Anorectal probe apparatus having at least one muscular activity sensor
First Claim
1. An apparatus configured for sensing muscular activity in an anorectal canal of a patient, comprising:
- an elongate probe having a distal end opposing a proximal end, said probe being configured for insertion into the patient'"'"'s anorectal canal, said probe defining a lumen configured for passage of pressurized fluid therethrough, said probe including;
(a) a first pressure sensor configured to provide a pressure signal representative of muscular activity in the anorectal canal;
(b) an electromyography sensor configured to provide an electromyography signal representative of muscular activity in the anorectal canal;
(c) a stimulus balloon carried on said probe, said balloon being in fluid communication with said lumen, said balloon being configured to stimulate muscle activity in the anorectal canal when inflated with pressurized fluid delivered through said lumen; and
wherein said first pressure sensor is positioned on said probe between said distal end and said balloon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for sensing muscular activity of the rectosigmoid region, rectum, and the anorectal canal of a subject is disclosed. This apparatus includes an elongate probe having a distal end opposing a proximal end which is configured for insertion into the patient'"'"'s anorectal canal and includes a pressure sensor, an electromyography sensor, and a stimulus balloon. Multiple pressure sensors may be included to evaluate muscular activity in the anorectal canal. In addition, pressure sensors may be distributed along the length of the probe to simultaneously measure the response of other portions of the anorectal canal besides the anal sphincter muscle. A pressure sensor is also located inside the stimulus balloon for monitoring intraballoon pressure.
247 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus configured for sensing muscular activity in an anorectal canal of a patient, comprising:
- an elongate probe having a distal end opposing a proximal end, said probe being configured for insertion into the patient'"'"'s anorectal canal, said probe defining a lumen configured for passage of pressurized fluid therethrough, said probe including;
(a) a first pressure sensor configured to provide a pressure signal representative of muscular activity in the anorectal canal; (b) an electromyography sensor configured to provide an electromyography signal representative of muscular activity in the anorectal canal; (c) a stimulus balloon carried on said probe, said balloon being in fluid communication with said lumen, said balloon being configured to stimulate muscle activity in the anorectal canal when inflated with pressurized fluid delivered through said lumen; and wherein said first pressure sensor is positioned on said probe between said distal end and said balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- an elongate probe having a distal end opposing a proximal end, said probe being configured for insertion into the patient'"'"'s anorectal canal, said probe defining a lumen configured for passage of pressurized fluid therethrough, said probe including;
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8. An apparatus configured for sensing muscular activity in an anorectal canal of a patient, comprising:
- an elongate probe having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, said probe being configured for insertion into the anorectal canal, said probe defining a lumen configured for passage of pressurized fluid therethrough, said probe including;
(a) a first pressure sensor configured to provide a first pressure signal corresponding to muscular activity in the anorectal canal at a first site; and (b) a stimulus balloon carried on said probe and proximally spaced apart from said first site, said balloon being in fluid communication with said lumen and being configured to stimulate muscle activity in the anorectal canal when inflated with pressurized fluid delivered through said lumen. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
- an elongate probe having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, said probe being configured for insertion into the anorectal canal, said probe defining a lumen configured for passage of pressurized fluid therethrough, said probe including;
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13. An apparatus configured for sensing muscular activity in an anorectal canal of a patient, comprising:
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(a) an elongate probe having a longitudinal axis with a distal end and a proximal end oppositely disposed therealong, said probe being configured for insertion into the patient'"'"'s anorectal canal; (b) at least three proximal pressure sensors each coupled to said probe, said proximal pressure sensors being configured to simultaneously monitor anal sphincter activity of the patient at each of a corresponding number of different positions, said positions each being within about a three centimeter length along said longitudinal axis and being circumferentially and longitudinally spaced apart from each other; and (c) an electromyography sensor coupled to said probe, said electromyography sensor being configured to monitor anal sphincter activity simultaneously with said proximal pressure sensors at a site on said probe located within about one centimeter of at least one of said positions. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus configured for sensing muscular activity in an anorectal canal of a patient, comprising:
- an elongate probe having a distal end opposing a proximal end, said probe being configured for insertion into the patient'"'"'s anorectal canal, said probe defining a lumen configured for passage of pressurized fluid therethrough, said probe including;
(a) a stimulus balloon carried on said probe to stimulate muscle activity in the anorectal canal when inflated with pressurized fluid delivered through said lumen; (b) a first sensor positioned along said probe distal to said balloon to provide a first signal representative of muscular activity in the anorectal canal; (c) a second sensor positioned along said probe proximal to said balloon to provide a second signal representative of muscular activity in the anorectal canal; and (d) a monitoring device responsive to said first and second signals to provide an output simultaneously representing muscular activity of the anorectal canal at a distal site and a proximal site relative to a location stimulated by said balloon to facilitate diagnosis of defecation disorders. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- an elongate probe having a distal end opposing a proximal end, said probe being configured for insertion into the patient'"'"'s anorectal canal, said probe defining a lumen configured for passage of pressurized fluid therethrough, said probe including;
Specification