Expandable devices for positioning organs

Abstract

A positioning device is configured to selectively position or otherwise manipulate one or more organs within the body of a subject. The positioning device includes a shaped expandable element that is configured to be selectively transitioned between an unexpanded, or collapsed, state and an expanded state. While in the expanded state, the expandable element repositions or otherwise manipulates an organ. Systems that include positioning devices are also disclosed, as are methods for positioning or otherwise manipulating organs.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A positioning device capable of introduction against an interior surface of an organ, comprising:
 a shaft with a longitudinal axis; and   a deflector at a distal end of the shaft, the deflector including a series of sections with the series of sections being oriented at different angles from one another in a manner that enables the deflector to change a path of the organ, with corners having obtuse angles being defined at junctions between adjacent sections of the series of sections, the deflector being:
 substantially flaccid in an unexpanded state and substantially rigid in an expanded state; and 
 asymmetrical about the longitudinal axis in the expanded state such that the positioning device, in the expanded state, is capable of repositioning the organ. 
   
     
     
         2 . The positioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the deflector, in the expanded state, includes:
 a diverting section that extends away from the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         3 . The positioning device of  claim 2 , wherein the deflector, in the expanded state, further includes:
 a spacing section distal to the diverting section, at least a portion of the spacing section having a central axis oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         4 . The positioning device of  claim 3 , wherein the deflector, in the expanded state, further includes:
 a convergent section distal to the spacing element and extending toward the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         5 . The positioning device of  claim 1 , wherein sections of the series of sections have cross-sectional shapes and dimensions taken transverse to lengths of the sections that are uniform and substantially the same as one another. 
     
     
         6 . The positioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the deflector is inflatable. 
     
     
         7 . The positioning device of  claim 6 , wherein the shaft includes a lumen for communicating an inflating medium into a cavity of the deflector to transition the deflector from the unexpanded state to the expanded state. 
     
     
         8 . The positioning device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a stylet capable of changing at least one of a position, an orientation, and a configuration of the deflector within the organ.   
     
     
         9 . The positioning device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a stylet capable of rotating the positioning device.   
     
     
         10 . A positioning device capable of introduction against an interior surface of a hollow organ, comprising:
 a shaft with a longitudinal axis;   a deflector at a distal end of the shaft, the deflector conformable to an expanded state divert a path of the hollow organ, the deflector including, in series:
 a diverting section that extends away from the longitudinal axis; 
 a spacing section oriented at an angle to and distal to the diverting section, at least a portion of the spacing section being oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and 
 a convergent section oriented at an angle to and distal to the spacing section and extending toward the longitudinal axis, 
 corners having obtuse angles being defined between the diverting section and the spacing section and between the spacing section and the convergent section upon conforming the deflector to the expanded state. 
   
     
     
         11 . The positioning device of  claim 10 , wherein the deflector comprises an inflatable deflector having a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The positioning device of  claim 11 , wherein the deflector is flaccid in the deflated configuration and substantially rigid in the inflated configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The positioning device of  claim 10 , wherein cross-sectional dimensions of the diverting section, the spacing section, and the convergent section, taken transverse to lengths thereof, are uniform and substantially the same as one another. 
     
     
         14 . The positioning device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a stylet capable of rotating the positioning device.   
     
     
         15 . A method for moving a portion of a hollow organ away from another organ, comprising:
 inserting a shapable deflector into the hollow organ, the shapable deflector including a series of sections;   positioning and orienting the shapable deflector to move the portion of the hollow organ away from another organ;   expanding the shapable deflector, including orienting the series of sections, to increase a rigidity of the shapable deflector, to define corners having obtuse angles between adjacent sections of the series of sections to change a path of the hollow organ to move the portion of the hollow organ away from the another organ.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 conducting a procedure on the another organ with the portion of the hollow organ deflected away from the another organ.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 changing at least one of a position, an orientation, and a configuration of the shapable deflector within the portion of the hollow organ.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 collapsing the shapable deflector; and   removing the shapable deflector from the hollow organ.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein expanding the shapable deflector includes expanding the shapable deflector to provide each section of the series of sections with substantially the same uniform cross-sectional shape and dimensions, taken transverse to the length of that section, as the uniform cross-sectional shape and dimensions as each other section of the series of sections. 
     
     
         20 . The method or  claim 15 , wherein expanding the shapable deflector enables movement of the hollow organ without distension of the hollow organ.