University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Uva Patents Foundation

Ravinder K Mittal

Robert A Ross

Richard W McCallum

Jerzy Sarosiek

Jiamnim Liu

Bruce Schirmer

An electronic pacemaker is used to counter-act crural diaphragm relaxation thereby preventing and/or treating gastroesophageal reflux. The pacemaker can be implantable, or be connected to the skeletal muscles of the crural diaphragm through the skin. A sensor is used to identify spontaneous intermittent relaxations of the diaphragm. During these spontaneous intermittent relaxations, one or more electrodes are used to stimulate the skeletal muscles of the crural diaphragm to cause contraction of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Crural diaphragm pacemaker and method for treating esophageal reflux

An esophageal perfusion catheter, having an outer housing, a plurality of flexible, tubular channel members within said outer housing, and at least two spaced balloon members encompassing said catheter. Two of the channel members are in fluid communication with each of two balloons. One of the balloons is about 150 millimeters from the distal end of said catheter and about 75 millimeters from the other balloon. A third of the tubular channel members is an esophageal perfusion aspirating channel and is in communication with a port at the distal end of the catheter. A fourth of the tubular channel members serves as a gastric aspirating channel. A fifth of the tubular channel members serves as an aspirating channel. The sixth channel member, serves as an air vent. The esophageal perfusion aspirating channel has a ID of about 3 millimeters. The gastric aspirating channel has a ID of about 2 millimeters. The two channel members which communicate with the balloons have a ID of about 1 millimeter. The interior space between the outer housing and the channel members can be filled with silicone.

Catheter for esophageal perfusion

A manometric catheter which includes a sleeve device segment and attached to this sleeve device segment are two metal electrodes. This design of the manometric catheter has the capability of measuring simultaneous mechanical and electrical events in the human sphincters.

Growing community of inventors

Charlottesville, VA, United States of America

Ravinder K Mittal