DOUBLE BALLOON ISOLATION CATHETERS AND METHODS THEREFOR

• US 20090203995A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Matonick, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/435
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1064 Large intestine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

A system for examining a colon includes a catheter, such as a rectal catheter, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter, and a flexible tube coupled with the catheter. The system includes a first balloon located adjacent a distal end of the flexible tube, and a second balloon extending around the catheter and being located between the distal and proximal ends of the catheter, whereby the distance between the first and second balloons is adjustable by sliding the flexible tube through the central lumen of the catheter. The first and second balloons are inflatable for isolating a section of a colon, and a gas or contrast may be introduced into the isolated colon section for conducting the examination.

Claims

1. A system for examining the colon comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of said catheter;

a flexible tube coupled with said catheter;

a first balloon located adjacent a distal end of said flexible tube; and

a second balloon extending around said catheter and being located between the distal and proximal ends of said catheter, wherein the distance between said first and second balloons is adjustable by sliding said flexible tube through the central lumen of said catheter.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second balloons are inflatable for isolating a section of a colon.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the distal end of said catheter has at least one opening for introducing gas into the isolated section of said colon.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the distal end of said catheter has at least one opening for introducing contrast into the isolated section of said colon.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide wire extending through the central lumen of said catheter and said flexible tube, wherein said guide wire has a proximal end accessible at the proximal end of said flexible tube and a distal end extending distally from the distal end of said flexible tube.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the distal end of said guide wire is curved.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor provided on said flexible tube between said first and second balloons.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a camera provided on said flexible tube.

9. The system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising at least one connector coupled with said flexible tube for introducing said gas into the isolated section of said colon.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a pump for introducing said gas into said isolated colon section.

11. A system for examining a colon comprising:

a guide wire insertable into a colon;

a flexible tube slidable over said guide wire for advancing said flexible tube into said colon;

a first balloon located adjacent a distal end of said flexible tube;

a second balloon located between said first balloon and a proximal end of said flexible tube, wherein said first balloon is movable relative to said second balloon for adjusting the distance between said first and second balloons; and

an inlet port located between said first and second balloons for introducing a gas into a section of said colon located between said first and second balloons.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a second inlet port located between said first and second balloons for introducing a contrast into the section of said colon located between said first and second balloons.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending between said proximal and distal ends, wherein said flexible tube is adapted to slide through the central lumen for advancing said flexible tube into said colon.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first and second inlet ports are located at the distal end of said catheter.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second balloon extends around said catheter between said first and second inlet ports of said catheter and said proximal end of said catheter.

16. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the distal end of said guide wire extends distally from the distal end of said flexible tube and the proximal end of said guide wire is accessible at the proximal end of said flexible tube.

17. The system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a pressure sensor mounted on said flexible tube for monitoring pressure within said colon and between said first and second balloons.

18. The system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a camera mounted on said flexible tube for viewing said colon.

19. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said flexible tube includes at least one port located between said first and second balloons for introducing gas into said colon.

20. A method of examining a colon comprising:

defining a section of a colon for examination;

forming a first air-tight seal at a first end of said colon section and a second air-tight seal at a second end of said colon section to define an isolated colon section;

introducing a gas into said isolated colon section.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising introducing a contrast agent into said isolated colon section.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the forming step comprises:

positioning a first balloon at the first end of said colon section and a second balloon at the second end of said colon section; and

inflating said first and second balloons to form said isolated colon section.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the positioning step comprises changing the distance between said first and second balloons.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising:

inserting a guide wire into said colon;

advancing said guide wire to the first end of said colon section;

coupling said first balloon with said guide wire and advancing said first balloon along said guide wire toward the first end of said colon section.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

providing a rectal catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein said second balloon extends around said rectal catheter adjacent the distal end of said rectal catheter;

passing said guide wire through the central lumen of said rectal catheter.