Esophageal balloon catheter device

• US 20040171942A1
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bernard Ackerman, Robert M. Landis
• Original Assignee: Bernard Ackerman, Robert M. Landis
• Inventors: Landis, Robert M., Ackerman, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US10/793,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20040171942A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/037 Measuring oesophageal pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/085 Measuring impedance of respiratory organs or lung elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4233 oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

An esophageal catheter device including a catheter with a balloon pressure sensor affixed to an exterior surface of the catheter, and a stylet assembly including a stylet for providing appropriate rigidity to the catheter to aid insertion in the esophagus and a port for removably mounting a pressure transducer.

Claims

1. An esophageal catheter device comprising:

a catheter including an open end and a closed end, the closed end for removably mounting one of a pressure transducer and removably receiving a stylet;

a balloon affixed to an exterior surface of the catheter, the balloon useable as a pressure sensor;

a balloon inflation lumen extending through the catheter in communication with the interior of the balloon through at least one aperture extending through the catheter; and

a stylet assembly including a stylet for providing appropriate rigidity to the catheter to aid insertion into the esophagus and a port for removably mounting a pressure transducer.

2. The esophageal catheter device according to claim 1, wherein the stylet assembly further includes a coupler.

3. The esophageal catheter device according to claim 2, wherein the coupler includes the port for mounting the pressure transducer.

4. The esophageal catheter device according to claim 2, wherein the coupler includes a main tube section, the port for mounting the pressure transducer extending from the main tube section.

5. The esophageal catheter device according to claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a plurality of depth markings.

6. The esophageal catheter device according to claim 1, wherein the stylet assembly further includes a coupler and a closure sealing an end of the coupler, the stylet having an end affixed to a portion of the closure.

7. The esophageal catheter device according to claim 6, wherein the coupler includes the port for mounting the pressure transducer.

8. The esophageal catheter device according to claim 1, further comprising a hub connector disposed at the open end of the catheter.

9. The esophageal catheter device according to claim 1, wherein the catheter is made from a radio-opaque material.

10. The esophageal catheter device according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is made from a latex-free material.

11. A stylet assembly for an esophageal catheter device having a balloon affixed to an exterior surface of the catheter, the balloon useable as a pressure sensor;

the stylet assembly comprising;

a coupler;

a stylet having an end affixed to the coupler; and

a port extending from the coupler for removably mounting a pressure transducer.

12. The stylet assembly according to claim 11, wherein the coupler includes a main tube section, the port for mounting the pressure transducer extending from the main tube section.

13. The stylet assembly according to claim 11, wherein the stylet assembly further includes a closure sealing an end of the coupler, the stylet having an end affixed to a portion of the closure.

14. A method for intra-thoracic pressure monitoring, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an esophageal catheter device including a catheter, a balloon affixed to an exterior surface of the catheter, the balloon useable as a pressure sensor, a balloon inflation lumen extending through the catheter in communication with the interior of the balloon through at least one aperture extending through the catheter, and a stylet assembly including a stylet for providing appropriate rigidity to the catheter to aid insertion in the esophagus and a port for removably mounting a pressure transducer;

mounting a pressure transducer to the port of the stylet assembly;

inserting the catheter device into an esophagus;

adding the correct amount of air to the sensor balloon;

positioning the sensor balloon of the catheter device in a desired location in the esophagus using pressure information obtained through the sensor balloon, the stylet assembly and pressure transducer working in concert.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

removing the pressure transducer from the port;

removing the stylet assembly from the open end of the catheter;

mounting the pressure transducer to the open end of the catheter; and

monitoring esophageal pressure using pressure information obtained through the sensor balloon and the pressure transducer working in concert.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the stylet assembly further includes a coupler.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the coupler includes the port for mounting the pressure transducer.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the coupler includes a main tube section, the port for mounting the pressure transducer extending from the main tube section.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the catheter is made from a radio-opaque material.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the balloon is made from a latex-free material.