153 results about "Oesophageal tube" patented technology

A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis positionable at the gastro-esophageal junction region, preferably below the z-line. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed such that an opening at its proximal end receives masticated food from the esophagus, and such that the masticated food passes through the pouch and into the stomach via an opening in its distal end.

Instruments for thermally-mediated treatment of a patient's lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to induce an injury healing response to thereby populate the extracellular compartment of walls of the LES with collagen matrices to altere the biomechanics of the LES to provide an increased intra-esophageal pressure for preventing acid reflux. A preferred embodiment is a bougie-type device for trans-esophageal introduction that carries conductive electrodes for delivering Rf energy to walls of the LES (i) to induce the injury healing response or (ii) to "model" collagenous tissues of the LES by shrinking collagen fibers therein. Typically, an Rf source is connected to at least one conductive electrode that may be operated in a mono-polar or bi-polar fashion. A sensor array of individual sensors is provided in the working end. A computer controller is provided, which together with feedback circuitry, is capable of full process monitoring and control of: (i) power delivery; (ii) parameters of a selected therapeutic cycle, (iii) mono-polar or bi-polar energy delivery, and (iv) multiplexing of current flow between various paired electrodes. The controller can determine when the treatment is completed based on time, temperature, tissue impedance or any combination thereof.

A prosthetic device is described that is positionable within the gastro-esophageal junction region of a patient. The prosthetic device includes a proximal opening and a distal orifice that is adjustable in size prior to and / or following implantation. During use, the prosthetic device is attached to tissue of the gastro-esophageal junction region of the patient, with the device positioned such that food ingested by the patient passes from the esophagus through the proximal opening into the interior of the prosthetic device, and eventually exits the prosthetic device via the distal opening.

An intragastric implant comprises an anchor and a therapeutic device or a diagnostic device. The anchor is adapted to extend between the fundus and the pyloric valve of a stomach, to be retained without attachment to the stomach wall, and to anchor the device within the stomach with a relatively stable position and orientation. The therapeutic or diagnostic device is adapted to extend from the esophagus or stomach to the intestines or stomach. The therapeutic or diagnostic device, when extending into the esophagus, will be slidably received through the gastroesophageal junction and, when extending into the intestines, will be slidably received in the pyloric valve.

A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis positionable at the gastro-esophageal junction region, preferably below the z-line. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed such that an opening at its proximal end receives masticated food from the esophagus, and such that the masticated food passes through the pouch and into the stomach via an opening in its distal end.

An implantable device for controlling the circumference of internal anatomic passages corrects physiologic dysfunctions resulting from a structural lumen which is either too large or too small. Implants are disclosed which employ various means for adjusting and maintaining the size of an orifice to which they are attached. Systems permit the implants to be implanted using minimally invasive procedures and permit final adjustments to the circumference of the implants after the resumption of normal flow of anatomic fluids in situ. The invention may include an adjustment tool for making the final adjustments to the circumference that locks onto the adjustment means of the device with magnets. Methods are disclosed for using the implants to treat heart valve abnormalities, gastroesophageal abnormalities, anal incontinence, and the like.

Systems and methods affect tightening of the pyloric sphincter and / or serve to mediate or moderate receptive relaxation of muscles in the stomach, to treat or mitigate various physiologic conditions, such as obesity, biliary reflex, GERD, and / or Barrett's esophagus. The systems and methods may be used as either a primary treatment modality, or applied as a supplementary treatment before, during or after a primary intervention.

Devices and methods are provided for ablating areas of the gastrointestinal tract affected with certain benign, pre-cancerous, or early cancerous lesions that originate within the epithelium and are limited to the mucosal layer of the gastrointestinal tract wall. Examples of such lesions include benign conditions such as cervical inlet patch (ectopic gastric mucosa in the upper esophagus), as well as pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions such as intestinal metaplasia / intra-epithelial neoplasia / early cancer of the stomach, squamous intra-epithelial neoplasia and early cancer of the esophagus, oral and pharyngeal leukoplakia, flat colonic polyps, anal intra-epithelial neoplasia (AIN), and early cancers of the anal canal. Ablation, as provided the invention, commences at the epithelial layer of the gastrointestinal wall and penetrates deeper into the gastrointestinal wall in a controlled manner to achieve a successful patient outcome, the latter of which is defined generally as eradication of the targeted lesion, and / or a change in the targeted lesion to prevent or forestall patient morbidity. Embodiments of the device include an ablational electrode array that spans 360 degrees and an array that spans an arc of less than 360 degrees.

