Apparatus for examining the functioning of body structures comprising smooth muscle walls
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring the micromotion of the wall of a hollow organ comprising:
- a catheter having a first end and a second end;
an inflatable balloon disposed over the first end of said catheter, said inflatable balloon being fluid tightly sealed to said catheter at a position intermediate said first and second ends;
at least four electrodes affixed to an inner surface of said balloon, said at least four electrodes being spaced apart from one another when said inflatable balloon is at least partially inflated; and
a respective electrically conductive lead electrically connected to each of said at least four electrodes, each said respective electrically conductive lead having an electrically insulative covering thereover, each said respective electrically conductive lead passing through said catheter and extending beyond said second end thereof;
whereby, in use, said catheter with said deflated balloon attached is inserted into hollow organ and said balloon is at least partially inflated with a liquid having a predetermined electrical resistivity,whereby the wall of the balloon is pressed against the wall of said organ so that said electrodes will move with movement of the organ wall, whereby movement of said electrodes produces a variation in resistance between said electrodes, which is measured and compared to a calibration of the apparatus to determine the motion of the wall.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring the micromotion of the wall of a hollow organ comprises: a catheter having a first end and a second end; an inflatable balloon disposed over the first end of the catheter with the balloon being fluid tightly sealed to the catheter at a position intermediate the first and second ends thereof; at least four electrodes affixed to an inner surface of the balloon, the electrodes being spaced apart from one another when the inflatable balloon is at least partially inflated; and a respective electrically conductive lead electrically connected to each of the electrodes, each lead having an electrically insulating cover thereover and each lead passing through said catheter and extending beyond the second end thereof. In use, the catheter with the deflated balloon attached is brought into the hollow organ, e.g., the bladder, and then the balloon is at least partially inflated with a liquid having a predetermined electrical resistivity. The wall of the balloon is thus pressed against the wall of the organ so that the electrodes will move with movement of the organ wall. Movement of the organ wall causes movement of the electrodes which produces a variation in the resistance between the electrodes, which is measured and compared to a calibration of the apparatus to determine the motion of the wall.
109 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring the micromotion of the wall of a hollow organ comprising:
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a catheter having a first end and a second end; an inflatable balloon disposed over the first end of said catheter, said inflatable balloon being fluid tightly sealed to said catheter at a position intermediate said first and second ends; at least four electrodes affixed to an inner surface of said balloon, said at least four electrodes being spaced apart from one another when said inflatable balloon is at least partially inflated; and a respective electrically conductive lead electrically connected to each of said at least four electrodes, each said respective electrically conductive lead having an electrically insulative covering thereover, each said respective electrically conductive lead passing through said catheter and extending beyond said second end thereof; whereby, in use, said catheter with said deflated balloon attached is inserted into hollow organ and said balloon is at least partially inflated with a liquid having a predetermined electrical resistivity,whereby the wall of the balloon is pressed against the wall of said organ so that said electrodes will move with movement of the organ wall, whereby movement of said electrodes produces a variation in resistance between said electrodes, which is measured and compared to a calibration of the apparatus to determine the motion of the wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification