Abstract: Disclosed is an ambulatory system for monitoring one or more physiological parameters in a body lumen, such as the esophagus. The system includes an implantable probe having a sensor for the physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting data to an external receiver. The probe may be used for monitoring any of various physiological parameters, including pH, temperature, and pressure, within the esophagus or other body lumens. Methods and deployment catheters are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ambulatory system for monitoring one or more physiological parameters in a body lumen, such as the esophagus. The system includes an implantable probe having a sensor for the physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting data to an external receiver. The probe may be used for monitoring any of various physiological parameters, including pH, temperature, and pressure, within the esophagus or other body lumens. Methods and deployment catheters are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ambulatory system for monitoring one or more physiological parameters in a body lumen, such as the esophagus. The system includes an implantable probe having a sensor for the physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting data to an external receiver. The probe may be used for monitoring any of various physiological parameters, including pH, temperature, and pressure, within the esophagus or other body lumens. Methods and deployment catheters are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ambulatory system for monitoring one or more physiological parameters in a body lumen, such as the esophagus. The system includes an implantable probe having a sensor for the physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting data to an external receiver. The probe may be used for monitoring any of various physiological parameters, including pH, temperature, and pressure, within the esophagus or other body lumens. Methods and deployment catheters are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an esophageal bulking device for implantation below the mucosa in the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter. Preferably, the bulking device comprises an expandable hydrogel implant. Also disclosed are methods of treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, by implanting an expandable bulking device below the mucosa in the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter. The bulking device may be subsequently explanted from the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ambulatory system for monitoring one or more physiological parameters in a body lumen, such as the esophagus. The system includes an implantable probe having a sensor for the physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting data to an external receiver. The probe may be used for monitoring any of various physiological parameters, including pH, temperature, and pressure, within the esophagus or other body lumens. Methods and deployment catheters are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an esophageal bulking device for implantation below the mucosa in the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter. Preferably, the bulking device comprises an expandable hydrogel implant. Also disclosed are methods of treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, by implanting an expandable bulking device below the mucosa in the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter. The bulking device may be subsequently explanted from the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a delivery device for controllably delivering a prosthetic bulking device below a tissue surface such as below the mucosa to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. The delivery device may be embodied in a deployment catheter, an endoscope, or an endoscope attachment. The bulking device cooperates with residual lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function to increase LES closing pressure. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ambulatory system for detecting, recording, and analyzing gastroesophageal reflux or intraesophageal pressure. The system includes an implantable sensor and radiofrequency transmitter, an external receiver and recorder, and an analysis software package. This system provides for monitoring any of various physiological parameters, including pH, temperature, and pressure, within the esophagus or other body lumens.

Abstract: Disclosed is a prosthetic gastroesophageal valve assembly, for transesophageal implantation to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. The valve assembly includes an anchor for attachment to the wall of the esophagus and a valve permanently or removably connected to the anchor. Related devices and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A biopsy device for acquiring more than one tissue sample comprises an elongated, flexible actuator shaft which is slidable within an outer sleeve. A jaw portion is coupled to the actuator shaft and the outer sleeve in such a manner as to open when the shaft is moved in a first direction relative to the sleeve and close when the shaft is moved in a second direction relative to the sleeve.

Abstract: An articulated medical device as disclosed, incorporated in one embodiment into a biopsy device. The biopsy embodiment comprises an elongated actuator shaft which is slidable within an outer sleeve. A jaw portion coupled to the actuator shaft and the outer sleeve opens when the shaft is moved in a first direction relative to the sleeve and closes when the shaft is moved in a second direction relative to the sleeve.

Abstract: A device and method for performing electrolyte assisted tissue ablation of metaplasia in the esophagus includes a shaft with an expandable barrier which is deployable from the shaft's distal end. Also included in the device are an electrode and a temperature/impedance sensor which are each mounted on the shaft. Alternatively, the shaft may be a catheter formed with several lumens which are used independently for housing optical elements and for transferring fluid. In the operation of the device, the distal end of the shaft or catheter is placed in the esophagus proximal the cardia. The barrier is then deployed to the cardia and expanded to seal the esophagus from the stomach. The esophageal volume between the barrier and the catheter is partially flooded with a conducting medium and an electrode is deployed into the conducting medium. The sensor is also deployed into contact with the tissue to be ablated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a prosthetic bulking device for implantation below the mucosa to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. The bulking device comprises a flexible body which may have one or more attachment surfaces to allow tissue ingrowth from the adjacent tissue. The bulking device cooperates with residual lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function to increase LES closing pressure.

Abstract: An improved endoscope comprises an objective including a diffractive optical element juxtaposed to a solid-state imaging element at the distal tip of the endoscope. An inexpensive halogen lamp at the proximal end of the endoscope is employed as the illumination source. A fiber-optic bundle carries light to the distal tip of the endoscope, where diffractive optical elements are provided to disperse light, illuminating the field of view.

Abstract: An endoscope for insertion into a patient's inner body cavity has a shell with lumens for (1) illuminating a lens and (2) passing light from an imaging (or objective) lens, each lens being disposed on the distal face of the shell. The shell also has a lumen, preferably off-round, for receiving a resilient disposable core. The resilient core has passageways for introducing a pressurized fluid (e.g. air or water) to selective ones of the lenses to clean the lenses. The core may also have another passageway for removing material from the patient's inner body cavity for analysis. This passageway may communicate with two (2) conduits for removing specimens from the body cavity (1) as by a vacuum or (2) as by an instrument. The second conduit may be closed except when the instrument is to be inserted into a patient's inner body cavity. The core may be drawn through the shell lumen to position the core in the lumen.