Method and apparatus for disrupting a gastric vagal nerve in the gastroesophageal region and testing the function and disruption of the vagal nerve. In one example embodiment, a treatment device applies ultrasound at a high energy level, such as high intensity focused ultrasound, to a vagal nerve to disrupt it and then ultrasound at a lower energy level to another portion of the vagal nerve, preferably further from the stomach, so as to stimulate the vagal nerve. Alternative ways to test the function or disruption of the vagal nerve involve using PCP-GABA, a pancreatic polypeptide, pressure changes inside the stomach, the gastric mucusol pH, a dye agent in the stomach, and other tests.

An enteral feeding unit or system that minimizes the occurrence of gastro-esophogeal-pharynegal reflux during feeding is described. The enteral feeding unit or device includes an automatable feeding pump with a feedback sensor for sensing a relative pressure in a patient's stomach and esophagus, and a regulator system for controlling or monitoring feeding rate to said patient as a function of said relative gastro-esophageal pressure. The system includes a stomach probe that has a fluid-tight closure of the esophagus. The stomach probe, according to the invention, is characterized by a tampon-bladder for watertight closure of the esophagus, in which the tampon-bladder forms from flexible and / or elastic material at least a closed inner cavity for the reception of a fluid medium, through a means (11) of establishing a prescribed pressure for the medium in the tampon-bladder (16) by an inner lumen forming the actual stomach probe, from which an outer hose-like lumen (18) extending to the tampon-bladder (16) is so arranged that between the outer lumen (18) and the inner lumen (17) a channel is formed connected to the inner cavity of the tampon-bladder (16) arranged on the outer lumen (18) by a number of openings (20), whereby the inner cavity of the tampon-bladder (16) is connected via the canal formed between the inner and outer lumina (17, 18) with the means of production of pressure in the tampon-bladder, that is, with a suitably graded reservoir or equalizing vessel (11) for the liquid medium situated above the tampon-bladder and outside the patient.

Instruments for thermally-mediated treatment of a patient's lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to induce an injury healing response to thereby populate the extracellular compartment of walls of the LES with collagen matrices to altere the biomechanics of the LES to provide an increased intra-esophageal pressure for preventing acid reflux. A preferred embodiment is a bougie-type device for trans-esophageal introduction that carries conductive electrodes for delivering Rf energy to walls of the LES (i) to induce the injury healing response or (ii) to "model" collagenous tissues of the LES by shrinking collagen fibers therein. Typically, an Rf source is connected to at least one conductive electrode that may be operated in a mono-polar or bi-polar fashion. A sensor array of individual sensors is provided in the working end. A computer controller is provided, which together with feedback circuitry, is capable of full process monitoring and control of: (i) power delivery; (ii) parameters of a selected therapeutic cycle, (iii) mono-polar or bi-polar energy delivery, and (iv) multiplexing of current flow between various paired electrodes. The controller can determine when the treatment is completed based on time, temperature, tissue impedance or any combination thereof.

An esophageal balloon catheter capable of quickly and safely providing esophageal gauging and stenting as well as gastric aspiration during esophageal surgery. The esophageal balloon catheter includes (i) a shaft which defines a gastric lumen and an inflation lumen, (ii) a single inflatable balloon sealingly attached to the shaft at a fixed longitudinal position proximate the distal end of the shaft in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, and (iii) an aspiration port through the shaft between the balloon and the distal end of the shaft in fluid communication with the gastric lumen. The gastric lumen is not in fluid communication with the inflation lumen or the balloon so as to allow aspiration of the stomach without causing inflation or deflation of the balloon.

The present invention concerns an optical transesophageal echocardiography probe (OPTEE) having an optical fiber bundle, a suction channel and light channels for illumination, wherein the OPTEE has a circumference along its distal tip that allows both safe insertion and insures the stability of the probe. The probe tip is generally circular in circumference, but levels off to a flat surface for a portion of the circumference, and is provided with beveled edges and corner throughout so that there are no sharp edges to traumatize the patient. The invention also concerns an optically-recessed OPTEE comprising an optical transesophageal probe comprising a longitudinally extending main body having an outer surface and a substantially circular cross-section and a distal portion having an outer surface and a distal tip, wherein an optical bundle having a distal tip is positioned on the outer surface of the main body and the outer surface of the distal portion and the distal tip of the optical bundle does not extend as far as the distal tip of the distal portion.

