. Therefore, a more comfortable
treatment is effected.
[0274] The foregoing description and examples has been set forth
merely to illustrate the disclosure and are not intended as being
limiting. Each of the disclosed aspects and embodiments of the
present disclosure may be considered individually or in combination
with other aspects, embodiments, and variations of the disclosure.
In addition, unless otherwise specified, none of the steps of the
methods of the present disclosure are confined to any particular
order of performance. Modifications of the disclosed embodiments
incorporating the spirit and substance of the disclosure may occur
to persons skilled in the art and such modifications are within the
scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, all references cited
herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
[0275] Terms of orientation used herein, such as "top," "bottom,"
"horizontal," "vertical," "longitudinal," "lateral," and "end" are
used in the context of the illustrated embodiment. However, the
present disclosure should not be limited to the illustrated
orientation. Indeed, other orientations are possible and are within
the scope of this disclosure. Terms relating to circular shapes as
used herein, such as diameter or radius, should be understood not
to require perfect circular structures, but rather should be
applied to any suitable structure with a cross-sectional region
that can be measured from side-to-side. Terms relating to shapes
generally, such as "circular" or "cylindrical" or "semi-circular"
or "semi-cylindrical" or any related or similar terms, are not
required to conform strictly to the mathematical definitions of
circles or cylinders or other structures, but can encompass
structures that are reasonably close approximations.
[0276] Conditional language used herein, such as, among others,
"can," "might," "may," "e.g.," and the like, unless specifically
stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as
used, is generally intended to convey that some embodiments
include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features,
elements, and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not
generally intended to imply that features, elements, blocks, and/or
states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that
one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding,
with or without author input or prompting, whether these features,
elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any
particular embodiment.
[0277] Conjunctive language, such as the phrase "at least one of X,
Y, and Z," unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise
understood with the context as used in general to convey that an
item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive
language is not generally intended to imply that certain
embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one
of Y, and at least one of Z.
[0278] The terms "approximately," "about," and "substantially" as
used herein represent an amount close to the stated amount that
still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For
example, in some embodiments, as the context may dictate, the terms
"approximately", "about", and "substantially" may refer to an
amount that is within less than or equal to 10% of the stated
amount. The term "generally" as used herein represents a value,
amount, or characteristic that predominantly includes or tends
toward a particular value, amount, or characteristic. As an
example, in certain embodiments, as the context may dictate, the
term "generally parallel" can refer to something that departs from
exactly parallel by less than or equal to 20 degrees.
[0279] Unless otherwise explicitly stated, articles such as "a" or
"an" should generally be interpreted to include one or more
described items. Accordingly, phrases such as "a device configured
to" are intended to include one or more recited devices. Such one
or more recited devices can be collectively configured to carry out
the stated recitations. For example, "a processor configured to
carry out recitations A, B, and C" can include a first processor
configured to carry out recitation A working in conjunction with a
second processor configured to carry out recitations B and C.
[0280] The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like
are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion,
and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations,
and so forth. Likewise, the terms "some," "certain," and the like
are synonymous and are used in an open-ended fashion. Also, the
term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive
sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of
elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in
the list.
[0281] Overall, the language of the claims is to be interpreted
broadly based on the language employed in the claims. The language
of the claims is not to be limited to the non-exclusive embodiments
and examples that are illustrated and described in this disclosure,
or that are discussed during the prosecution of the
application.
[0282] Although systems and methods for inflatable implants, and
pressure attenuating inflatable implants, have been disclosed in
the context of certain embodiments and examples, this disclosure
extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other
alternative embodiments and/or uses of the embodiments and certain
modifications and equivalents thereof. Various features and aspects
of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted
for one another in order to form varying modes of systems and
methods for inflatable implants, and pressure attenuating
inflatable implants. The scope of this disclosure should not be
limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described
herein.
[0283] Certain features that are described in this disclosure in
the context of separate implementations can be implemented in
combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various
features that are described in the context of a single
implementation can be implemented in multiple implementations
separately or in any suitable subcombination. Although features may
be described herein as acting in certain combinations, one or more
features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised
from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as any
subcombination or variation of any subcombination.
