An endoscopic system includes a processor. The processor generates from a measured value of pressure in a lumen of a subject a first temporal change image of the pressure in the lumen, generates an observation image for observing an opened/closed state of a valve portion in the lumen of the subject in real time from an image pickup signal obtained by picking up an image of the opened/closed state of the valve portion in the lumen in real time using an endoscope, and generates a superposition image by superposing the first temporal change image and the observation image in a temporally synchronized manner.

A sphincter sizing instrument includes a body that defines a lumen and a shaft that longitudinally translates through the lumen relative to the body. The body includes opposing proximal and distal ends. The distal end includes a first magnetic coupling feature and a first mechanical coupling feature. The shaft includes opposing proximal and distal ends and a coupler coupled with the distal end. The coupler includes a second magnetic coupling feature and a second mechanical coupling feature. The second magnetic coupling feature is configured to attract and couple with the first magnetic coupling feature to form a magnetic connection. The second mechanical coupling feature is configured to couple with the first mechanical coupling feature to form a mechanical connection.

Methods and systems for position determination are described for using an intrabody probe having a plurality of electrodes to generate a plurality of different electrical fields, and to also measure, using the plurality of electrodes, a measurement set (a V.sub.e-e measurement set) comprising a plurality of measurements of the plurality of different electrical fields while the probe remains in one position. From the V.sub.e-e measurement set, spatial position coordinates for the intrabody probe are estimated within an intrabody coordinate system, using an established mapping between previously observed V.sub.e-e measurement sets and positions in the intrabody coordinate system. Systems and methods for generating and selecting such mappings are also described.

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 pH measuring device is disclosed. One aspect includes a body unit including a hollow portion and a through-portion formed in a first region so that the hollow portion communicates with the outside; an electrode unit including a reference electrode and a sensing electrode including different materials and configured to measure the pH in a living body by allowing a first end to be located in the hollow portion and a second end opposite to the first end to be exposed to the outside of the body unit through the through-portion; and a wireless communication unit configured to transmit a pH measurement value sensed by the electrode unit to the outside.

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 hear are also disclosed.

Systems and method for remote field measurement-based mapping of anatomical structures (e.g., using impedance image of electrical fields) are described. In some embodiments, an image of features within a target region is produced by analysis of a spatial pattern of field measurements made in a measurement region remote from the target region features; for example, but not exclusively, by treating the spatial arrangement of field measurements in some portion of the measurement region as indicating the spatial (e.g., angular and/or distance) arrangement of features (e.g., anatomical structure of topography and/or tissue type) in the target region.

Methods and apparatus for guiding medical care based on sensor data from the gastrointestinal tract are described utilizing an apparatus which can be used with enteral feeding. Generally, the apparatus includes an elongated body having a length configured for insertion into a stomach and at least one pair of electrodes located along the length of the elongated body and positionable for placement within the stomach. A controller in electrical communication with the at least one pair of electrodes is included and the control may also be configured to measure a conductivity or impedance between the pair of electrodes and to determine a gastric residual volume of the stomach based on the measured conductivity or impedance.

Methods for electrically stimulating body tissues to improve function or reduce symptoms provide an electrical stimulation system having two or more electrodes that are capable of being switched independently from a hyperpolarizing (depolarizing) state to a hypopolarizing state. Multiple combinations of hyperpolarizing electrodes and hypopolarizing electrodes are created by polarity switching to determine a polarity configuration having the best performance as determined by symptom reporting and clinical diagnostic tests. Polarity switching is triggered manually or is programmed to be switched automatically. Determining the configuration providing electrical stimulation resulting in the greatest benefit allows the system to be operated with one or more electrodes in a hypopolarizing state, thereby reducing energy requirements, tissue tolerance, and tissue fatigue.

An elongated device and a system that at the same time allow acquisition of temperature-related data of high spatial and temporal resolution from hollow structures together with other relevant data of physical or chemical variables. In a preferred embodiment infrared or visible light sensors are used to obtain thermal or color images from the inner surface during imposed change of the temperature in the lumen of the hollow structure. The disclosure makes it possible to evaluate thermal variations when the inner surface returns to pre-change thermal conditions. High-resolution data can be obtained with the disclosure. The disclosure further includes a system with rotators, injection pumps, a control unit and display operably coupled to one or more of the data acquisition and processing system.