An enteral feeding unit or system that minimizes the occurrence of gastro-esophogeal-pharynegal reflux during feeding is described. The enteral feeding unit or device includes an automatable feeding pump with a feedback sensor for sensing a relative pressure in a patient's stomach and esophagus, and a regulator system for controlling or monitoring feeding rate to said patient as a function of said relative gastro-esophageal pressure. The system includes a stomach probe that has a fluid-tight closure of the esophagus. The stomach probe, according to the invention, is characterized by a tampon-bladder for watertight closure of the esophagus, in which the tampon-bladder forms from flexible and / or elastic material at least a closed inner cavity for the reception of a fluid medium, through a means (11) of establishing a prescribed pressure for the medium in the tampon-bladder (16) by an inner lumen forming the actual stomach probe, from which an outer hose-like lumen (18) extending to the tampon-bladder (16) is so arranged that between the outer lumen (18) and the inner lumen (17) a channel is formed connected to the inner cavity of the tampon-bladder (16) arranged on the outer lumen (18) by a number of openings (20), whereby the inner cavity of the tampon-bladder (16) is connected via the canal formed between the inner and outer lumina (17, 18) with the means of production of pressure in the tampon-bladder, that is, with a suitably graded reservoir or equalizing vessel (11) for the liquid medium situated above the tampon-bladder and outside the patient.

The present invention relates to resector balloons (1) employed in treating endoluminal-endobronchial tumoral lesions and endovascular occlusions encountered in blood vessels and in other hollow tube-like organs (7), such as trachea, windpipe, food pipe, urinary tract, bile ducts. Said resector balloon (1) is composed of a resection tip (2); a resection part (3) that is swollen or inflated in such tube-like organs (7) and is displaced or moved back and forth therein to provide tumor resection; a hardening surface (4) provided on the outer surface of said resection part (3) to shave and destroy such tumoral tissues; a catheter section (5) providing access to an endoluminal site; and an injection terminal (6) capable to inflate said resection part (3) by injecting air or fluid.

An enteral feeding unit that reduces the occurrence of gastro-esophogeal-pharynegal reflux during feeding includes an automatable feeding pump with a feedback sensor for sensing a relative pressure in a patient's stomach and esophagus, and a regulator system for controlling and monitoring feeding rate to the patient as a function of the relative gastro-esophageal pressure. The system includes a stomach probe that provides a fluid-tight closure of the esophagus. The stomach probe includes a tampon-bladder for watertight closure of the esophagus, in which the tampon-bladder is formed of flexible and / or elastic material. At least an inner cavity of the bladder is provided for the reception of a fluid medium. A prescribed pressure for the medium in the tampon-bladder (53) is maintained by an inner lumen forming the stomach probe, from which an outer hose-like lumen (62) extending to the tampon-bladder (53) is so arranged that between the outer lumen (62) and the inner lumen (61) a channel is formed connected to the inner cavity of the tampon-bladder (53) arranged on the outer lumen (62) by a number of openings (57). The inner cavity (58) of the tampon-bladder (53) is connected via a canal formed between the inner and outer lumina (62) with a suitably graded reservoir or equalizing vessel for the liquid medium situated above the tampon-bladder and outside the patient.

A method and apparatus for treatment of an eating disorder includes electrically, mechanically and / or pharmaceutically / chemically stimulating a of the vagus nerve of the lower esophagus, cardia, esophageal / cardia junction, cardia / fundus junction or upper stomach so as to induce afferent action potentials on the vagus nerve. The device may be noninvasively adjusted after implantation to provide increased or decreased restriction on the patient's gastrointestinal tract. Each stimulus may be administered as a series of programmed pulses of defined amplitude, duration and period, to evoke a responsive signal to the brain by the target nerve, effective for producing a temporary feeling of satiety in the person. An implantable stimulus generator may be operatively coupled to a nerve electrode, pressure device or chemical outlet to apply a defined signal to a selected nerve branch. The implantable stimulus generator is programmable to allow clinician programming of defined signal parameters effective to treat the eating disorder of the patient. Methods are also provided to identify electrodes nearest to a branch of the vagus nerve to apply an electrical stimulation signal with improved efficiency.

Systems and methods are provided for detecting the position of a feeding tube in a patient's body. A feeding tube having a light source sensor is inserted into a patient. A light is generated over the body of a patient. When the light source sensor detects the presence of the light, a signal is generated. In certain embodiments, the signal may be based upon the intensity of the light perceived at the light source sensor. Certain embodiments provide systems and methods comprising a feeding tube having a proximity sensor target. A detector having a proximity sensor is moved externally about a patient's body such that, when the sensor detects the proximity sensor target of the feeding tube, the proximity sensor produces an indication signal.

The invention consists in a couple of magnets in form of small plaques of variable dimensions and magnetic force, covered by a bio-compatible material, that are positioned by means of a special endoluminal delivery device or by means of a surgical intervention, close to the sphincters that are to be reinforced, with the opposite polarities face to face, so that, attracting to each other, they close the visceral lumen, preventing the reflux or the incontinence.This method may be applied to the lower esophageal sphincter in order to prevent gastroesophageal reflux, to the anal sphincter to prevent fecal incontinence, and to the urethral sphincter to prevent urinary incontinence.

The current invention describes methods of transesophageal access to the neck and thorax to perform surgical interventions on structures outside the esophagus in both the cervical and the thoracic cavity. It describes a liner device made of a complete or partial tubular structure, or a flat plate, the liner having means to facilitate creation of a side opening, which may include a valve. The liner with its side opening form a port structure inside the esophageal lumen. The port structure allows elongated surgical devices to pass through a perforation across the full thickness of the esophageal wall to outside location, in a controlled way. The elongated surgical devices can be diagnostic scopes, therapeutic scopes, manual elongated surgical devices, robotic arms or the like. After being deployed outside the esophagus, the surgical devices can access structures outside the esophagus, in the neck and thorax in 360 degrees of freedom around the esophageal circumference. These structures can be bony, cartilaginous, spinal, vascular, soft tissue, deep tissues, lymph nodal, cardiac, pulmonary, tracheal, nervous, muscular or diaphragmatic, skin and subcutaneous tissues of the neck, skin and subcutaneous tissues of the anterior chest wall, skin and subcutaneous tissues of the skin of the back, and skin and layers of the breast.

The present invention relates generally to medical methods and systems used to restore the angle of His and treat hiatal hernias and other conditions of the lower esophagus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system that allows fixation of the distal esophagus and fundus of the stomach directly to the diaphragmatic crus muscle. The present invention provides a method where the diaphragmatic crus muscle is identified and precisely located from within and through the gastrointestinal lumen followed by the placement of a translumenal anchor which connects and secures the esophagus and stomach to the diaphragmatic crus muscle. This procedure reduces the hiatal hernia, restores the normal anatomy and treats conditions associated with the lower esophagus.

The invention involves a system and method for an esophageal cooling system suitable for use during surgical procedures associated with the left atrium of the heart and most particularly ablation procedures associated with atrial fibrillation. The esophageal cooling system is suitable for use irrespective of whether the ablation procedure is intraoperative or catheter based. The system includes an esophageal catheter constructed and arranged to fit within the patients esophagus. Suitably located along the esophageal catheter is a phoximal balloon for occluding an upper portion of the esophagus. The phoximal balloon includes a coolant lumen for transferring temperature controlled liquid to the area where the esophagus may be in contact with the atrium of the heart. The liquid is expelled through a nozzle which directs the liquid to the inner surface of the esophagus. A suction lumen also extends through the phoximal balloon to evacuate the used coolant from the lower portion of the esophagus or gastrum of the patient.

An improved pacifier configured to facilitate the oral delivery of fluids, such as formula and breast milk, to infants. The improved pacifier may have a pliable nipple usually coupled to a mouth guard. The nipple typically extends outward from a surface of the mouth guard, such that the nipple can be inserted into an infant's mouth to encourage sucking. According to the principles of the present invention, the nipple has an inner lumen which may removably receive a tube, specifically a feeding or medication tube. The tube will generally serve as a passage way for oral fluids entering the digestive system of the infant. Thus, the improved pacifier allows a caregiver to administer medications or feedings without having to first remove the pacifier from the infant's mouth or else having to abstain from using the pacifier during the administration of medication or feedings altogether.

Systems, apparatus, and methods for the treatment of obesity and / or gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). An embodiment includes an implantable device having an adjustable curved portion configured for exerting a suitable mechanical force on one or more tissues or organs targeted for treatment. Embodiments of the device neuromodulate nerve tissue to effect treatment of obesity and / or GERD. Another embodiment includes an intraluminal guide for guiding placement of the implantable device in the patient.