Method and apparatus for rupturing and detecting rupturing of a muscle, a muscle fibre, a fibre material or a coating in or on a lumen, vessel or sphincter in a human or animal subject
US10952677B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 2016 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/1022
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus for rupturing muscle fibres in a lower oesophageal sphincter comprises a balloon catheter. A multi-electrode impedance planimetry measuring system comprising a pair of stimulating electrodes and sensing electrodes is located on the catheter within the balloon for monitoring the diameter of the balloon when the balloon is inflated with a liquid saline solution from a reservoir through a flowmeter under the control of a microprocessor. The microprocessor computes the minimum diameter value from signals read from the sensing electrodes each time the cumulative volume of the liquid saline solution in the balloon increases by a predefined unit volume. The microprocessor computes a curve of a plot of the minimum diameter values against the corresponding cumulative volume values and determines the slope at each computed minimum diameter value. Rupture of the muscle fibres of the sphincter is determined at the point of inflection of the curve.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.