Method and apparatus for performing transesphageal cardiovascular procedures
First Claim
1. Apparatus for performing a transesophageal cardiovascular procedure, said apparatus comprising an elongated tubular main access device having a first lumen with an open proximal end and a distal side opening;
- inflatable sealing means on the outside of said device above and below said side opening, and a first fluid conduit extending along said device for inflating said sealing means so that when the device is inserted into a patient'"'"'s esophagus and the sealing means are inflated, the portion of the esophagus opposite said side opening is isolated from the remainder of the esophagus above and below the side opening.
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Abstract
Apparatus for performing a transesophageal cardiovascular procedure includes an elongated tubular main access device having the first lumen with open proximal end and a side opening distal end, and a second lumen with open ends. A balloon having a wall on the outside of the device surrounds the distal end and a fluid conduit extends along the device for inflating the balloon so that when the device is inserted into a patient'"'"'s esophagus and the balloon is inflated, the portion of the esophagus opposite the distal end is isolated from the remainder of the esophagus. The apparatus may also include a side access unit having an elongated flexible coaxial inner and outer tubes having proximal and distal ends and being movable relatively in the axial direction. First seals are mounted to the distal end of the outer tube, and second seals are mounted to the distal end of the inner tube, an actuator adjacent to the proxable ends of the tubes move the tubes relatively so as to vary the axial spacing the first and second seals. Various methods for using the apparatus are also disclosed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for performing a transesophageal cardiovascular procedure, said apparatus comprising
an elongated tubular main access device having a first lumen with an open proximal end and a distal side opening; -
inflatable sealing means on the outside of said device above and below said side opening, and a first fluid conduit extending along said device for inflating said sealing means so that when the device is inserted into a patient'"'"'s esophagus and the sealing means are inflated, the portion of the esophagus opposite said side opening is isolated from the remainder of the esophagus above and below the side opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for performing a transesophageal cardiovascular procedure, said apparatus comprising
an elongated flexible tubular shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a wall extending between said ends; -
a first lumen extending along the shaft, said lumen having an open proximal end near the proximal end of the shaft and an open distal end constituted by a side opening in the wall of the shaft near the distal end of the shaft;
first expandable sealing means on the side wall of the shaft and extending above and below said side opening;
expanding means extending along the shaft for expanding said first sealing means so that when the shaft is inserted into a patient'"'"'s esophagus and the first sealing means are expanded, the portion of the esophagus opposite the side opening is isolated from the remainder of the esophagus above and below the side opening;
a fiber optic endoscope extending along the shaft said endoscope having a proximal end adapted for connection to a light source and a distal end located adjacent to said side opening for viewing the portion of the esophagus opposite the side opening;
an ultrasound transducer in said shaft near the distal end thereof, and conductors extending along the shaft for connecting the transducer to an ultrasound transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification