The invention relates to a device for the dynamically adapting sealing of an organ or a body cavity, e.g. the windpipe (trachea) of an intubated and ventilated patient, wherein the sealing balloon element is produced via particularly rapid shifting of filling medium from an extracorporeal reservoir or an extracorporeal source to the sealing balloon, and wherein, in the dynamic sealing of the trachea according to the example case, a balloon-type foil body preferably formed with residual material in the diameter, i.e. exceeding the tracheal diameter, is in contact with the inner wall of the trachea in a sealing manner and with a pressure that is as constant as possible, wherein fluctuations in the balloon volume, caused by fluctuations in the intrathoracic pressure relating to the mechanics of breathing, are compensated as quickly as possible by supplying volume from an extracorporeal reservoir or an extracorporeal source, and the tracheal secretion sealing of the balloon is thereby kept continuous. This is both made possible by a sufficiently high-volume supply of the balloon filling medium to the cuff, and also prevents steps, gaps or ridges in the supply system, whereby volume flow directed towards the balloon can be minimised, which is crucial for a rapid-as-possible stabilising of the filling volume in the balloon, in particular with small pressure differences between 15 and 30 mbar that are driving the volume flow.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to drug-coated balloon catheters for treating strictures in body lumens 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.

A multi-purpose balloon intra-cavity catheter includes a catheter having a proximal end portion, a central portion and a non-branching distal end portion, a plurality of lumens associated with the catheter extending from the proximal end portion, and a plurality of inflatable balloons positioned in the central portion and/or the non-branching distal end portion. Each of the plurality of inflatable balloons is communicatively associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of lumens, the plurality of inflatable balloons being selectively inflated or deflated to position and stabilize the catheter in a cavity for delivery of a medical treatment. The catheter can include an extraction opening associated with a lumen to remove fluids and materials from the cavity, and a connector associated with a corresponding lumen adapted to selectively receive one or more of a fluid medium or a radioactive isotope provided to a corresponding lumen for delivery of the medical treatment.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to drug-coated balloon catheters for treating strictures in body lumens 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.

An expandable dilation member may include a proximally-tapered portion to dilate a stricture. The dilation member may be distally advanced in an unexpanded state over a wire guide through the stricture. The dilation member may then be configured in an expanded state, where the dilation member has a longitudinal profile that includes the proximally-tapered portion. A handle assembly proximally pulls the dilation member in the expanded state. In response, the proximally-tapered portion engages with and biases the stricture. When biasing the stricture, the proximally-tapered portion exerts a plurality of different types of forces, including a shearing force, a radial force, and in some procedures, a torsional force. In some embodiments, the proximally-tapered portion has a continuous taper from a smallest diameter to a largest diameter. In other embodiments, the proximally-tapered portion has at least one constant-diameter portion longitudinally disposed in between the smallest diameter and the largest diameter.

A surgical system includes an endotracheal system and intubation system. The intubation system includes an introducer rod and intubation instrument. The intubation instrument includes: an esophageal tube, intubation tube, endoscopic camera tube, and balloon located distally beyond a distal end of the intubation tube. The introducer rod is insertable through the intubation tube to a position where an endoscopic camera in the endoscopic camera tube has a line of sight to a distal end of the introducer rod. The balloon is movable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition in which the balloon fully occludes the esophageal opening to block advancement of the introducer rod into the esophagus and urge the introducer rod into the trachea. The intubation tube is removable from the patient leaving behind the introducer rod, such that the introducer rod is guides an endotracheal tube of the endotracheal system into the patient's trachea.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to drug-coated balloon catheters for treating strictures in body lumens 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.

An apparatus for performing a balloon dilation procedure at the site of a stenosis or for deploying a stent in a patient, the apparatus including a single lumen catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, and a high pressure balloon attached to the distal end of the catheter. The high pressure balloon is fabricated from a semi-compliant material that has an average rated burst pressure of between about 15 and about 27 atmospheres of pressure and exhibits a dumbbell-shaped outer periphery when inflated to a first atmospheric pressure and a substantially linear outer periphery when inflated to a second atmospheric pressure.

The present invention relates to a device and a method for alternately measuring the thoracic and pleural pressure and for gastropharyngeal or tracheal sealing, wherein the balloon component of a tube or catheter placed in the trachea or oesophagus alternates between two filling or functional states, wherein the filling state of the balloon component in the measuring mode assumes a value of constant, defined volume during the measurement, said value corresponding to a flaccid filling state, and the filling state of the balloon in the oesophageally or tracheally sealing functional mode maintains a constant, sealing pressure specified by the user. The controller device connected to the tube unit or catheter unit ensures rapid displacement of filling medium into and out of the tube balloon or catheter balloon in the state of tracheal or oesophageal sealing, wherein the tracheally or oesophageally sealing target pressure is maintained continuously by compensating pressure fluctuations in the balloon caused by respiratory mechanics by a continuous, compensating displacement of filling volume. The user can switch between the two functional states by means of a manual switchover function or by means of a programmable, chronological cycle. In addition to the possibility of an intermittent monitoring of the respiratory mechanics and a continuous, tracheally or oesophageally sealing balloon tamponade, the balloon placed in the trachea or oesophagus allows, in both functional states, the thoracic derivation of a triggering, respiratory-mechanical signal which can trigger a ventilating stroke assisting the patient in a ventilator connected to the device. The invention also describes structural and functional options for the simultaneous derivation of a neural and/or muscular electrical signal from the diaphragm of the patient and a respiratory-mechanical signal on the basis of thoracic or pleural pressure fluctuations derived tracheally or oesophageally.

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.