Patent US4006116A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5653240A
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Method and device for measuring portal blood pressure
Assignee: ZKZ Science Corp
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Filing: 1994-04-13
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Granted: 1997-08-05
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Expires: 2014-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and a device to measure portal blood pressure with an endoscope and an inflatable balloon inserted into the esophagus and positioned at the diaphragmatic hiatus. A balloon mounted over a tube is placed within the diaphragmatic hiatus and gradually inflated through a lumen that runs from the balloon to a position that is external from the patient. The pressure within the balloon is increased until the blood flow in the collateral portal hepatic veins that traverse the diaphragm at this location are occluded. The occlusion of the blood flow is signaled when esophageal varices visible above the balloon collapse. The internal balloon pressure required to occlude the blood flow in these collateral portal veins is approximately equivalent to the pressure in the main portal vein.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Zimmon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/03; A61B5/036; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; A61B17/12099; A61B17/12131; A61B17/12136; A61B5/02; A61B5/021; A61B5/0215; A61B5/02152; A61B5/42; A61B5/4222; A61B5/4233; A61M; A61M2210/00; A61M2210/10; A61M2210/1042; A61M2210/105; A61M2210/1053; A61M2210/1057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for measuring portal blood pressure, comprising the steps of: providing a device having an elongate member with proximal and distal ends, an esophageal inflatable balloon mounted over said member, and a first inflation lumen opening into said esophageal inflatable balloon; passing said device down the esophagus and locating said esophageal inflatable balloon within the diaphragmatic hiatus; positioning an endoscope above said device to observe esophageal varices; inflating said esophageal inflatable balloon until the esophageal varices collapse; and measuring the pressure inside said esophageal inflatable balloon to indicate portal blood pressure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for measuring portal blood pressure, comprising the steps of: providing a device having an elongate member with proximal and distal ends, an esophageal inflatable balloon mounted over said member, and a first inflation lumen opening into said esophageal inflatable balloon; passing said device down the esophagus and locating said esophageal inflatable balloon within the diaphragmatic hiatus; positioning an endoscope above said device to observe esophageal varices; inflating said esophageal inflatable balloon until the esophageal varices collapse; and measuring the pressure inside said esophageal inflatable balloon to indicate portal blood pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising deflating said esophageal inflatable balloon until the esophageal varices distend and measuring the pressure within the esophageal inflatable balloon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said providing step further includes a bridle attached to the proximal end of said member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3, which further includes manipulating the bridle to position the proximal end of the member within the digestive tract and maintain the device in traction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein in said providing step the elongate member is a tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said providing step further includes a gastric inflatable balloon mounted over said member between said esophageal inflatable balloon and the distal end of said member, and a second inflation lumen opening into said gastric inflatable balloon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising before said inflating step, the steps of positioning said gastric inflatable balloon inside the stomach, inflating said gastric inflatable balloon, and seating said gastric inflatable balloon against the proximal stomach and the gastric cardia with traction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising after said seating step and before said inflating step, the steps of inflating said esophageal inflatable balloon to hold said device in place within the esophagus and removing the traction from said device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of gradually inflating said gastric inflatable balloon until the esophageal varices collapse and measuring the pressure inside said gastric inflatable balloon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising deflating said gastric inflatable balloon until the esophageal varices distend and measuring the pressure within the gastric inflatable balloon.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
173 words
A method for measuring portal blood pressure, comprising the steps of: providing a device having a tube with proximal and distal open ends, an esophageal inflatable balloon mounted over said tube, and a first inflation lumen opening into said esophageal inflatable balloon for directing pressurized fluid to inflate said esophageal inflatable balloon; backloading said device on an endoscope by passing said endoscope through said open ends of said tube; passing said endoscope down the esophagus; advancing said device along said endoscope and down said esophagus to a location within the diaphragmatic hiatus; inflating said esophageal inflatable balloon to fix said device into position in the diaphragmatic hiatus; withdrawing said endoscope from said device and positioning said endoscope above said device to observe esophageal varices; further inflating said esophageal inflatable balloon until blood flow in the portal veins traversing the diaphragmatic hiatus are occluded and observing the collapse of esophageal varices with said endoscope; and measuring the pressure inside said esophageal inflatable balloon in order to obtain an indication of the portal blood pressure.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
173 words
