A strain sensor for capacitive strain measurement has a flat and electrically conductive first conductor element and a flat and electrically conductive second conductor element. The two conductor elements oppose one another and are laterally displaceable relative to one another, so that the two conductor elements, proceeding from a first condition, may be displaced relative to one another into a second condition. An overlap between the two conductor elements is different in the first condition from the second condition. First and second springs attach the conductor elements to first and second attaching regions of the strain sensor. The first attaching region is disposed at a first reference point of a body to be measured, and/or the second attaching region is disposed at a second reference point of the body to be measured.

A method for using CO.sub.2 as a contrast material in medical imaging procedures is disclosed. The method includes providing a source of pressurized CO.sub.2. The step of providing includes connecting the source of pressurized CO2 to a compressed gas unit for controlling delivery of the CO.sub.2. The method also includes regulating pressure of the CO.sub.2 delivered by the compressed gas unit, transmitting the pressurized CO.sub.2 from the compressed gas unit to a control valve assembly for delivery to a patient in controlled dosages, and sequentially processing the CO.sub.2 with the control valve assembly and delivering the CO.sub.2 to the patient as a contrast media.

A system for use with a balloon disposed at a distal end of an intrabody probe includes an output device, configured to produce an output indicating whether the balloon is elongated, and a processor. The processor is configured to calculate, based on respective locations of multiple elements disposed on a surface of the balloon, multiple values, over an interval, of a parameter indicative of a radius of the balloon. The processor is further configured to modify a state of the output based on at least one of the values. Other embodiments are also described.

A device for intermittently triggering a coordinated defecation reflex in the rectum or colon of a patient, said device comprising a catheter with an inflexible catheter shaft and a preformed inflatable balloon, the inflatable balloon comprising at least an intrarectal balloon segment having, in an inflated, but unpressurized state of the balloon, a generally spherical or discoid shape and a maximal first radius, and being adapted to be placed intrarectally; wherein the inflatable balloon is fixed onto the catheter shaft only at fixation points located at the ends of the inflatable balloon, wherein both ends of the inflatable balloon taper to a shaft dimension of the catheter shaft supporting the inflatable balloon, with the distal end of the balloon having a tapered second radius; wherein, in an inflated, but unpressurized state of the balloon, the difference between the first radius of the intrarectal balloon segment and the second radius of the distal tapered balloon end is equal to a first difference, and further wherein the first difference is greater than a distance between a distal front side of the catheter and a distal fixation point, where the tapered distal end of the balloon is in contact with the catheter shaft and is fixed thereto; wherein the distal front side of the catheter is at a distalmost extension of the catheter shaft or of a distal tip piece of the catheter shaft; and wherein the inflatable balloon is configured such that when the inflatable balloon is in a pressurized state exceeding 30 mbar, at least a portion of the distal intrarectal balloon segment engages and expands a side wall of the rectum or colon of the patient, whereby to trigger a coordinated defecation reflex in the rectum or colon of the patient.

A method for performing a medical procedure requiring effective, reliable and foolproof delivery of controlled amounts of a medical grade gas to a patient includes providing a compressed gas cylinder having a weight with medical grade gas sealed therein of at least twelve grams and not greater than fifty grams. The method also includes connecting the compressed gas cylinder to an integrated compressed gas unit including a regulator valve assembly positioned between an outlet port and an inlet port, wherein the regulator valve assembly includes a press button actuator and regulator adjustment dial. A flow control system is secured to the compressed gas unit and the medical grade gas is delivered in precisely controlled amounts by actuating the compressed gas unit and operating the flow control system to deliver the medical grade gas to vasculature of the patient.

An apparatus includes a shaft including a distal shaft end. The apparatus also includes a sleeve slidably coupled to the shaft. The sleeve includes a distal sleeve end. The apparatus further includes a colpotomy cup fixedly secured to the distal sleeve end, and an inflatable balloon positioned over the shaft near the distal shaft end such that the inflatable balloon is configured to manipulate an anatomical structure via movement of the shaft. The apparatus also includes at least one sensor configured to detect at least one of a fluid pressure within the inflatable balloon or a force acting upon the inflatable balloon. The at least one sensor is configured to generate at least one feedback signal based on the detected at least one of a fluid pressure or a force.

An endoscopic tissue snare system comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; a pair of push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve, each of the push tubes comprising a distal opening and a proximal opening; a distal balloon secured to the distal ends of the pair of push tubes; and a snare comprising a pair of free ends and an intermediate portion disposed between the pair of free ends, wherein the snare extends into the proximal opening of one push tube, up the length of the push tube, out the distal opening of that push tube, across the face of the distal balloon, into the distal opening of the other push tube, down the length of that push tube, and out the proximal opening of that push tube.

A method of limiting an inflation system pressure for dilating a region of a patient's nasal sinus passageways. The method includes grasping an inflation device. The inflation device includes a syringe including a plunger slidably disposed within a barrel, a connector for fluidly connecting an outlet of the syringe with a surgical instrument balloon, and a mechanical pressure indicator associated with the syringe, the mechanical pressure indicator including a housing and an indicator body disposed within the housing. The method also includes delivering the surgical instrument balloon to a patient's paranasal sinus target area, operating the plunger within the barrel of the syringe to deliver pressurized fluid to the surgical instrument balloon, and transitioning the indicator body to extend outside of the housing when a predetermined inflation pressure of the surgical instrument balloon is reached.

A dynamic balloon angioplasty system for applying a dynamic pressure to fracture hardened materials embedded within an elastic conduit. The system having a pressure source system outputting at least a first predetermined pressure from a pressure source outlet, and an angioplasty unit fluidly coupled to the pressure source outlet receiving at least the first predetermined pressure. The angioplasty unit having an angioplasty inflation device, an angioplasty balloon connector, and an oscillating mechanism selectively actuated to output a plurality of pressure pulses to the angioplasty balloon via a fluid communication path. A control system is configured to determine an optimal hydraulic pressure oscillation frequency and amplitude for a given procedure and output a control signal to the oscillating mechanism, and monitor a pressure signal to detect fracture of the hardened material within the elastic conduit or system failure or leakage.

A method includes, in a processor, receiving signals from (i) a first position sensor disposed on a shaft of a catheter, and (ii) a second position sensor disposed on a distal end of a sheath of the catheter. Based on the signals received from the first position sensor and the second position sensor, an event is detected in which an expandable distal-end assembly of the catheter is being withdrawn into the sheath while still at least partially expanded. A responsive action is initiated in response to detecting the event.