Patents by Inventor Pedro H. A. Eerdmans

Pedro H. A. Eerdmans has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7374547
    Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for delivering a capsule for sensing acidity to a location along the esophagus via a delivery device that detects pressure variations to identify a lower esophageal sphincter (LES). More specifically, the distal end of a probe of the delivery device enters the esophagus, and extends through the esophagus into the stomach via the LES. The distal end of the probe is slowly retracted back into the esophagus and the pressure variation within a pressure sensitive chamber of the delivery device, caused by the LES, is detected to identify the location of the LES. As described, the pressure sensitive chamber can comprise a balloon filled with air or an airtight chamber formed within a distal end of the probe. In either case, the pressure sensitive chamber deforms due to the pressure of the LES thereby causing a pressure variation used to identify the location of the LES.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Pedro H. A. Eerdmans
  • Publication number: 20040215128
    Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for delivering a capsule for sensing acidity to a location along the esophagus via a delivery device that detects pressure variations to identify a lower esophageal sphincter (LES). More specifically, the distal end of a probe of the delivery device enters the esophagus, and extends through the esophagus into the stomach via the LES. The distal end of the probe is slowly retracted back into the esophagus and the pressure variation within a pressure sensitive chamber of the delivery device, caused by the LES, is detected to identify the location of the LES. As described, the pressure sensitive chamber can comprise a balloon filled with air or an airtight chamber formed within a distal end of the probe. In either case, the pressure sensitive chamber deforms due to the pressure of the LES thereby causing a pressure variation used to identify the location of the LES.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Pedro H.A. Eerdmans