Abstract: A pressure monitoring apparatus (1) for monitoring pressure of a liquid (4) in a vessel (2) comprises a housing (3) within which an airtight gas chamber (6) is formed. A pressure sensor (8) is located in the housing (3) monitors the pressure of a gas in the gas chamber (6). A conduit (12) having a communicating bore (16) of total length Lt communicates the gas chamber (6) with the vessel (2). As the pressure of the liquid in the vessel (2) increases, a liquid/gas interface meniscus (20) travels along a working length Lw of the communicating bore (16) from the second end (15) thus increasing the pressure in the gas chamber (6) to the pressure of the liquid, which is monitored by the pressure sensor (8). The total length Lt of the conduit (12) is greater than the working length Lw of the conduit (12) to avoid the liquid/gas interface meniscus (20) reaching the first end (14) of the communicating bore (16).

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 method and apparatus for a balloon catheter can be provided. The balloon catheter includes a catheter and a balloon, a plurality of measuring electrodes formed on a primary substrate extend around the catheter within the balloon. The primary substrate and secondary substrate is formed by a portion of a flexible resilient membrane. The membrane is coiled to form a roll, and a primary substrate is also coiled around a rolled secondary substrate. The coiled primary and secondary substrates is urged through a second lumen in the catheter from the proximal end thereof to a radial slot in the catheter communicating with the second lumen. The primary substrate is urged through the radial slot and wrapped around and bonded to the catheter to form the measuring electrodes as band electrodes.

Abstract: A pressure monitoring apparatus (1) for monitoring pressure of a liquid (4) in a vessel (2) comprises a housing (3) within which an airtight gas chamber (6) is formed. A pressure sensor (8) is located in the housing (3) monitors the pressure of a gas in the gas chamber (6). A conduit (12) having a communicating bore (16) of total length Lt communicates the gas chamber (6) with the vessel (2). As the pressure of the liquid in the vessel (2) increases, a liquid/gas interface meniscus (20) travels along a working length Lw of the communicating bore (16) from the second end (15) thus increasing the pressure in the gas chamber (6) to the pressure of the liquid, which is monitored by the pressure sensor (8). The total length Lt of the conduit (12) is greater than the working length Lw of the conduit (12) to avoid the liquid/gas interface meniscus (20) reaching the first end (14) of the communicating bore (16).

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 comprising a catheter (3) and a balloon (7) located at a distal end (5) of the catheter (3). A plurality of measuring electrodes (12) formed on a primary substrate (17) extend around the catheter (3) within the balloon (7). The primary substrate (17) is formed by a portion of a flexible resilient membrane (25) which also forms a secondary substrate (19). The measuring electrodes (12) are formed on the primary substrate (17) by first electrically conductive tracks (27) and second electrically conductive tracks (28) which are electrically connected to the first electrically conductive tracks (27) are simultaneously formed on the secondary substrate (19). The membrane (25) is coiled to form a roll, and the primary substrate (17) is also coiled around the rolled secondary substrate (19).

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprising a catheter (3) and a balloon (7) located at a distal end (5) of the catheter (3). A plurality of measuring electrodes (12) formed on a primary substrate (17) extend around the catheter (3) within the balloon (7). The primary substrate (17) is formed by a portion of a flexible resilient membrane (25) which also forms a secondary substrate (19). The measuring electrodes (12) are formed on the primary substrate (17) by first electrically conductive tracks (27) and second electrically conductive tracks (28) which are electrically connected to the first electrically conductive tracks (27) are simultaneously formed on the secondary substrate (19). The membrane (25) is coiled to form a roll, and the primary substrate (17) is also coiled around the rolled secondary substrate (19).

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: 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 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).

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprising a catheter (3) and a balloon (7) located at a distal end (5) of the catheter (3). A plurality of measuring electrodes (12) formed on a primary substrate (17) extend around the catheter (3) within the balloon (7). The primary substrate (17) is formed by a portion of a flexible resilient membrane (25) which also forms a secondary substrate (19). The measuring electrodes (12) are formed on the primary substrate (17) by first electrically conductive tracks (27) and second electrically conductive tracks (28) which are electrically connected to the first electrically conductive tracks (27) are simultaneously formed on the secondary substrate (19). The membrane (25) is coiled to form a roll, and the primary substrate (17) is also coiled around the rolled secondary substrate (19).

Abstract: A balloon catheter (1) comprises a catheter (2) and a balloon (6) located on the distal end of the catheter. A pair of stimulating electrodes (15) for receiving a constant current stimulating signal when the balloon (6) is inflated with an electrically conductive medium and a plurality of sensing electrodes (16) for producing voltage response signals are located on the catheter (2). The voltage response signals are indicative of the values of the transverse cross-sectional area of the balloon (6) adjacent the sensing electrodes (16). A first lumen <9) accommodates the inflating medium to and from the balloon (6), and a second lumen (19) accommodates electrically conductive wires (18) to the stimulating and sensing electrodes (15,16).

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).

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 oesophagus (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 system (1) for dilating an occlusion (3) in an oesophagus (4) comprises a device (5) having a catheter (8) extending from a proximal end (9) to a distal end (10). An inflatable balloon (12) defining a hollow interior region (14) is located on the catheter (8) adjacent the distal end (10) thereof for dilating the occlusion (3). The balloon (12) is inflated with a saline solution by a pump (34) through an axial communicating bore (20) and radial communicating bores (21) in the catheter (8). A pair of stimulating electrodes (25) on the catheter (8) within the balloon (12) adjacent axially opposite ends (18,19) thereof receive stimulating voltage signals from a signal generator (43).