The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 10, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2001
Reza Shaker, Brookfield, WI (US);
Wilson-Cook Medical Incorporated, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for measuring the compliance of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the apparatus including a catheter having a plurality of extendable members for both measuring the compliance of the LES and stimulating the esophagus which relaxes the LES to obtain a more clinically relevant measurement of LES compliance. In one embodiment, the plurality of extendable members include a first balloon which is located and inflated within the esophagus to trigger esophageal motility, a second, non-elastic balloon that is positioned within the LES, and a third balloon which is inflated within the stomach to help align the second balloon with LES. Incrementally increasing volumes of air are introduced into the second balloon, with the resulting pressures exerted by the LES calculated and compared to normative values to assess the condition of the LES.