Importance

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Abstract

Light energy is utilized to shrink or tighten tissue surrounding a hollow organ, cavity, duct or naturally occurring or surgically created passage by cross-linking the collagen of the surrounding tissue and ccausing scar formation therein. The present device may be used in the esophagus in the area of the sphincter to treat GERD, in the female urethra to treat FSI or at the vesicouretal junction to treat VUR. In the present device, a plurality of plastic tubes, each containing a slidable optical fiber with a sharpened distal end, are affixed to the outer surface of a balloon, which is mounted near the distal end of a closed end catheter. The balloon catheter may be inserted into the body inside a retractable protective sheath. When the sheath is retracted, exposing the balloon, the balloon is inflated, which presses the distal ends of the plastic tubes against the surrounding tissue. The optical fibers are simultaneously advanced manually a selected distance out of the plastic tubes into the tissue surrounding the organ, cavity, duct or passage, reducing the diameter thereof. In a preferred embodiment, superelastic metal tubes with sharp, syringe-shaped ends, which have been preformed into a curved shape, are attached to the distal ends of the optical fibers. When advanced and released from the confines of the plastic tubes, the metal tubes revert to their original shape and curve outward, piercing the tissue. A fluid pathway is provided for injecting a bulking material, such as a biocompatible collagen, to further reduce the diameter of the passageway. The injected collagen can be cross-linked by laser energy, thereby reducing the mobility of the injected bulking material.

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First Claim