Abstract: The invention provides techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of a narrowing lumen with a smart balloon catheter. The smart balloon catheter includes pressure and diameter sensing features along with a feedback system to control the dilation of the balloon. Ambient pressure of the lumen is detected with multiple pressure sensors located on the distal end of the catheter and displayed on a monitoring device. Ambient pressure results are used to position the distal end of the catheter within the narrowing lumen. A controlled gradual, or stepwise, dilation of the balloon occurs. The pressure sensors detect the ambient pressure of the lumen outside the of the balloon, and the pressure within the balloon. Distances sensors measure the distance between the center of the catheter and the expanded balloon surface. The diameter of the balloon at different cross-sections is determined and displayed on the monitoring device. The volume of the balloon, and the waist of the narrowing lumen, are determined.

Abstract: Compounds useful as cholinergic drugs are disclosed which have the formula A--B and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof having the formula [(A--B)Q]+.sub.q M.sup.-q wherein M is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion, Q is a proton or lower alkylating group, q is an integer from 1 to 3, A is a saturated or unsaturated five- or six-membered heterocyclic moiety having the formula: ##STR1## and B is a saturated or unsaturated five-membered heterocyclic moiety having the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently hydrogen, halo branched or straight-chain C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, branched or straight-chain C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, branched or straight-chain C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, hydroxyl, keto or aryl; Y is --N.dbd. or ##STR3## Z is --N.dbd., ##STR4## --O--, --S--, ##STR5## and R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently H, lower alkyl or aryl; W is --O--, --N.dbd.

Abstract: Compounds useful as cholinergic drugs are disclosed which have the formula A--B and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof having the formula [(A--B)Q]+.sub.q M.sup.-q wherein M is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion, Q is a proton or lower alkylating group, q is as integer from 1 to 3, A is a saturated or unsaturated five- or six-membered heterocyclic moiety and B is a saturated or unsaturated five-memebered heterocyclic moiety wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently hydrogen, halo, branched or straight-chain C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, branched or straight-chain C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, branched or straight-chain C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, hydroxyl, keto or aryl; Y is --N.dbd. or ##STR1## Z is --N.dbd., ##STR2## --O--, --S--, ##STR3## and R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently H, lower alkyl or aryl; W is --O--, --N.dbd., or --S--; m is an integer from 1 to 5; n is an integer from 0 to 7; p is 0 or 1; and wherein, on a given molecule, when m is 2, or more, the R.sup.