Pressure sensor for therapeutic delivery device and method
First Claim
1. A method of positioning a medical apparatus within a patient, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing the medical apparatus composing an accessing tool, and a probe operatively connected with the accessing tool and located at the distal end of the accessing tool, wherein the probe comprises at least one pressure transducer;
(b) inserting at least a portion of the accessing tool into the patient;
(c) manipulating the accessing tool until the distal end of the accessing tool is adjacent a body site;
(d) contacting the body site with the probe in a first position, thereby generating a first information signal from the at least one pressure transducer, wherein the first signal conveys the direction of a force applied by the body site on the probe; and
(e) altering the position of the probe based at least in part on the first signal to a second position, thereby generating a second information signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus for treating a selected patient tissue or organ region, at the surface of such region. The apparatus has an accessing tool for accessing the patient region, the tool having a distal end, and a proximal end at which the tool can be manipulated to place the distal end adjacent to the patient region. The apparatus also has a probe carried on the distal end and defining a contact surface that may be urged against the patient region thereby creating contact pressure. A pressure transducer is operatively coupled to the probe and is capable of producing a measurable response to the contact pressure. A monitoring device is operatively connected to the pressure transducer, for determining the contact pressure. An effector is operatively disposed on the probe for producing a given effect on the patient region when the effector is activated, and an activator operatively connected to the effector, by which the effector can be activated.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of positioning a medical apparatus within a patient, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the medical apparatus composing an accessing tool, and a probe operatively connected with the accessing tool and located at the distal end of the accessing tool, wherein the probe comprises at least one pressure transducer; (b) inserting at least a portion of the accessing tool into the patient; (c) manipulating the accessing tool until the distal end of the accessing tool is adjacent a body site; (d) contacting the body site with the probe in a first position, thereby generating a first information signal from the at least one pressure transducer, wherein the first signal conveys the direction of a force applied by the body site on the probe; and (e) altering the position of the probe based at least in part on the first signal to a second position, thereby generating a second information signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of positioning a medical apparatus within a patient, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the medical apparatus comprising an accessing tool, and a probe operatively connected with the accessing tool and located at the distal end of the accessing tool, wherein the probe comprises at least one pressure transducer, and at least one effector configured to provide a therapeutic effect upon the reaching of a threshold force measured by the at least one pressure transducer; (b) inserting at least a portion of the accessing tool into the patient; (c) manipulating the accessing tool until the distal end of the accessing tool is adjacent a body site; (d) contacting the body site with the probe in a first position, thereby generating a first information signal from the at least one pressure transducer; and (e) altering the position of the probe based at least in part on the first signal to a second position, thereby generating a second information signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of positioning a medical apparatus within a patient, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the medical apparatus comprising an accessing tool comprising a shaft located near the distal end of the accessing tool and wherein the shaft is movable relative to the accessing tool, and a probe operatively connected with the accessing tool and located at the distal end of the accessing tool, wherein the probe comprises at least one pressure transducer, and wherein said pressure transducer includes (i) first and second conductors, (ii) an insulating layer adjacent the first conductor, said layer having one or more perforations therein, and (iii) a conductive elastomer disposed between the insulating layer and the second conductor and in contact with the second conductor; and
the insulating layer and the conductive elastomer each (i) is mounted about the shaft, and (ii) at least partially surrounds the shaft;(b) inserting at least a portion of the accessing tool into the patient; (c) manipulating the accessing tool until the distal end of the accessing tool is adjacent a body site; (d) contacting the body site with the probe in a first position, thereby generating a first information signal from the at least one pressure transducer; and (e) altering the position of the probe based at least in part on the first signal to a second position, thereby generating a second information signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification