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EP0149866B1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Oesophageal probes for anaesthesia monitoring

Assignee: Antec Systems Ltd
•
Filing: 1981-10-26
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Granted: 1989-04-19
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Expires: 2001-10-26
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Abstract

No abstract record available.

Inventors

  • 👤 John Martin Evans
  • 👤 Colin Charles Wise

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 20:28
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: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 107 words
An elongate probe for measuring oesophageal 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 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, characterized by the probe including stimulating means (5) adapted in use to lie within the oesophagus of a patient and operable by means (7) external to the patient for stimulating the oesophagus, to cause contractions therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 107 words
An elongate probe for measuring oesophageal 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 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, characterized by the probe including stimulating means (5) adapted in use to lie within the oesophagus of a patient and operable by means (7) external to the patient for stimulating the oesophagus, to cause contractions therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
A probe as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the stimulating means (5) comprises a sealed inflatable balloon, and the probe comprises a lumen
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
(3) in fluid communication between the balloon and the proximal end of the probe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
(3) in fluid communication between the balloon and the proximal end of the probe.
Claim 6
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 7
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 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
A probe as claimed in Claim 4, including means to cause the two inflatable stimulating balloons to expand at different rates.
Claim 9
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 10
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 11
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 12
Dependent Claim 23 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 13
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 14
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 15
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 16
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 17
Dependent Claim 19 words
A probe as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the stimulating balloon (5) and the sensing ballon are concentric (4).
Claim 18
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 19
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 20
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.

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