Claims for Patent: 9,011,367

Summary for Patent: 9,011,367

Title:	Device and method for injecting pulsed steam into a human or animal vessel E.G. a vein
Abstract:	The purpose of the invention is to develop an improved device for injecting pulsed steam into a human or animal vessel (e.g. veins), especially tributaries and perforating veins to treat them through thermofibrosis. The device of the invention includes a water pulse generator that produces micro pulses of pressurized sterile water; a hand piece that transforms pulses of water coming from the generator into pulses of steam; an endoluminal catheter with a tubular part for delivering the steam into the vessel; connection means between the hand piece and the endoluminal catheter; and a programmable central processing unit (cpu) to control the water pulse generator and the hand piece.
Inventor(s):	Humbert; Sophie (Arbusigny, FR), Milleret; Rene (Montpellier, FR), Lugbull; Sebastien (Seyssel, FR)
Assignee:	Cermavein (Archamps, FR)
Application Number:	13/983,833
Patent Claims:	1. A method for treating tributaries comprising using a device for injecting pulsed steam into human or animal vessel, the device including: a water pulse generator that produces micro pulses of pressurized sterile water; a hand piece that transforms pulses of water coming from the generator into pulses of steam; an endoluminal catheter for delivering the steam into the vessel; connection means between the hand piece and the endoluminal catheter; and a programmable central processing unit (cpu) to control the water pulse generator and the hand piece; wherein a. the endoluminal catheter comprises a tubular part which length L (in cm) is comprised between one of the following inclusive ranges: [1; 30], [2; 28], [3; 27], [4; 26], [5; 25], [6; 24], [8; 22], [10; 20]; b. the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter is made of a flexible, biocompatible, thermically insulating and thermically resistant non-metallic material or polymer; c. the distal end of the endoluminal catheter has a terminal and central opening; the method further comprising: i. the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter is introduced into a patient and positioned within the section of the vein to be treated through multiple punctures; each of them corresponding to a given segment of vein to be treated; ii. several pulses of pressurized overheated steam are delivered consecutively towards the vein; iii. the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter remains active until there has been sufficient shrinkage of the vein; iv. the extent of shrinkage of the vein is detected by appropriate detection means; and wherein the segments' length is 4 to 12 cm. 2. A method for treating tributaries comprising using a device for injecting pulsed steam into human or animal vessel, the device including: a water pulse generator that produces micro pulses of pressurized sterile water; a hand piece that transforms pulses of water coming from the generator into pulses of steam; an endoluminal catheter for delivering the steam into the vessel; connection means between the hand piece and the endoluminal catheter; and a programmable central processing unit (cpu) to control the water pulse generator and the hand piece; wherein a. the endoluminal catheter comprises a tubular part which length L (in cm) is comprised between one of the following inclusive ranges: [1; 30], [2; 28], [3; 27], [4; 26], [5; 25], [6; 24], [8; 22], [10; 20]; b. the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter is made of a flexible, biocompatible, thermically insulating and thermically resistant non-metallic material or polymer; c. the distal end of the endoluminal catheter has a terminal and central opening; the method further comprising: i. the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter is introduced into a patient and positioned within the section of the vein to be treated through multiple punctures; each of them corresponding to a given segment of vein to be treated; ii. several pulses of pressurized overheated steam are delivered consecutively towards the vein; iii. the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter remains active until there has been sufficient shrinkage of the vein; iv. the extent of shrinkage of the vein is detected by appropriate detection means; and wherein local anesthesia is carried out by skin cooling, with skin temperatures down to 39.2/42.8.degree. F. (4/6.degree. C.). 3. A method for treating by direct obliteration, a tortuous perforating vein longer than 2 cm and extending between a superficial vein and a deep vein, said method comprising using a device for injecting pulsed steam into human or animal vessel, the device including: a water pulse generator that produces micro pulses of pressurized sterile water; a hand piece that transforms pulses of water coming from the generator into pulses of steam; an endoluminal catheter for delivering the steam into the vessel; connection means between the hand piece and the endoluminal catheter; and a programmable central processing unit (cpu) to control the water pulse generator and the hand piece; wherein a. the endoluminal catheter comprises a tubular part which length L (in cm) is comprised between one of the following inclusive ranges: [1; 30], [2; 28], [3; 27], [4; 26], [5; 25], [6; 24], [8; 22], [10; 20]; b. the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter is made of a flexible, biocompatible, thermically insulating and thermically resistant non-metallic material or polymer; c. the distal end of the endoluminal catheter has a terminal and central opening; the method further comprising: i. the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter is introduced under echo guidance in the perforator, at least 2 cm from the deep vein, ii. at least 3 pulses of pressurized overheated steam are delivered, iii. then the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter is removed of a distance of about 1 cm and 3 other pulses are emitted. 4. A method for treating by indirect obliteration, a 2 cm long or less perforating vein extending between a superficial vein and a deep vein, said method comprising using a device for injecting pulsed steam into human or animal vessel, the device including: a water pulse generator that produces micro pulses of pressurized sterile water; a hand piece that transforms pulses of water coming from the generator into pulses of steam; an endoluminal catheter for delivering the steam into the vessel; connection means between the hand piece and the endoluminal catheter; and a programmable central processing unit (cpu) to control the water pulse generator and the hand piece; wherein a. the endoluminal catheter comprises a tubular part which length L (in cm) is comprised between one of the following inclusive ranges: [1; 30], [2; 28], [3; 27], [4; 26], [5; 25], [6; 24], [8; 22], [10; 20]; b. the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter is made of a flexible, biocompatible, thermically insulating and thermically resistant non-metallic material or polymer; c. the distal end of the endoluminal catheter has a terminal and central opening; the method further comprising: i. the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter is introduced distally in the superficial vein, guided upward proximal to the perforator; ii. the vein is obliterated by delivering at least 3 pulses of pressurized overheated steam, so that the perforator cannot drain in the upward side of the superficial vein; iii. the tubular part of the endoluminal catheter is removed downward proximal to the perforator; iv. the vein is obliterated by delivering at least 3 pulses of pressurized overheated steam, so that the perforator cannot drain in the downward side of the superficial vein.

Details for Patent 9,011,367

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	ZOSTAVAX	zoster vaccine live	For Injection	125123	05/25/2006		2031-02-07