The present invention provides a catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia.

Systems and methods deploy a therapeutic or diagnostic element into contact with a body tissue region. The systems and methods can sense position of the therapeutic or diagnostic element relative to a targeted tissue region without direct or indirect visualization, by sensing fluid pressure in a fluid path having an outlet located at or near the therapeutic or diagnostic element. The systems and methods can also inflate the therapeutic or diagnostic element during use, while taking steps to avoid over-inflation and/or while dynamically monitoring the pressure conditions within the expanded element.

The present invention provides a method for monitoring the actual pressure exerted by the interior wall of a biological channel at different locations along the length of said biological channel. The method comprises: i) introducing into the lumen of the biological channel a device comprising an elongated tube and at least two expandable means located at a predetermined distance on said elongated tube; ii) inflating each of the expandable means to its contact pressure (Pc); and iii) measuring the internal pressure in each expandable means, wherein when said internal pressure is greater than Pc, the actual pressure exerted by the interior wall of the biological channel is equal to the difference between said internal pressure and Pc.

Disclosed is an endoscope for measuring intra-organ pressure (e.g., intragastric pressure), and more particularly an endoscope for measuring intra-organ pressure (e.g., intragastric pressure) and visualizing the response of an adjacent sphincter (e.g., lower esophageal sphincter) to changes in the intra-organ pressure.

A catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia comprising: a feeding tube; a sleeve for receiving the feeding tube and being movable longitudinally relative to the feeding tube, and a retaining formation attached to the sleeve for fixing the position of the sleeve relative to the feeding tube, wherein the retaining formation comprises a first part and a second part connected by a living hinge, the second part being movable relative to the first part between an open position whereby the sleeve can be moved longitudinally relative to the feeding tube and a closed position, whereby the feeding tube is clamped between the first part and the second part to positionally fix the sleeve relative to the feeding tube.

An appliance (1) for enteral nutrition by means of a probe of the type comprising a tubular element of elongated shape and substantially flexible which defines a feeding channel open at the extremities for the introduction of nutritional substances in the stomach of a patient and which comprises at least a first inflatable balloon for detecting the pressure inside the oesophagus of a patient, the tubular element comprising at least a first inlet/outlet mouth for the air in/from the first balloon, the appliance (1) further comprising: at least a pneumatic circuit (3) having pumping means (4) associable at least with the first inlet/outlet mouth for inflating/deflating the first balloon; processing means (8) comprising: detection means which can be connected to the first balloon to detect the patient's oesophageal pressure (p.sub.es); reading means of the pressure of the respiratory tract (p.sub.aw) which can be connected to an external detection device; calculation means operatively connected to the detection means and to the reading means and able to calculate at least the transpulmonary pressure (p.sub.tp); graphic display means (10) operatively connected to the processing means (8) and able to display at least one of the oesophageal pressure (p.sub.es), the pressure of the respiratory tract (p.sub.aw) and the transpulmonary pressure (p.sub.tp).

A system for automated adjustment of a pressure set by a ventilation device, in particular a positive and-expiratory pressure and/or a maximum airway pressure, the system comprising a pressure detection arrangement for detecting a transpulmonary pressure at the end of an expiration phase and/or for detecting a transpulmonary pressure at the end of an inspiration phase, and a device for automated adjustment of the pressure set by the ventilation device on the basis of the transpulmonary pressure detected at the end of the expiration phase and/or the transpulmonary pressure detected at the end of the inspiration phase.

The present specification discloses devices and methodologies for the treatment of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (tLESRs). Individuals with tLESRs may be treated by implanting a stimulation device within the patient's lower esophageal sphincter and applying electrical stimulation to the patient's lower esophageal sphincter, in accordance with certain predefined protocols. The presently disclosed devices have a simplified design because they do not require sensing systems capable of sensing when a person is engaged in a wet swallow and have improved energy storage requirements.

Parameters extracted from high definition manometric measurements of the pharynx and upper esophagus at preidentified locations and times are applied to a supervised learning machine trained using x-ray fluoroscopy data to provide diagnostic information comparable to that of x-ray fluoroscopy without radiation exposure.

A cable comprises a circuit, a switching element and an input connection for engaging an output connection of a sensor, the switching element configured to selectively enable the circuit of the cable assembly to process an accepted output of at least one of at least two sensors providing differing acceptable outputs and to provide a signal output corresponding to the accepted sensor output for processing by a monitor. A sensor includes an initiation element structured to cause a switching element associated with an input connection of the cable to change a mode of operation of the switching element to selectively enable the circuit to process an output of the sensor accepted by the cable and to provide a signal output corresponding to the accepted sensor output. A system comprises a monitor and the cable including the circuit and the switching element. Methods of operation are also disclosed.