[0284] While the methods and devices described herein may be
susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms,
specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are
herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that
the invention is not to be limited to the particular forms or
methods disclosed, but, to the contrary, the invention is to cover
all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the
spirit and scope of the various embodiments described and the
appended claims. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular
feature, aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality,
attribute, element, or the like in connection with an embodiment
can be used in all other embodiments set forth herein. Any methods
disclosed herein need not be performed in the order recited.
Depending on the embodiment, one or more acts, events, or functions
of any of the algorithms, methods, or processes described herein
can be performed in a different sequence, can be added, merged, or
left out altogether (e.g., not all described acts or events are
necessary for the practice of the algorithm). In some embodiments,
acts or events can be performed concurrently, e.g., through
multi-threaded processing, interrupt processing, or multiple
processors or processor cores or on other parallel architectures,
rather than sequentially. Further, no element, feature, block, or
step, or group of elements, features, blocks, or steps, are
necessary or indispensable to each embodiment. Additionally, all
possible combinations, subcombinations, and rearrangements of
systems, methods, features, elements, modules, blocks, and so forth
are within the scope of this disclosure. The use of sequential, or
time-ordered language, such as "then," "next," "after,"
"subsequently," and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise,
or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally
intended to facilitate the flow of the text and is not intended to
limit the sequence of operations performed. Thus, some embodiments
may be performed using the sequence of operations described herein,
while other embodiments may be performed following a different
sequence of operations.
[0285] Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings
or described in the specification in a particular order, such
operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or
in sequential order, and all operations need not be performed, to
achieve the desirable results. Other operations that are not
depicted or described can be incorporated in the example methods
and processes. For example, one or more additional operations can
be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the
described operations. Further, the operations may be rearranged or
reordered in other implementations. Also, the separation of various
system components in the implementations described herein should
not be understood as requiring such separation in all
implementations, and it should be understood that the described
components and systems can generally be integrated together in a
single product or packaged into multiple products. Additionally,
other implementations are within the scope of this disclosure.
[0286] Some embodiments have been described in connection with the
accompanying figures. Certain figures are drawn and/or shown to
scale, but such scale should not be limiting, since dimensions and
proportions other than what are shown are contemplated and are
within the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein. Distances,
angles, etc. are merely illustrative and do not necessarily bear an
exact relationship to actual dimensions and layout of the devices
illustrated. Components can be added, removed, and/or rearranged.
Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature, aspect,
method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element, or
the like in connection with various embodiments can be used in all
other embodiments set forth herein. Additionally, any methods
described herein may be practiced using any device suitable for
performing the recited steps.
[0287] The methods disclosed herein may include certain actions
taken by a practitioner; however, the methods can also include any
third-party instruction of those actions, either expressly or by
implication. For example, actions such as "positioning an
electrode" include "instructing positioning of an electrode."
[0288] In summary, various embodiments and examples of systems and
methods for inflatable implants, and pressure attenuating
inflatable implants, have been disclosed. Although the systems and
methods for inflatable implants, and pressure attenuating
inflatable implants, have been disclosed in the context of those
embodiments and examples, this disclosure extends beyond the
specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments
and/or other uses of the embodiments, as well as to certain
modifications and equivalents thereof. This disclosure expressly
contemplates that various features and aspects of the disclosed
embodiments can be combined with, or substituted for, one another.
Thus, the scope of this disclosure should not be limited by the
particular disclosed embodiments described herein, but should be
determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.
[0289] The ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all
overlap, sub-ranges, and combinations thereof. Language such as "up
to," "at least," "greater than," "less than," "between," and the
like includes the number recited. Numbers preceded by a term such
as "about" or "approximately" include the recited numbers and
should be interpreted based on the circumstances (e.g., as accurate
as reasonably possible under the circumstances, for example .+-.5%,
.+-.10%, .+-.15%, etc.). For example, "about 1 V" includes "1 V."
In addition, it is anticipated that with numbers in the description
preceded by the term such as "about" or "approximately" these
numbers can be claimed with or without the term "about" or
"approximately" preceding these numbers. Phrases preceded by a term
such as "substantially" include the recited phrase and should be
interpreted based on the circumstances (e.g., as much as reasonably
possible under the circumstances). For example, "substantially
perpendicular" includes "perpendicular." Unless stated otherwise,
all measurements are at standard conditions including temperature
and pressure.
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