Delivery device for an acidity monitoring system
First Claim
1. A device for identifying a location within a patient for delivery of a capsule, the device comprising:
- a probe that defines an inner lumen;
a capsule detachably coupled to a distal end of the probe that includes a sensor;
a pressure sensitive chamber within the inner lumen of the probe;
a vacuum inlet at a proximal end of the probe that couples with a vacuum source;
a vacuum outlet located at the distal end of the probe;
a membrane that covers the vacuum outlet; and
a pressure sensor to detect pressure variation within the pressure sensitive chamber indicative of proximity to a sphincter within the patient to identify a location for delivery of the capsule, wherein the vacuum inlet, when closed, forms the pressure sensitive chamber within the inner lumen of the probe, and the vacuum inlet, when opened, permits application of suction from the vacuum source within the inner lumen of the probe in order to remove or rupture the membrane that covers the vacuum outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to techniques for delivering a capsule for sensing acidity to a location along the esophagus via a delivery device that detects pressure variations to identify a lower esophageal sphincter (LES). More specifically, the distal end of a probe of the delivery device enters the esophagus, and extends through the esophagus into the stomach via the LES. The distal end of the probe is slowly retracted back into the esophagus and the pressure variation within a pressure sensitive chamber of the delivery device, caused by the LES, is detected to identify the location of the LES. As described, the pressure sensitive chamber can comprise a balloon filled with air or an airtight chamber formed within a distal end of the probe. In either case, the pressure sensitive chamber deforms due to the pressure of the LES thereby causing a pressure variation used to identify the location of the LES.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for identifying a location within a patient for delivery of a capsule, the device comprising:
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a probe that defines an inner lumen; a capsule detachably coupled to a distal end of the probe that includes a sensor; a pressure sensitive chamber within the inner lumen of the probe; a vacuum inlet at a proximal end of the probe that couples with a vacuum source; a vacuum outlet located at the distal end of the probe; a membrane that covers the vacuum outlet; and a pressure sensor to detect pressure variation within the pressure sensitive chamber indicative of proximity to a sphincter within the patient to identify a location for delivery of the capsule, wherein the vacuum inlet, when closed, forms the pressure sensitive chamber within the inner lumen of the probe, and the vacuum inlet, when opened, permits application of suction from the vacuum source within the inner lumen of the probe in order to remove or rupture the membrane that covers the vacuum outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for delivering a capsule within a patient, the method comprising:
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inserting at least a portion of a probe into the patient; forming a pressure sensitive chamber within the probe for detecting pressure variations within the patient, wherein the probe has a vacuum outlet and a vacuum inlet, the vacuum outlet being covered by a membrane, and wherein forming the pressure sensitive chamber comprises closing the vacuum inlet; detecting pressure variation within the pressure sensitive chamber of the probe, said pressure variation being indicative of proximity to a sphincter of the patient, opening the vacuum inlet to provide suction within the probe; removing or rupturing the membrane that covers the vacuum outlet via the suction; providing the suction to a tissue site of the patient to draw a portion of the tissue site into a void of a capsule coupled to a distal end of the probe in response to detecting the pressure variation indicative of proximity to the sphincter; anchoring the capsule to the tissue site; and detaching the capsule from the probe. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification