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US 12,599,365 B2Granted
Stabilizing transnasal balloon sheath
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsElliot C. Schmidt, Kristin M. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transnasal transesophageal balloon catheter includes at least one compliant balloon attached to the external surface of the tubular body. An arrangement of structures extend away from the internal surface of the tubular body, and exposed probe guide surfaces on the structures form a lumen with a diameter of less than about 15 French (Fr) (5 mm) extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular body and configured to slidably and rotatably receive the ultrasound probe. An arrangement of elongate fluid channels are interspersed with the structures. The fluid channels are in fluid communication with the lumen and transport a fluid between a fluid ingress port and a fluid egress port to at least partially inflate or deflate the balloon.
Claims15
A transnasal transesophogeal balloon catheter, comprising:
- an elongate flexible tubular body with an internal surface, an external surface, and a bore extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, wherein the proximal end of the tubular body comprises a valve for introduction of an ultrasound probe and a fluid ingress port, and a distal end of the tubular body comprises a closed tip and a fluid egress port;
- at least one balloon attached to the external surface of the tubular body, wherein the at least one balloon is proximal to the closed tip and is fluidly connected to the fluid egress port, wherein the at least one balloon overlies an imaging region of the tubular body, wherein the least one balloon extends around a portion of a circumference of the external surface of the tubular body so that, when inflated, the least one balloon is configured to fill a first esophageal region to provide a substantially air-free path between a transducer on the ultrasound probe and a target region of tissue to be imaged with the ultrasound probe, and wherein the portion of the circumference is less than the entire circumference so that, when inflated, the least one balloon is configured to leave a second esophageal region unoccluded for saliva passage;
- an arrangement of structures extending away from the internal surface of the tubular body and into the bore, wherein exposed probe guide surfaces on the structures form a lumen with a diameter of less than about 15 French (Fr) (5 mm) extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular body and configured to slidably and rotatably receive the ultrasound probe;
- and
- an arrangement of elongate fluid channels interspersed with the structures, wherein the fluid channels are in fluid communication with the lumen and transport a fluid between the fluid ingress port and the fluid egress port to at least partially inflate or deflate the at least one balloon.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a balloon catheter, comprising:
- an elongate flexible tubular body with an internal surface, an external surface, and an open bore extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, wherein the proximal end of the tubular body comprises a valve configured to sealably accept an ultrasound probe and a fluid ingress port, and a distal end of the tubular body comprises a closed tip and a fluid egress port;
- at least one balloon attached to the external surface of the tubular body, wherein the at least one balloon is proximal to the closed tip and is fluidly connected to the fluid egress port, wherein the at least one balloon overlies an imaging region of the tubular body, wherein the least one balloon extends around a portion of a circumference of the external surface of the tubular body so that, when inflated, the least one balloon is configured to fill a first esophageal region to provide a substantially air-free path between a transducer on the ultrasound probe and a target region of tissue to be imaged with the ultrasound probe, and wherein the portion of the circumference is less than the entire circumference so that, when inflated, the least one balloon is configured to leave a second esophageal region unoccluded for saliva passage;
- an arrangement of structures extending away from the internal surface of the tubular body and into the bore, wherein exposed probe guide surfaces on the structures form a lumen with a diameter of less than about 15 Fr (5 mm) extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular body and configured to slidably receive the ultrasound probe;
- and
- an arrangement of elongate fluid channels between the structures, wherein the fluid channels are in fluid communication with lumen and transport a fluid between the fluid ingress port and the fluid egress port to at least partially inflate or deflate the at least one balloon in the imaging region;
- and
- an intracardiac echo probe in the lumen, wherein the probe is linearly translatable and rotatable in the lumen.
5 more elements
A method for ultrasonic imaging a target tissue, the method comprising:
- inserting a balloon catheter into an esophageal region, wherein the balloon catheter comprises:
- an elongate flexible tubular body with an internal surface, an external surface, and an open bore extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, wherein the proximal end of the tubular body comprises a valve configured for sealable introduction of an intracardiac echo probe and a fluid ingress port, and a distal end of the tubular body comprises a closed tip and a fluid egress port;
- at least one balloon attached to the external surface of the tubular body, wherein the at least one balloon is proximal to the closed tip and is fluidly connected to the fluid egress port, wherein the at least one balloon overlies an imaging region of the tubular body, wherein the least one balloon extends around a portion of a circumference of the external surface of the tubular body so that, when inflated, the least one balloon is configured to fill a first esophageal region to provide a substantially air-free path between a transducer on the ultrasound probe and a target region of tissue to be imaged with the ultrasound probe, and wherein the portion of the circumference is less than the entire circumference so that, when inflated, the least one balloon is configured to leave a second esophageal region unoccluded for saliva passage;
- an arrangement of structures extending away from the internal surface of the tubular body and into the bore, wherein exposed probe guide surfaces on the structures form a lumen with a diameter of less than about 15 Fr (5 mm) extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular body and configured to slidably and rotatably receive the probe;
- and
- an arrangement of elongate fluid channels between the structures, wherein the fluid channels are in fluid communication with lumen and transport a fluid between the fluid ingress port and the fluid egress;
- linearly translating and rotating the balloon catheter to a selected region of esophageal wall tissue;
- and
- inserting a fluid into the fluid ingress port such that the fluid enters the fluid channels and the lumen and flows from the liquid egress port to sufficiently inflate the at least one balloon in the imaging region to form a conformal interface with the selected region.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.