Curon Medical, Inc.

Jay Chin

David S Utley

Scott H West

John W Gaiser

Ronald G Lax

Systems and methods treat a tissue region. In one arrangement, the systems and methods deploy an electrode on a support structure in a tissue region at or near the cardia of the stomach. The support structure has a proximal region and a distal region. The proximal region is enlarged in comparison to the distal region, and the electrode is carried by the enlarged proximal surface. The systems and methods advance the electrode in a path to penetrate the tissue region and couple the electrode to a source of radio frequency energy to ohmically heat tissue and create a lesion in the tissue region. In another arrangement, the systems and methods treat abnormal epithelium tissue at or near the lower esophageal sphincter by bringing an array of surface electrodes into contact with abnormal epithelium tissue. The systems and methods couple the surface electrodes to a source of radio frequency energy to ohmically heat tissue and cause necrosis of the abnormal epithelium tissue.

Stomach and adjoining tissue regions in the esophagus

An assembly for treating tissue at or near the sphincter includes a support structure for deployment in a tissue region, and a an electrode carried by the support structure. The support structure includes a spine with a lumen having an exit port, the electrode being deployable from the exit port. The spine also includes a cooling lumen and as aspiration lumen to provide and remove fluids, respectively.

Actively cooled electrode assemblies for forming lesions to treat dysfunction in sphincters and adjoining tissue regions

Systems and methods deploy an electrode structure in contact with the tissue region. The electrode structure carries a sensor at a known location on the electrode structure to monitor an operating condition. The systems and methods provide an interface, which generate an idealized image of the electrode structure and an indicator image to represent the monitored operating condition in a spatial position on the idealized image corresponding to the location of the sensor on the electrode structure. The interface displays a view image comprising the idealized image and indicator image. The systems and methods cause the electrode structure to apply energy to heat the tissue region while the view image is displayed on the display screen.

Graphical user interface for association with an electrode structure deployed in contact with a tissue region

Systems and methods treat a tissue region at or near a sphincter by deploying a carrier, which carries an electrode that can be advanced to penetrate tissue. Negative pressure is applied through a suction port on the carrier near the electrode, to draw tissue in the tissue region inward against the carrier. The systems and methods advance the electrode to penetrate tissue drawn against the carrier. The vacuum anchors the surrounding tissue and mediates against the &ldquo;tenting&rdquo; of tissue during electrode penetration. Without tenting, the electrode penetrates mucosal tissue fully, to obtain a desired depth of penetration.

Vacuum-assisted systems and methods for treating sphincters and adjoining tissue regions

Systems and methods integrate the control of an energy generator, to supply energy to an electrode structure to heat a tissue region, and the control of a pumping mechanism, to supply cooling fluid to control tissue temperature in the region.

Integrated tissue heating and cooling apparatus

Expandable assemblies for treating a tissue region at or near a sphincter comprises a support basket formed from an array of spines. A mechanism flexes the spines to expand and collapse the basket. Electrodes carried by the spines for advancement in a path to penetrate the tissue region upon expansion of the basket. The basket can be formed from a mechanical array of molded, jointed spines, or from an extruded tube having axial slits forming the spines.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Jay Chin