Esophageal catheters and method of use
First Claim
1. The method of passing a therapeutic electric current to, or sensing electric signals from, the body of a patient, which comprises:
- (a) inserting a catheter into the esophagus of the patient;
(b) temporarily sealing a space surrounding a portion of said catheter within the esophagus wall;
(c) filling the space with an electrically conductive liquid; and
(d) passing an electric current through said conductive liquid between the esophagus wall and an electrode carried on said catheter in spaced relation from the esophagus wall.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and a catheter for passing a therapeutic electric current to, or sensing electric signals from, the body of a patient. The catheter is inserted into the esophagus of the patient, temporarily sealing a space surrounding a portion of the catheter containing one or more electrodes within the esophagus wall. The space is filled with an electrically conductive liquid (electrolyte). Then, an electric current is passed through electrodes to the conductive liquid between the esophagus wall and an electrode carried on the catheter in spaced relation from the esophagus wall or to other electrodes in the heart or body surface.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. The method of passing a therapeutic electric current to, or sensing electric signals from, the body of a patient, which comprises:
-
(a) inserting a catheter into the esophagus of the patient; (b) temporarily sealing a space surrounding a portion of said catheter within the esophagus wall; (c) filling the space with an electrically conductive liquid; and (d) passing an electric current through said conductive liquid between the esophagus wall and an electrode carried on said catheter in spaced relation from the esophagus wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An esophageal catheter comprising:
-
an elongated, tubular member having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a first balloon located in the distal portion of said tubular member; a second balloon located proximally of said first balloon on said tubular member; said balloons being connected to at least one inflation lumen; at least one first electrode located on said tubular member at a first space between said first and second balloons; and at least one first access port located on said tubular member at the first space between said first and second balloons;
a first lumen in said elongated tubular member extending between said first access port and a proximal portion of said tubular member for passing conductive liquid to and from said first space outside of said catheter and between said balloons;
a third balloon, spaced from said first and second balloons along said catheter, said third balloon and one of said first and second balloons defining a second space along and outside of said catheter, said second space communicating with at least one second electrode located on the catheter, each of said first and second electrodes communicating with a proximal portion of said catheter through a conductor, at least one second access port located on said tubular member at said second space; and
a second lumen in said elongated tubular member extending between said second access port and a proximal portion of said tubular member for the further passing of conductive liquid to and from said second space. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An esophageal catheter sized to fit in the esophagus and comprising:
-
an elongated, tubular member having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a first balloon located in the distal portion of said tubular member; a second balloon located proximally of said first balloon on said tubular member; said balloons being connected to at least one inflation lumen, and sized to seal against the esophagus; at least one electrode located on said tubular member between said first and second balloons; and at least one access port located on said tubular member between said first and second balloons; and
a lumen in said elongated tubular member extending between said access port and a proximal portion of said tubular member for passing conductive liquid to and from a space outside of said catheter and between said balloons;
said electrode being unipolar. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification