US 12,329,439 B1
Electrical energy ablation systems, devices and methods for the treatment of tissue
Jay Caplan, Boston, MA (US); Harith Rajagopalan, Wellesley Hills, MA (US); and J. Christopher Flaherty, Nottingham, NH (US)
Assigned to Fractyl Health, Inc., Burlington, MA (US)
Filed by Fractyl Health, Inc., Burlington, MA (US)
Filed on Feb. 5, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/046,264.
Application 19/046,264 is a continuation of application No. 17/879,222, filed on Aug. 2, 2022.
Application 17/879,222 is a continuation of application No. 16/711,236, filed on Dec. 11, 2019, granted, now 11,439,457.
Application 16/711,236 is a continuation of application No. 14/609,332, filed on Jan. 29, 2015, abandoned.
Application 14/609,332 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2013/052786, filed on Jul. 30, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/677,422, filed on Jul. 30, 2012.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/22 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/04 (2006.01); A61B 18/18 (2006.01); A61B 18/20 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61M 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/14 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1492 (2013.01); A61B 17/22012 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00011 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0016 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00214 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0022 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00267 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00285 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00494 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00815 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00821 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00982 (2013.01); A61B 18/042 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1807 (2013.01); A61B 18/1815 (2013.01); A61B 18/20 (2013.01); A61B 2090/064 (2016.02); A61B 2090/065 (2016.02); A61B 90/37 (2016.02); A61M 13/003 (2013.01); A61M 2202/0225 (2013.01)] 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of ablating mucosal tissue in a patient's duodenum, the method comprising:
introducing an ablation device into the patient's gastrointestinal (GI) tract;
advancing the ablation device to a first location in the patient's duodenum, the ablation device comprising an elongate shaft with a radially expandable element attached to the elongate shaft, the radially expandable element being moveable between contracted states and expanded states, the ablation device being introduced and advanced to the patient's duodenum with the radially expandable element in a contracted state;
ablating mucosal tissue at the first location in the patient's duodenum by:
moving the radially expandable element to an expanded state such that an array of conductors mounted to the radially expandable element forms a substantially tubular shape that directly contacts mucosal tissue of the duodenum of the first location; and
causing a first delivery of electrical energy to the array of conductors;
after the first delivery of electrical energy, moving the radially expandable element to a contracted state and then moving the ablation device to a second location in the patient's duodenum; and
ablating mucosal tissue at the second location in the patient's duodenum by:
moving the radially expandable element to an expanded state such that the array of conductors forms a substantially tubular shape that directly contacts mucosal tissue of the duodenum of the second location; and
causing a second delivery of electrical energy to the array of conductors;
wherein the first and second locations are distal to the patient's ampulla of Vater, and
wherein the method comprises ablating a majority of the patient's duodenal mucosal tissue distal to the patient's ampulla of Vater by ablating additional locations with electrical energy from the array of conductors after the first and second locations.