Patent ID: 7309310
Filing Date: 2007-12-18
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of treating a sphincter in an esophagus of a patient to alleviate gastroesophageal reflux disease, said method comprising: providing a catheter and an injector coupled to said catheter, said catheter having a tissue piercing needle distal end; providing a liquid polymer which will polymerize in site at the site of injection to form a bulking implant, wherein the polymer comprises a polyisocyanate capped polyol; introducing said catheter into said esophagus of the patient; piercing an exterior surface of said sphincter of said esophagus of the patient with said tissue piercing needle distal end on said catheter; advancing said tissue piercing needle distal end a distance in an interior of said sphincter to a tissue site; and injecting a controlled volume of said liquid polymer into said tissue site to create a controlled volume of in-situ implant in said sphincter to bulk said sphincter; and thereby reducing at least one of the frequency and the quantity of sphincter reflux.