The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 11, 2007
Filed:
Oct. 26, 2004
Yelena G. Tropsha, Plymouth, MN (US);
Chris A. Deegan, Coon Rapids, MN (US);
Carole A. Tronnes, Stillwater, MN (US);
Yelena G. Tropsha, Plymouth, MN (US);
Chris A. Deegan, Coon Rapids, MN (US);
Carole A. Tronnes, Stillwater, MN (US);
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
One or more tissue bulking devices are implanted to bulk a structure within a patient. The tissue bulking devices may be implanted between the structure and an adventitial layer that at least partially covers the structure, or within the adventitial layer. In some embodiments, the structure is a luminal wall that defines an inner lumen, and the bulking devices are implanted endoscopically via the lumen. In such embodiments, the tissue bulking devices may be implanted between a muscular layer of the luminal wall and an adventitial layer that at least partially covers the luminal wall, or within the adventitial layer. In exemplary embodiments, the luminal wall is the wall of the esophagus of the patient, and the tissue bulking devices are implanted proximate to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) of the patient to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).