EP0149866A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Oesophageal probes for anaesthesia monitoring
Assignee: Antec Systems Ltd
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Filing: 1981-10-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-10-26
Abstract
Abstract An oesophageal probe (1) for measuring anaesthesia comprises means (4), for example a water-filled balloon, for sensing pressure in the oesophagus, and means (5), for example an air filled balloon, for stimulating the oesophagus to cause contractions therein.
Inventors
- 👤 John Martin Evans
- 👤 Colin Charles Wise
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/03; A61B5/036; A61B5/037; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0402; A61M16/0415; A61M16/0434; A61M16/0436; A61M16/0438; A61M16/10; A61M16/104; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/1018; A61M25/10181; A61M25/10184; A61M25/10185; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0517; A61N1/0519; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/36014; A61N1/36021; A61B5/42; A61M16/0003; A61M2016/0027; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/33; A61M2205/3368; A61N1/36017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An elongate probe for measuring oesophogeal contractions, having a distal end adapted to pass downwardly through the oesophagus of the patient, and a proximal end adapted in use to lie externally of the mouth of the patient, the probe including stimulating means (5) adapted in use to lie within the oesophagus of a patient and operable by mean-s (7) external to the patient for stimulating the oesophagus, to cause contractions therein, pressure sensing means (4) adapted in use to lie within the oesophagus of the patient for enabling the measurement of pressure within the oesophagus, thereby to sense contractions of the oesophagus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An elongate probe for measuring oesophogeal contractions, having a distal end adapted to pass downwardly through the oesophagus of the patient, and a proximal end adapted in use to lie externally of the mouth of the patient, the probe including stimulating means (5) adapted in use to lie within the oesophagus of a patient and operable by mean-s (7) external to the patient for stimulating the oesophagus, to cause contractions therein, pressure sensing means (4) adapted in use to lie within the oesophagus of the patient for enabling the measurement of pressure within the oesophagus, thereby to sense contractions of the oesophagus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A probe as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the stimulating means (5) comprises a sealed inflatable balloon, and the probe comprises a lumen (3) in fluid communication between the balloon and the proximal end of the probe,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A probe as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the maximum diameter of the inflatable balloon (5) is about 2 cm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A probe as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the stimulating means comprises two inflatable balloons spaced along the probe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A probe as claimed in Claim 4, including means to cause the two inflatable stimulating balloons to expand at differing rates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A probe as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the stimulating means includes a pair of electrodes on the probe, and means for supplying an electrical voltage to the electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A probe as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the pressure sensing means includes an inflatable sensing balloon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A probe as claimed in Claim 7 including a lumen (2) in fluid communication between the said sensing balloon and means (9) on the proximal end of the tube for the connection of a pressure transducer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A.probe as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the maximum diameter of the sensing balloon (4) is about 2 cm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A probe as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the sensing balloon has a length of from 3 to 5 cm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A probe as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 10, wherein a small leak is provided to permit the equalisation of permanent pressure changes in the sensing balloon (4).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A probe as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 11, wherein the pressure sensing balloon (4) includes a foam insert to maintain the balloon volume.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A probe as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 12 which also incorporate a sealed inflatable stimulating balloon as defined in any one of Claims 2 to 5.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A probe as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the stimulating balloon (5) and the sensing ballon are concentric (4).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A probe as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, including a pressure transducer adapted in use to lie in the oesophagus of the patient.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A probe as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 15 including means for sensing the pressure at two points spaced along the oesophagus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A probe as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the said points are spaced from each other by from 10 to 15 cm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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