Sphincter treatment apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus treats tissue at or near a sphincter. The apparatus has an elongated member having at least one lumen including an inflation lumen, and a basket assembly including a first and a second arm. An inflatable member is coupled to the inflation lumen and has a deployed and a non-deployed state. In the deployed state, the inflatable member expands the basket assembly into contact with tissue. At least one of the first and second arms of the basket assembly has a fluid lumen having an aperture for conveying a fluid from the basket assembly. A source of fluid is coupled to the fluid lumen for conveyance of fluid through the aperture. The fluid can be, e.g., an electrolytic solution, and/or an anti-infection agent, and/or an echogenic media, and/or a steroid, and/or an anesthetic, and/or a medicament, and/or a tissue cooling agent. The source can be a drug delivery device.

1 . An apparatus for treating tissue at or near a sphincter comprising: 
 an elongated member having at least one lumen including an inflation lumen,    a basket assembly including a first and a second arm, at least one of the first and second arms including a fluid lumen having an aperture for conveying a fluid from the basket assembly, the basket assembly being coupled to the elongated member and having a deployed and a non-deployed configuration,    an inflatable member coupled to the elongated member and positioned in an interior of the basket assembly, the inflatable member being coupled to-the inflation lumen, the inflatable member having a deployed and a non-deployed state, wherein in the deployed state the inflatable member expands the basket assembly to the basket assembly deployed configuration into contact with tissue, and    a source of fluid coupled to the fluid lumen for conveyance of fluid through the aperture.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1   further including an energy delivery-device associated with the basket assembly.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2   wherein the energy delivery device includes a tissue-piercing distal end.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2   wherein the energy delivery device comprises a radiofrequency electrode.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein the fluid contacts tissue adjacent the basket assembly.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein the fluid comprises an electrolytic solution.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein the fluid comprises an anti-infection agent.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein the fluid comprises an echogenic media.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein the fluid comprises a steroid.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein the fluid comprises an anesthetic.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein the fluid comprises a medicament.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein the fluid comprises a tissue cooling agent.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein the source comprises a drug delivery device.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein expansion of the basket assembly to the basket assembly deployed configuration dilates tissue at or near the sphincter.