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Tools for use in esophagus

  • US 9,241,614 B2
  • Filed: 08/01/2006
  • Issued: 01/26/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for imaging the esophagus of a subject, comprising:

  • an anchor member comprising an inflatable anchor member so dimensioned as to have a lateral diameter less than the diameter of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) of the subject when deflated and having a lateral diameter greater than the diameter of the LES of the subject when inflated, said anchor member being configured to pass through the LES of the subject into the subject'"'"'s stomach and form a pressure seal with the LES upon inflation thereof;

    an elongate carrier, configured to be advanced through the esophagus of the subject to the stomach of the subject, and comprising an anchor fluid supply tube, the distal end of which extends into the anchor member for supplying fluid pressure from a fluid pressure source to inflate the anchor member;

    an imaging capsule, configured to move along the carrier when the anchor member is in the vicinity of the LES;

    a piston head coupled to the imaging capsule configured to form a pressure seal with a wall of the esophagus upon inflation thereof to thereby allow moving the imaging capsule along the carrier in response to fluid pressure applied to a volume of the esophagus external to the apparatus between the piston head and the anchor member, said piston head being configured to travel proximally through the esophagus from the LES to the mouth of the subject in response to pressure from a fluid pressure source delivered to the volume of the esophagus between said piston head and said anchor member; and

    a fluid supply tube for supplying fluid pressure to the volume of the esophagus between said piston head and said anchor member when in use.

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