An esophageal monitoring device includes a camera and, optionally, one or more lights to enable visualization of an interior of a subject's esophagus. Visualization of the interior of the subject's esophagus before and after a left atrial ablation procedure may enable a healthcare provider to determine whether or not the left atrial ablation procedure has damaged the subject's esophagus before the subject experiences any symptoms of such damage. An esophageal monitoring device may also include sensors and/or markers that enable a determination of its location within a subject's esophagus. Such an esophageal monitoring device may be configured for three-dimensional mapping, and enable the generation of an accurate three-dimensional map of the physical relationship between a subject's esophagus and the left atrium of his or her heart. Methods of monitoring a subject's esophagus while a left atrial ablation procedure is being conducted on the subject's heart are also disclosed.

A catheter-based imaging system comprises a catheter having a telescoping proximal end, a distal end having a distal sheath and a distal lumen, a working lumen, and an ultrasonic imaging core. The ultrasonic imaging core is arranged for rotation and linear translation. The system further includes a patient interface module including a catheter interface, a rotational motion control system that imparts controlled rotation to the ultrasonic imaging core, a linear translation control system that imparts controlled linear translation to the ultrasonic imaging core, and an ultrasonic energy generator and receiver coupled to the ultrasonic imaging core. The system further comprises an image generator coupled to the ultrasonic energy receiver that generates an image.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, devices, systems, and methods for pyloric occlusion in an endoscopic procedure may include a first flange and a second flange connected to the first flange by a saddle region having a lumen. The second flange may be proximal to the first flange. The pyloric occlusion device may further include a closure element. The closure element may be configured to occlude a flow of material through the lumen, including across the pylorus when deployed. The closure element may be a closure of the lumen by rotation of one of the first or second flanges about the saddle region relative to the other of the first or second flange.

An esophageal monitoring device includes a camera and, optionally, one or more lights to enable visualization of an interior of a subject's esophagus. Visualization of the interior of the subject's esophagus before and after a left atrial ablation procedure may enable a healthcare provider to determine whether or not the left atrial ablation procedure has damaged the subject's esophagus before the subject experiences any symptoms of such damage. An esophageal monitoring device may also include sensors and/or markers that enable a determination of its location within a subject's esophagus. Such an esophageal monitoring device may be configured for three-dimensional mapping, and enable the generation of an accurate three-dimensional map of the physical relationship between a subject's esophagus and the left atrium of his or her heart. Methods of monitoring a subject's esophagus while a left atrial ablation procedure is being conducted on the subject's heart are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a device for assessing the characteristics of the swallowing process in a subject a sensor that is capable of detecting vibrations of the throat during swallowing.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, devices, systems, and methods for pyloric occlusion in an endoscopic procedure may include a first flange and a second flange connected to the first flange by a saddle region having a lumen. The second flange may be proximal to the first flange. The pyloric occlusion device may further include a closure element. The closure element may be configured to occlude a flow of material through the lumen, including across the pylorus when deployed. The closure element may be a closure of the lumen by rotation of one of the first or second flanges about the saddle region relative to the other of the first or second flange.

An airway device to be inserted into a patient's throat and to be function as a supraglottic airway device during a positive pressure ventilation and spontaneous ventilation that includes an air tube, an air sac, a tongue lifting means, a pulling unit and a drainage systems. The pulling unit will be pulled by an operator's hand to cause the tongue lifting means upward movement to open up the air sac and lift up the tongue base. The air tube lumen and the air sac are configured to have inflow airflow be divided and follow specific route therefore to deliver the focused airflow to vocal cords opening, and also to let inspired airflow enter desired area of the air sac to expand the air sac to form seals with surrounding tissue. During expiration, the pressure will be relieved. Different design of the drainage system can be configured to drained fluid from upper esophagus or from posterior pharyngeal wall.

A manually articulated stylet assembly for placing an endotracheal tube. The stylet assembly has a steering shaft that carries a flexible distal tip at one end and is attached to a handle at the other end. The distal tip is manipulated via sheathed cables controlled by a remote actuator in the handle. A biasing member inside the remote actuator maintains continuous tension on the cables to improve control. A video camera is carried in a recessed lens pocket in the steering shaft but spaced from the distal tip. The camera FOV captures movement of the distal tip with foreshortened perspective. A collar seat in the handle receives the collar connector of a standard endotracheal tube, providing quick disconnect when removing the stylet assembly upon placement.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to drug-coated balloon catheters for treating, preventing, or reducing the recurrence of a stricture and/or cancer, or for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in a non-vascular body lumen and methods of using the same. A drug-coated balloon catheter for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site of a body lumen stricture includes an elongated balloon having a main diameter. The balloon catheter includes a coating layer overlying an exterior surface of the balloon. The coating layer includes one or more water-soluble additives and an initial drug load of a therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the balloon catheter includes a length-control mechanism which stretches and elongates the balloon when it is in a deflated state, giving the balloon a smaller cross-sectional deflated profile for tracking through the body lumen and for removal after treatment.

An apparatus, system and methods that comprise adding a removable or detachable carrier containing a camera and illumination to a TEE probe, thereby allowing the user to view the placement of the probe and minimize or reduce the risk of esophageal and pharyngeal complications during the positioning of the TEE probe into the patient's esophagus. The reduction or minimization of complications occurs by allowing the cardiologist direct visualization of pharyngeal and esophageal structures during intubation. This device and procedure eliminate any blind procedure, whereby direct visualization of the pharyngeal structures and esophagus present a possible solution to these mechanical complications. Once the TEE probe has been properly positioned in the esophagus, the carrier is removed from the esophagus. The removable or detachable camera of the present disclosure can be used in other industries.