Apparatus to treat esophageal sphincters

Abstract

A sphincter treatment apparatus has an introducer means including a distal portion means. An expandable device means includes a plurality of arm means. Each arm means of the plurality has a distal section means and a proximal section means. Each of distal sections means of the arm means are coupled and each of the proximal sections means of the arm means are coupled to the introducer means distal portion means. The expandable device means is configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state. An energy delivery device means is introduceable from the introducer means into a selected site of the sphincter. The energy delivery device means is configured to deliver sufficient energy to reduce a frequency of relaxation of the sphincter.

1 . A sphincter treatment apparatus comprising:
 an introducer having an introducer lumen,   an expandable device coupled to the introducer, the expandable device including a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled, at least one of the first and second arms including an arm lumen coupled in fluid communication with the introducer lumen for delivery of a fluid, the expandable device being configured to at least partially dilate a sphincter in a deployed state, and   an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as in  claim 1   wherein at least a portion of the energy delivery device is advanceable into the sphincter.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as in  claim 1   wherein the at least one of the first and second arms includes an aperture coupled to the introducer lumen and adapted to provide a path for delivery of the fluid from the introducer.   
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as in  claim 3   wherein the fluid is cooling fluid.   
     
     
         5 . A method of treating a sphincter comprising:
 providing an introducer, the introducer carrying an expandable device,   providing an energy delivery device coupled to the expandable device,   deploying the introducer to a targeted tissue site at or near a sphincter,   expanding the expandable device to at least partially dilate the sphincter,   delivering energy from the energy delivery device to the targeted tissue site, and   delivering a cooling fluid from the introducer.   
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 5   wherein the expandable device includes a first arm with a proximal section and a distal section and a second arm with a proximal section and a distal section, the first and second arm distal sections being coupled.   
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 6   wherein at least one of the first and second arms includes a lumen.   
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 5   wherein the introducer includes a lumen.   
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 5   wherein the cooling fluid is delivered at a sensed flow rate, further comprising,   measuring the temperature of at least one of the tissue site and the energy delivery device, and   comparing the measured temperature to a pre-set desired temperature.   
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 9 , further comprising
 maintaining the flow rate if the measured temperature does not exceed the desired temperature.   
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 9 , further comprising
 increasing the now rate if the measured temperature exceeds the desired temperature.