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Thermal therapeutic catheter with location detection enhancementRelated Patent Categories: Surgery: Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Thermal ApplicatorsThermal therapeutic catheter with location detection enhancement description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070179575, Thermal therapeutic catheter with location detection enhancement. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] RELATED APPLICATIONS [0002] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) of each of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/780,948, filed on Mar. 9, 2006, entitled "SYSTEMS ND METHODS FOR TREATING A HOLLOW ANATOMICAL STRUCTURE, " and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/701,303, filed on Jul. 21,2005, entitled "RESISTIVE ELEMENT SYSTEM," each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and is to be considered a part of this specification. BACKGROUND [0003] 1. Field [0004] Certain disclosed embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for applying energy to constrict and/or shrink a hollow anatomical structure, such as a vein. [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art [0006] The human venous system of the lower extremities consists essentially of the superficial venous system and the deep venous system with perforating veins connecting the two systems. The superficial system includes the long or great saphenous vein and the small saphenous vein. The deep venous system includes the anterior and posterior tibial veins which unite to form the popliteal vein, which in turn becomes the femoral vein when joined by the short saphenous vein. [0007] The venous system contains numerous one-way valves for directing blood flow back to the heart. Venous valves are usually bicuspid valves, with each cusp forming a sack or reservoir for blood. Retrograde blood flow forces the free surfaces of the cusps together to prevent continued retrograde flow of the blood and allows only antegrade blood flow to the heart. When an incompetent valve is in the flow path, the valve is unable to close because the cusps do not form a proper seal, and retrograde flow of the blood cannot be stopped. When a venous valve fails, increased strain and pressure occur within the lower venous sections and overlying tissues, sometimes leading to additional, limb-distal valvular failure. Two venous conditions or symptoms which often result from valve failure are varicose veins and more symptomatic chronic venous insufficiency. SUMMARY [0008] Disclosed herein are systems and methods for ligating and/or substantially occluding a hollow anatomical structure (HAS), such as, for example, a vein. In particular, certain disclosed embodiments include devices having a therapeutic element, such as a resistive heating element, that is capable of directly applying energy to the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure. In certain embodiments, this application of energy causes collagen denaturation and shrinkage such that the HAS diameter is substantially reduced and the HAS wall becomes thickened such that the end result is generally a HAS "lumen" filled with fibrin whereas fluid can no longer flow therethrough. Also disclosed are indexing methods and devices that facilitate treatment of successive portions of the hollow anatomical structure. [0009] One embodiment comprises a catheter for use in treating a hollow anatomical structure. The catheter comprises an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; and an energy application device located proximate the distal end of the shaft. The energy application device has a first length. The catheter further comprises a plurality of index markers located along the shaft and proximal of the energy application device such that consecutive index markers are spaced apart by a second length. The second length comprises an indexing distance of the energy application device. [0010] In one variation of the catheter, the second length is approximately equal to or slightly shorter than the first length. In a further variation, the first length is between approximately 2 centimeters and approximately 10 centimeters and the second length is between approximately 0.1 centimeter and approximately 1.5 centimeters less than the first length. In another further variation, the first length is approximately 7 centimeters and the second length is approximately 6.5 centimeters. [0011] In some variations of the catheter, the shaft further comprises a stop-treatment marker or a last-treatment marker located proximal of the energy application device and distal of the plurality of index markers. In a further variation, the stop-treatment marker can include a plurality of warning markers corresponding to a plurality of introducer lengths. [0012] In some variations of the catheter, the plurality of index markers can comprise any of the following: alphanumeric markers, color-coded markers, geometrically coded markers, at least one magnetic ink marker readable by an external sensor, or at least one detent in the shaft. [0013] In one variation of the catheter, at least a portion of the catheter is sterile. In a further variation, a method can comprise sterilizing the catheter. [0014] In some variations of the catheter, the energy application device can have an adjustable active length, and/or an active region which is adjustable in size. In a further variation, the energy application device comprises a heater element with a plurality of separately operable heater sections which are arranged longitudinally along the first length. [0015] Another embodiment comprises a method for treating a hollow anatomical structure. The method comprises inserting a catheter having an energy application device having a first length and indexing marks on the catheter shaft proximal to the energy application device through an introducer sheath in a hollow anatomical structure of a patient. The method further comprises positioning the energy application device at a first treatment location in the hollow anatomical structure. The method further comprises, while the energy application device is at the first treatment location of the hollow anatomical structure, withdrawing the sheath or adjusting a reference point of the sheath until the reference point of the sheath is aligned with one of the indexing marks on the catheter shaft. The method further comprises applying energy with the energy application device to the first treatment location in the hollow anatomical structure; and positioning the catheter at one or more subsequent treatment locations in the hollow anatomical structure by moving the catheter shaft through the sheath until another one or more of the indexing marks is aligned with the reference point of the sheath. The method further comprises applying energy with the energy application device to each subsequent treatment location. [0016] In some variations of the method, the reference point of the sheath comprises the proximal end of the sheath, or an adjustable reference marker. [0017] In one variation, the method further comprises securing the sheath with respect to the hollow anatomical structure before moving the catheter to one or more subsequent treatment locations. Securing the sheath can optionally comprise securing the sheath to the patient. [0018] Another embodiment comprises a method for treating a hollow anatomical structure. The method comprises inserting a catheter into a hollow anatomical structure of a patient. The catheter has an energy application device with a first length. The method further comprises applying energy, with the energy application device, to a first treatment location of the hollow anatomical structure. The method further comprises moving the catheter proximally to one or more additional treatment locations of the hollow anatomical structure, wherein each additional treatment location is offset by an indexing length from the preceding treatment location. The method further comprises applying energy, with the energy application device, to the one or more additional treatment locations of the hollow anatomical structure. [0019] In one variation of the method, the indexing length is approximately equal to or slightly shorter than the first length. [0020] In another variation of the method, moving the catheter proximally comprises aligning an index marking on the catheter with a reference point. The reference point can optionally be on an introducer through which the catheter is inserted. [0021] Another variation of the method further comprises monitoring a temperature within the hollow anatomical structure. [0022] In some variations of the method, applying energy to the first location can comprise applying energy to the first location at two distinct times, or applying energy to the first location for a longer duration than to any one of the additional locations. Where energy is applied to the first location for a longer duration, the hollow anatomical structure can optionally have a larger cross-sectional profile, as viewed along a longitudinal axis of the hollow anatomical structure, in the first location than in any of the additional locations. Where energy is applied to the first location for a longer duration, the hollow anatomical structure can comprise the great saphenous vein, and the first location can be closer to the sapheno-femoral junction than is any of the additional locations. Continue reading about Thermal therapeutic catheter with location detection enhancement... Full patent description for Thermal therapeutic catheter with location detection enhancement Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Thermal therapeutic catheter with location detection enhancement patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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