Stabilizing transnasal balloon sheath
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsElliot C. Schmidt, Kristin M. Larson
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.
Claims20
A catheter comprising:
- an elongate flexible tubular body with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to receive an ultrasound probe inserted into the tubular body, and wherein the distal end comprises a closed tip and an imaging region proximal to the closed tip;
- and
- at least one balloon attached to an external surface of the tubular body, wherein the at least one balloon overlies the imaging region proximal to the closed tip, wherein the at least one balloon extends around a portion of a circumference of the external surface of the tubular body so that, when inflated, the at 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 an entirety of the circumference so that, when inflated, the at least one balloon is configured to leave a second esophageal region unoccluded for saliva passage.
A system comprising:
- an ultrasound probe;
- and
- a catheter comprising:
- an elongate flexible tubular body with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to receive the ultrasound probe when the ultrasound probe is inserted into the tubular body, and wherein the distal end comprises a closed tip and an imaging region proximal to the closed tip;
- and
- at least one balloon attached to an external surface of the tubular body, wherein the at least one balloon overlies the imaging region proximal to the closed tip, wherein the at least one balloon extends around a portion of a circumference of the external surface of the tubular body so that, when inflated, the at 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 an entirety of the circumference so that, when inflated, the at least one balloon is configured to leave a second esophageal region unoccluded for saliva passage.
A method for ultrasonic imaging, the method comprising:
- inserting a catheter into an esophageal region, wherein the catheter comprises:
- an elongate flexible tubular body with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to receive an ultrasound probe inserted into the tubular body, and wherein the distal end comprises a closed tip and an imaging region proximal to the closed tip;
- and
- at least one balloon attached to an external surface of the tubular body, wherein the at least one balloon overlies the imaging region proximal to the closed tip, wherein the at least one balloon extends around a portion of a circumference of the external surface of the tubular body so that, when inflated, the at 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 an entirety of the circumference so that, when inflated, the at least one balloon is configured to leave a second esophageal region unoccluded for saliva passage;
- linearly translating and rotating the catheter to position the imaging region adjacent to a selected region of esophageal wall tissue;
- and
- inflating the at least one balloon to form a conformal interface between the imaging region and the selected region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.