Esophageal probe for transesophageal cardiac stimulation

Claim 3

The method set forth in claim 1 and including the step of biasing at least one electrode against the wall of the esophagus and displacing the wall of the esophagus toward the patient's heart for reducing the distance between said electrode and the patient's heart, the point of engagement between the electrode and the esophagus being localized.

Claim 4

An esophageal probe for transesophageal cardiac stimulation or monitoring, the probe comprising: an elongate member constructed and arranged to be positioned within the esophagus of a patient and having a distal end and a proximal end, first and second electrode carriers; first and second electrodes being mounted respectively on said first and second electrode carriers, said electrode carriers being positioned such that said first and second electrodes are spaced apart longitudinally and at different radial angles relative to an axial plane defined said elongate member; positioning means for selectively displacing said electrode carriers laterally relative to said elongate member for positioning said first electrode means at the optimal position for cardiac stimulation or monitoring of patient, said positioning means being at least partially resilient for resiliently urging said electrode means into pressure engagement with a patient's esophagus,

Claim 5

An esophageal probe for transesophageal cardiac stimulation or monitoring, the probe comprising: an elongate member constructed and arranged to be positioned within the esophagus of a patient and having a distal end and a proximal end, first and second electrode carriers; first and second electrodes being mounted respectively on said first and second electrode carriers, said electrode carriers being positioned such that said first and second electrodes are spaced apart longitudinally and at different radial angles relative to an axial plane defined said elongate member; positioning means for selectively displacing said electrode carriers laterally relative to said elongate member for positioning said first electrode means at the optimal position for cardiac stimulation or monitoring of patient, said positioning means being at least partially resilient for resiliently urging said electrode means into pressure engagement with a patient's esophagus,

Claim 6

The esophageal probe set forth in claim 3 wherein said electrodes are spaced apart longitudinally about 4-6 cm, and at a radial angle of about 40°-50°.

Claim 7

The probe set forth in claim 3 wherein said axial distance is about 4-6 cm. and the rotational displacement between said electrodes being 40°50°.

Claim 8

The probe set forth in claim 5 wherein said positioning means includes resilient means for separately supporting each of said electrode means, said positioning means being operative to resiliently bias said first and second electrode means into engagement with the esophageal mucosa for moving the same into closer proximity with the atrium or ventricle of a patient's heart.

Claim 9

An esophageal probe for transesophageal cardiac stimulation or monitoring, the probe comprising: an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and being constructed and arranged to be positioned within the esophagus of a patient and having a distal end and a proximal end, first and second electrode means spaced apart axially on said elongate member and being positioned at different rotational angles relative to said axis, positioning means for selectively displacing said electrode first and second electrode means laterally relative to said elongate member for positioning said first and second electrode means at the optimal position for cardiac stimulation or monitoring of the patient.

Claim 10

An esophageal probe for transesophageal cardiac stimulation or monitoring, the probe comprising: an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and being constructed and arranged to be positioned within the esophagus of a patient and having a distal end and a proximal end, first and second electrode means spaced apart axially on said elongate member and being positioned at different rotational angles relative to said axis, positioning means for selectively displacing said electrode first and second electrode means laterally relative to said elongate member for positioning said first and second electrode means at the optimal position for cardiac stimulation or monitoring of the patient.

Claim 11

An esophageal probe for transesophageal cardiac stimulation or monitoring, the probe comprising: an elongate member constructed and arranged to be positioned within the esophagus of the patient and having a distal end and a proximal end, first and second electrode means, said elongate member having a longitudinal axis, said first and second electrodes being mounted on said elongate member in an axially spaced apart relation and being positioned at different rotational angles relative to an axial plane defined by said axis.

Claim 12

An esophageal probe for transesophageal cardiac stimulation or monitoring, the probe comprising: an elongate member constructed and arranged to be positioned within the esophagus of the patient and having a distal end and a proximal end, first and second electrode means, said elongate member having a longitudinal axis, said first and second electrodes being mounted on said elongate member in an axially spaced apart relation and being positioned at different rotational angles relative to an axial plane defined by said axis.

Claim 13

The probe set forth in claim 8 wherein the axial distance between said electrodes is about 4-6 cm. and the rotational displacement between said electrodes being 40°-50°.