Polymeric article for intraluminal photothermoforming

[54] POLYMERIC ARTICLE FOR INTRALUMINAL PHOTOTHERMOFORMING

[75] Inventors: Chandrashekhar P. Pathak, Waltham;

Amarpreet S. Sawhney, Newton;
Jeffrey A. Hubbell. Concord; Stephen
J. Herman, Andover, all of Mass.;
Laurence A. Roth, Windham, N.H.;
Patrick K. Campbell. Georgetown;
Kevin M. Berrigan, Woburn, both of
Mass.; Peter K. Jarrett, Southbury,
Conn.; Arthur J. Coury, Boston, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Focal, Inc., Lexington, Mass.

[21] Appl. No.: 477370
[22] Filed: Jun. 7, 1995

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation of PCT/US94/04824, Apr. 23,1994 whichis a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 54,385, Apr. 28, 1993, abandoned.

[51] Int CI.6 A61F 2/06

[52] U.S. CI 623/1; 623/12

[58] Field of Search 623/1, 12; 606/194,

606/195

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Poppas, D.P. et al., "Chromophore Enhanced Laser Welding of Canine Ureters in Vitro Using A Human Protein Solder: A Preliminary Step for Laparoscopic Tissue Welding", The Journal of Urology, vol. 150, pp. 1052-1055, Sep., 1993. Choma, T.J., M.D. et al., "C02 Laser Urethroplasty in the Rabbit: A Preclinical Model", Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, vol. 12, pp. 639-644, 1992.

Klioze, S.D. et al., "Development and Initial Application of
a Real Time Thermal Control System for Laser Tissue
Welding", The Journal of Urology, vol. 152, pp. 744-748,
Aug., 1994.

Poppas, D.P. et al., "Laser Welding in Urethral Surgery:
Improved Results with a Protein Solder", The Journal of
Urology, vol. 139. Feb., 1988, pp. 415-417.
Poppas, D.P. et al., 'Patch Graft Urethroplasty Using Dye
Enhanced Laser Tissue Welding with a Human Protein
Solder: A Preclinical Canine Model", The Journal of Urol-
ogy, vol. 150, pp. 648-650, Aug. 1993.

(List continued on next page.)

Primary Examiner—Michael J. Milano

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, PC.

A method and apparatus for molding polymeric structures in vivo is disclosed. The structures comprise polymers that may be heated to their molding temperature by absorption of visible or near-visible wavelengths of light. By providing a light source that produces radiation of the wavelength absorbed by the polymeric material, the material may be selectively heated and shaped in vivo without a corresponding heating of adjacent tissues or fluids to unacceptable levels. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a shaping element positioned near its distal end. An emitter provided with light from at least one optical fiber is positioned within the shaping element. The emitter serves to provide a moldable polymeric article positioned on the shaping element with a substantially uniform light field, thereby allowing the article to be heated and molded at a desired treatment site in a body lumen.

24 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets