Abstract: A balloon catheter (2) of apparatus (1) for monitoring ripening of a cervix (3) in a female subject prior to the onset of labour in a pregnancy comprises a cervix engaging balloon 10 located distally on a catheter (7). The balloon (10) is located in the cervix (3) and inflated with air by a syringe (85) to a pressure of approximately 80 mmHg. As the cervix (3) commences to ripen an opening (11) extending through the cervix (3) increases in volume thus resulting in a fall in pressure in the cervix engaging balloon (10). A microprocessor (86) in a housing 82 on the catheter (7) monitors the pressure in the balloon at predetermined time intervals and determines the volume of the opening (11) extending through the cervix (3) from a look-up table.

Abstract: A system for insufflating a vessel in a human or animal body, such as the rectum (2) comprises a compressed air vessel (12) from which air inflating medium is passed through a pressure regulator (13), a flow control valve (16) and an inflating conduit (14) which extends into the rectum (2) through a bore (9) in an endoscope (8). A first pressure sensor (15) located in a leading end (17) of the endoscope (8) monitors the air pressure directly in the rectum (2). A second pressure sensor (23) on a carrier element (25) extends through the bore (9) of the endoscope (8) into the colon (4) for monitoring pressure in the colon (4). A third pressure sensor (30) adjacent a point (37) of a needle (32) introduced into the abdominal cavity (3), through which air which may leak into the abdominal cavity (3) is exhausted, monitors pressure in the abdominal cavity (3).

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for rupturing muscle fibres in a lower oesophageal sphincter (2) comprises a balloon catheter (4) having a catheter (5) and a balloon (8) located at the distal end (7) of the catheter (5). A multi-electrode impedance planimetry measuring system (10) comprising a pair of stimulating electrodes (11) and sensing electrodes (12) is located on the catheter 5 within the balloon (8) for monitoring the diameter of the balloon (8) when the balloon (8) is inflated by a pump (25) with a liquid saline solution from a reservoir (26) through a flowmeter (33) under the control of a microprocessor (20). With the balloon (8) located in the sphincter (2) as the balloon (8) is being inflated, the microprocessor (8) computes the minimum diameter value of the balloon (8) from signals read from the sensing electrodes (12) each time the cumulative volume of the liquid saline solution in the balloon (8) increases by a predefined unit volume.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter and a balloon located on the distal end of the catheter. A pair of stimulating electrodes for receiving a constant current stimulating signal when the balloon is inflated with an electrically conductive medium and a plurality of sensing electrodes for producing voltage response signals are located on the catheter. The voltage response signals are indicative of the values of the transverse cross-sectional area of the balloon adjacent the sensing electrodes. A first lumen accommodates the inflating medium to and from the balloon, and a second lumen accommodates electrically conductive wires to the stimulating and sensing electrodes. A pressure sensing element is located in a protective housing in the second lumen, and communicates through a communicating opening in the protective housing and through a communicating port in the catheter with a hollow interior region of the balloon.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for esophageal panometry are provided. An example method includes capturing measurement data including an area and a pressure of an esophageal body via a measurement device positioned with respect to the esophageal body; generating representations of the exported measurement data; analyzing the measurement data to determine esophageal reactivity based on the area and pressure; assessing esophageal function based on the determined esophageal reactivity; and outputting an indication of esophageal function.

Abstract: A balloon catheter (60) includes an elongated catheter member (63) and an inflatable balloon (65) located adjacent a distal end (5) of the catheter member (63). Band type measuring electrodes (7) located on the catheter member (63) within the balloon (65) include a pair of outer stimulating electrodes (8) and sensing electrodes (9) for measuring the cross-sectional area and volume of the balloon (65) by impedance planimetry measuring. A light emitting diode (20) is located on each measuring electrode (7) for emitting light so that the location of the balloon catheter, and in particular, the measuring electrodes (7) can be detected in a vessel (91) with a translucent wall within the body of a human subject.

Abstract: A device (1) for monitoring the transverse cross-section of a gastric sleeve (3) as the gastric sleeve (3) is being formed in a stomach (4) during a sleeve gastrectomy procedure comprises a catheter (15) with a primary balloon (19) located thereon towards a distal end (17). The primary balloon (19) is located in the stomach, and the portion of the stomach which is to form the gastric sleeve (3) is stretched around the primary balloon (19) when the primary balloon (19) has been inflated to a diameter approximating to the diameter to which the sleeve (3) is to be formed. As the stomach (4) is being sutured to form the sleeve (3) the pressure within the primary balloon (19) is monitored to avoid excessive stretching of the stomach around the primary balloon (19). The diameter of the primary balloon (19) is also monitored to avoid necking of the sleeve (3) during suturing of the stomach (4).

Abstract: A micro-needle device comprising an active substance layer (3) having a plurality of active substance chambers (4) formed therein, a drive substance layer (9) having a plurality of drive substance chambers (10) formed therein and a needle support layer (5) having a plurality of micro-needles (6) extending therefrom. An activation layer (12) comprising a plurality of heating elements (14) for heating an expandable drive substance (11) located in the drive substance chambers (10) for in turn urging the second membrane (16) into the active substance chamber (4) for pressurizing and urging an active substance (2) therefrom through the corresponding micro-needle (6). A plurality of membrane accommodating recesses (25) extend into the needle support layer (5) for accommodating the first membrane (15) as the active substance in the corresponding active substance chamber (10) is pressurized. A puncturing member (33) with a piercing point (35) extends into each membrane accommodating recess (25).

Abstract: A micro-needle delivery device (1) comprises an active substance accommodating layer (17) having active substance accommodating chambers (20) therein, a drive substance accommodating layer (32) having drive substance accommodating chambers (35) therein aligned with the active substance accommodating chambers (20), an activating layer (45) having heating elements (48) aligned with the drive substance accommodating chambers (35) for heating a drive substance therein, and a micro-needle element (8) having a needle support layer (9) and a plurality of micro-needles (12) extending therefrom. A burstable first membrane (22) is located between and sealably secured to the micro-needle element (8) and to the active substance accommodating layer (17) for sealably closing the active substance accommodating chambers (20) at one end.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter and a balloon located on the distal end of the catheter. A pair of stimulating electrodes for receiving a constant current stimulating signal when the balloon is inflated with an electrically conductive medium and a plurality of sensing electrodes for producing voltage response signals are located on the catheter. The voltage response signals are indicative of the values of the transverse cross-sectional area of the balloon adjacent the sensing electrodes. A first lumen accommodates the inflating medium to and from the balloon, and a second lumen accommodates electrically conductive wires to the stimulating and sensing electrodes. A pressure sensing element is located in a protective housing in the second lumen, and communicates through a communicating opening in the protective housing and through a communicating port in the catheter with a hollow interior region of the balloon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter and a balloon located on the distal end of the catheter. A pair of stimulating electrodes for receiving a constant current stimulating signal when the balloon is inflated with an electrically conductive medium and a plurality of sensing electrodes for producing voltage response signals are located on the catheter. The voltage response signals are indicative of the values of the transverse cross-sectional area of the balloon adjacent the sensing electrodes. A first lumen accommodates the inflating medium to and from the balloon, and a second lumen accommodates electrically conductive wires to the stimulating and sensing electrodes. A pressure sensing element is located in a protective housing in the second lumen, and communicates through a communicating opening in the protective housing and through a communicating port in the catheter with a hollow interior region of the balloon.

Abstract: Computing systems, methods, and program products can support a closed retail network. A computing system can receive an inquiry from a first member entity of a retail network and identifying a product of interest. The system can use a datastore to determine if the product of interest is available for sale by a first member by determining if the product is available from a second member. If the product of interest is available for sale, the computing system can indicate that the product is available, receive data from the first member entity indicating that the product has been sold to a customer and including payment information, use the payment information to transfer funds from the customer, and initiate a distribution of the transferred funds to the first and second member entities. The system may consider distribution rules in determining if the product is available for sale by the first member.

