Abstract: A device and method measuring inside diameter of a body lumen. A method includes placing a balloon inside a lumen, the balloon expandable to a transverse dimension in response to fluid ejected from the fluid dispenser, and having a known relationship between volume and the expandable transverse dimension, expanding the balloon until the expandable transverse dimension is adjacent to an interior wall, and determining the lumen diameter in response to the volume of the expanded balloon. A device includes a catheter having an inflation lumen, a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the inflation lumen and operable to eject a measurable volume of fluid, and a balloon member in fluid communication with the inflation lumen and expandable to a transverse dimension adjacent to opposing portions of an interior wall in response to fluid ejected from the fluid dispenser, and having a known relationship between volume and the expandable transverse dimension.

Abstract: A device according to an aspect of the invention includes an air escapement conduit having an inlet port providing air communication with a chest cavity and an outlet port providing air communication with a vacuum source, the conduit allowing an air flow from the inlet port to the outlet port in response to a pressure differential between the ports, and a detector responsive to the air flow that provides a signal related to the air flow. The device may include an indicator device operable to provide evacuation information in response to the signal. The air escapement conduit may include a bubble chamber or a valving mechanism. The detector may be a pressure differential sensor operable to detect a difference in air pressure between the inlet port and the outlet port, and generate a signal related to the difference.

Abstract: A lung constriction device and method provide lung air leak suppression or lung volume reduction. The lung constriction device includes a jacket of flexible material. The jacket is configured to cover at least a portion of a lung. The jacket is further configured to receive the lung portion as it is drawn therein. The jacket may be expandable and held in an expanded condition as the lung tissue is drawn into the jacket. Thereafter, the jacket is permitted to collapse about the lung portion to constrict the lung portion. The jacket may alternatively be nonexpandable. As the lung tissue is drawn into the jacket, it will collapse. Once disposed in the jacket, the jacket constricts the lung tissue to provide leakage suppression or lung volume reduction. The jacket may further be severable so that after the lung portion is drawn into the jacket, the jacket may be severed to section the lung portion.

Abstract: A atrial tracking cardiac stimulator for detecting atrial activations of a heart through an atrial lead associated with at least one of the atria of the heart and delivering ventricular pacing pulses to the heart through a ventricular lead associated with at least one of the ventricles of heart. The stimulator includes a pulse generator including an output stage which delivers a pacing pulse to the ventricular lead responsive to a conducted atrial activation. A sensor is coupled to the atrial lead for detecting atrial activations. A rejectory processor times rejectory time periods responsive to detected atrial activations. The refectory processor further provides a conducted atrial activation to the pulse generator when a detected atrial activation occurs outside of a rejectory time period.