Method and apparatus for detecting Barrett's metaplasia of the esophagus
First Claim
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1. A system for use in detecting Barrett'"'"'s metaplasia of the esophagus, comprising:
- a flexible catheter;
a probe mounted at a distal end of said flexible catheter, said probe having an illuminator and a light receiving device each of which are directed radially outwardly to illuminate the wall of an esophagus into which said probe has been inserted and receive light from the esophageal wall;
a position measuring device measuring the position of said probe along the length of said esophagus; and
a light sensing device coupled to said light receiving device, said light sensing device providing an indication of the color of the esophageal wall whereby Barrett'"'"'s metaplasia of the esophagus can be detected based on a colorimetric change in the esophagus as sensed through said sensing device at a location along the length of the esophageal wall indicated by said position measuring device.
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Abstract
A system for detecting Barrett'"'"'s metaplasia utilizes an illumination and imaging probe at the end of a catheter. The probe illuminates the wall of the esophagus and returns reflected light to be processed to provide a visual indication of the color of the esophageal wall. The position of the probe along the length of the esophagus is also measured to allow a medical practitioner to determine the location of the transition from the pink stomach lining to the white esophageal lining.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for use in detecting Barrett'"'"'s metaplasia of the esophagus, comprising:
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a flexible catheter; a probe mounted at a distal end of said flexible catheter, said probe having an illuminator and a light receiving device each of which are directed radially outwardly to illuminate the wall of an esophagus into which said probe has been inserted and receive light from the esophageal wall; a position measuring device measuring the position of said probe along the length of said esophagus; and a light sensing device coupled to said light receiving device, said light sensing device providing an indication of the color of the esophageal wall whereby Barrett'"'"'s metaplasia of the esophagus can be detected based on a colorimetric change in the esophagus as sensed through said sensing device at a location along the length of the esophageal wall indicated by said position measuring device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for use in detecting Barrett'"'"'s metaplasia of the esophagus, comprising:
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a flexible catheter; a probe mounted at a distal end of the flexible catheter, the probe having an illuminator and a light-receiving device each of which are directed radially outwardly to illuminate the wall of an esophagus into which the probe has been inserted and receive light from the esophageal wall, the probe further including a flexible transparent balloon surrounding the probe, and wherein the catheter further includes a fluid passage communicating with the interior of the balloon so that the balloon can be inflated by injecting pressurized fluid into the fluid passage at a proximal end thereof, a position-measuring device measuring the position of the probe along the length of the esophagus; and a light-sensing device coupled to the light-receiving device, the light-sensing device providing an indication of the color of the esophageal wall whereby Barrett'"'"'s metaplasia of the esophagus can be detected based on a colorimetric change in the esophagus as sensed through the sensing device at a location along the length of the esophageal wall indicated by the position-measuring device.
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17. A system for use in detecting Barrett'"'"'s metaplasia of the esophagus, comprising:
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a flexible catheter; a probe mounted at a distal end of the flexible catheter, the probe having an illuminator and a light-receiving device each of which are directed radially outwardly to illuminate the wall of an esophagus into which the probe has been inserted and receive light from the esophageal wall; a position-measuring device measuring the position of the probe along the length of the esophagus, the position-measuring device comprising a magnetic field generator adapted to be mounted at a stationery position relative to the position of the esophagus, and a magnetic field sensor mounted on the catheter so that the relative position between the magnetic field generator and the magnetic field sensor corresponds to the position of the probe along the length of an esophagus into which the probe has been inserted; and a light-sensing device coupled to the light-receiving device, the light sensing device providing an indication of the color of the esophageal wall whereby Barrett'"'"'s metaplasia of the esophagus can be detected based on a calorimetric change in the esophagus as sensed through the sensing device at a location along the length of the esophageal wall indicated by the position-measuring device.
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Specification