Abstract: In a system (2) having a balloon catheter (1) with a balloon (7) and an elongated catheter (3), a planimetry measuring system (19) in the balloon, and a linear distance measuring element (23) slideable along the elongated catheter from a proximal end (4) thereof to the datum location (8) when the balloon catheter has been inserted through the arterial system with the balloon located in the valve orifice (17), a plurality of secondary optically detectable elements (30) are equi-spaced longitudinally along the catheter and an optical encoder (32) in the linear distance measuring element counts the detectable elements as the linear distance measuring element is moved from a reset position to the datum location. A signal processor (20) reads signals from the linear distance measuring element and from the planimetry measuring system for determining the distance of the valve orifice of the aortic valve (9) from the datum location.

Abstract: A device (1) comprises a sheath (9) for protecting a balloon catheter (2) from contamination with bodily fluids and other matter during the carrying out of a procedure or investigation at a remote site in a human or animal body. The sheath (9) defines a catheter accommodating portion (14) and a balloon accommodating portion (15) for accommodating a catheter (4) and a balloon (8) of the balloon catheter (2) therein. The sheath (9) is of a flexible material having a closed distal end (11) and a proximal opening (13) at a proximal end (10) thereof to a hollow interior region (12) within which the balloon catheter (2) is accommodated. A guide wire engaging distal portion (19) engages and locates a guide wire (7) within the sheath (9). The balloon accommodating portion (15) permits inflating of the balloon (8) to a predefined volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring distensibility of a vessel, lumen or sphincter includes a balloon catheter having a balloon located adjacent a distal end of a catheter for inserting in, for example, the sphincter, the distensibility of which is to be determined. The balloon is inflated to respective first and second pressures to distend the sphincter to respective first and second transverse cross-sectional areas which are measured. The first and second pressures are selected so that the relationship between the pressure and the cross-sectional area of the sphincter is linear. The distensibility of the sphincter is determined as a distensibility index, which is the value of c from the equation of a line y=mx+c containing the values of the first and second pressures and areas, where x represents pressure and y represents area.

Abstract: A balloon catheter (60) comprises an elongated catheter member (63) and an inflatable balloon (65) located adjacent a distal end (5) of the catheter member (63). Band type measuring electrodes (7) located on the catheter member (63) within the balloon (65) comprise a pair of outer stimulating electrodes (8) and sensing electrodes (9) for measuring the cross-sectional area and volume of the balloon (65) by impedance planimetry measuring. A light emitting diode (20) is located on each measuring electrode (7) for emitting light so that the location of the balloon catheter, and in particular, the measuring electrodes (7) can be detected in a vessel (91) with a translucent wall within the body of a human subject.

Abstract: Apparatus for relieving dyspnoea in an ambulatory exercising subject comprises a housing to be worn on the subject, and within which a variable speed air blower motor is located for delivering an air supply to the subject through a mouthpiece at a pressure similar to average intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure of the subject. A pressure transducer in the mouthpiece monitors the pressure during breathing cycles of the subject, and a control circuit determines the average intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure of the subject over five breathing cycles. The control circuit operates the air blower motor for delivering the air supply to the subject at a pressure similar to the determined average intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure.

Abstract: A system (1) and a device (3) is used in a fundoplication procedure in order to avoid over-tightening of the fundus of the stomach when the fundus is being wrapped around the esophagus (7) adjacent the lower oesophageal sphincter (5). The device (3) comprises a catheter (8) having a primary balloon (12) located at a distal end (9) thereof which is inflatable with a saline solution by a primary pump (26). A pair of spaced apart primary stimulating electrodes (32) on the catheter (8) within the primary balloon (12) receive a stimulating current signal from a constant current signal generator (40) under the control of a microprocessor (43), which reads voltage signals from spaced apart primary receiving electrodes (35) on the catheter (8) in the balloon (12).

Abstract: A method for producing a catheter (100) having a plurality of axially spaced apart electrodes (5) towards a distal end (4) of the catheter (100) comprises forming the electrodes (5) from a single sheet (110) of electrically conductive foil material by forming spaced apart slots (111) in the sheet material to define a plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive elements (114) extending transversely between spaced apart elongated connecting portion (112,113). The electrically conductive elements (114) subsequently form the electrodes (5), and are retained spaced apart by the connecting portions (112,113) until bonded to the catheter (100). Electrically conductive wires (10) electrically coupled to the electrically conductive elements (114) extend through an elongated slot (105) into and along an axial communicating bore (9) to a proximal end (3) of the catheter (100).