Method and apparatus to prevent esophageal damage

US8454588B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University · US

Inventors

• Gregory B. Rieker · Palo Alto, US
• Venkatesh Vasudevan · Beachwood, US
• Uday N. Kumar · San Francisco, US
• William Croisettier · Stanford, US
• William David Bragg · Palo Alto, US
• Gary Mekikian · Tustin, US
• Richard Whyte · Kingston, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 16, 2007
• Grant date: Jun 4, 2013
• Expiry date: Feb 25, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2025/0175
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus for moving the esophagus includes an elongate body having a distal tip, a controlled curvature section, and a flexible section. A handle is coupled to the flexible section to adjust the curvature of the controlled curvature section. The length of the controlled curvature section is less than the length of the thoracic portion of the esophagus. Further, a method of adjusting the curvature of the esophagus during a therapeutic procedure in a treatment area outside of the esophagus includes positioning within the esophagus an elongate body having a distal tip, a controlled curvature section, and a flexible section and adjusting the curvature of the controlled curvature section to increase the distance between the esophagus and a treatment area outside of the esophagus.