A method for measuring portal blood pressure, comprising the steps of: providing a device having a tube with proximal and distal open ends, an esophageal inflatable balloon mounted over said tube, and a first inflation lumen opening into said esophageal inflatable balloon for directing pressurized fluid to inflate said esophageal inflatable balloon; backloading said device on an endoscope by passing said endoscope through said open ends of said tube; passing said endoscope down the esophagus; advancing said device along said endoscope and down said esophagus to a location within the diaphragmatic hiatus; inflating said esophageal inflatable balloon to fix said device into position in the diaphragmatic hiatus; withdrawing said endoscope from said device and positioning said endoscope above said device to observe esophageal varices; further inflating said esophageal inflatable balloon until blood flow in the portal veins traversing the diaphragmatic hiatus are occluded and observing the collapse of esophageal varices with said endoscope; and measuring the pressure inside said esophageal inflatable balloon in order to obtain an indication of the portal blood pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising deflating said esophageal inflatable balloon until the esophageal varices distend and measuring the pressure within said esophageal inflatable balloon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said providing step further includes a bridle attached to said tube, said bridle adapted to extend up the esophagus to a traction means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13, which further includes manipulating the bridle to position the proximal end of the member within the digestive tract and maintain the device in traction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said providing step further includes a gastric inflatable balloon mounted over said tube between said esophageal inflatable balloon and the distal end of said tube, and a second inflation lumen opening into said gastric inflatable balloon for directing pressurized fluid to inflate said gastric balloon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising before said inflating step, the steps of positioning said gastric balloon inside the stomach, inflating said gastric balloon, and pulling said gastric balloon against the proximal stomach and the diaphragmatic hiatus with a traction means to seat said gastric balloon against the gastric cardia.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising after said inflating step, the step of releasing said traction means, whereby said device moves with respiration and is fixed across the diaphragmatic hiatus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of inflating said gastric balloon until blood flow in the portal veins traversing the diaphragmatic hiatus are occluded and measuring the pressure inside said gastric balloon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising deflating said gastric balloon until the esophageal varices distend and measuring the pressure within the gastric balloon.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
245 words
A method for measuring portal venous blood pressured, comprising the steps of: providing a device having a tube with proximal and distal open ends, an esophageal inflatable balloon mounted over said tube, a first inflation lumen opening into said esophageal inflatable balloon for directing pressurized fluid to inflate said esophageal inflatable balloon, a gastric inflatable balloon mounted over said tube between said esophageal inflatable balloon and said distal open end, and a second inflation lumen opening into said gastric inflatable balloon for directing pressurized fluid to inflate said gastric balloon; backloading said device on an endoscope by passing said endoscope through said open ends of said tube; passing said endoscope down the esophagus; advancing said device along said endoscope and down said esophagus to a location within the diaphragmatic hiatus; positioning said gastric balloon inside the stomach and inflating said gastric balloon; pulling said gastric balloon against the proximal stomach and the diaphragmatic hiatus with a traction means to seat said gastric balloon against the gastric cardia; inflating the esophageal inflatable balloon to fix said device across the diaphragmatic hiatus; releasing said traction means; locating said endoscope to a position above the esophageal inflatable balloon, whereby esophageal varices may be observed; gradually inflating said balloons until blood flow in the portal veins traversing the diaphragmatic hiatus occludes, whereby the esophageal varices collapse; and measuring the pressure inside said esophageal inflatable balloon and said gastric inflatable balloon to obtain an indication of the portal blood pressure.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
245 words
A method for measuring portal venous blood pressured, comprising the steps of: providing a device having a tube with proximal and distal open ends, an esophageal inflatable balloon mounted over said tube, a first inflation lumen opening into said esophageal inflatable balloon for directing pressurized fluid to inflate said esophageal inflatable balloon, a gastric inflatable balloon mounted over said tube between said esophageal inflatable balloon and said distal open end, and a second inflation lumen opening into said gastric inflatable balloon for directing pressurized fluid to inflate said gastric balloon; backloading said device on an endoscope by passing said endoscope through said open ends of said tube; passing said endoscope down the esophagus; advancing said device along said endoscope and down said esophagus to a location within the diaphragmatic hiatus; positioning said gastric balloon inside the stomach and inflating said gastric balloon; pulling said gastric balloon against the proximal stomach and the diaphragmatic hiatus with a traction means to seat said gastric balloon against the gastric cardia; inflating the esophageal inflatable balloon to fix said device across the diaphragmatic hiatus; releasing said traction means; locating said endoscope to a position above the esophageal inflatable balloon, whereby esophageal varices may be observed; gradually inflating said balloons until blood flow in the portal veins traversing the diaphragmatic hiatus occludes, whereby the esophageal varices collapse; and measuring the pressure inside said esophageal inflatable balloon and said gastric inflatable balloon to obtain an indication of the portal blood pressure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 20, further comprising deflating said esophageal inflatable balloon and said gastric inflatable balloon until the esophageal varices distend and measuring the pressure within said balloons.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said providing step further includes a bridle attached to said tube, said bridle adapted to extend up the esophagus to a traction means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 22, which further includes manipulating the bridle to position the proximal end of the member within the digestive tract and maintain the device in traction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-04 | 2001-02-03 | 2001-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-04 | 2005-02-03 | 2005-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-04 | 2009-02-03 | 2009-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |