US5197491A — Esophageal-stomach displacement electrode

Claim 1

Independent Claim 195 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode comprising: a flexible hollow tube having proximal and distal ends adapted to be inserted through the esophagus into the stomach with the distal end extending to a region in the stomach proximate the ventricles of the heart and the proximal end disposed externally of the body; an electrode carried by the tube at its distal end; means in the tube enabling the distal end thereof to displace laterally with respect to the tube axis so as to be disposed proximate the wall of the stomach near the ventricles so that longitudinal displacement of the tube in a proximal direction places the stomach wall immediately adjacent the ventricles, and enables the electrode carried by the tube at its distal end to lie closely adjacent the ventricles, the enabling means including a bendable section provided in the tube a short distance proximally of the distal end; and displacement means disposed in the tube and controlled by a control mechanism from a point externally of the body for causing the tube to place the stomach and the electrode nearer the heart wherein the control mechanism is located at the proximal end of the tube.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 195 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode comprising: a flexible hollow tube having proximal and distal ends adapted to be inserted through the esophagus into the stomach with the distal end extending to a region in the stomach proximate the ventricles of the heart and the proximal end disposed externally of the body; an electrode carried by the tube at its distal end; means in the tube enabling the distal end thereof to displace laterally with respect to the tube axis so as to be disposed proximate the wall of the stomach near the ventricles so that longitudinal displacement of the tube in a proximal direction places the stomach wall immediately adjacent the ventricles, and enables the electrode carried by the tube at its distal end to lie closely adjacent the ventricles, the enabling means including a bendable section provided in the tube a short distance proximally of the distal end; and displacement means disposed in the tube and controlled by a control mechanism from a point externally of the body for causing the tube to place the stomach and the electrode nearer the heart wherein the control mechanism is located at the proximal end of the tube.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 1 wherein the displacement means includes means for resisting bending of the tube at the bendable section.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 103 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 1 wherein the displacement means includes a member disposed in the tube in the vicinity of the bendable section, the member having a diameter smaller than that of the tube enabling the member to move longitudinally within the tube including movement to an extreme distal position distally of the bendable section, and means attached to the member and operable from a location externally of the body for causing it to push against and deflect the portion of the tube distal to the bendable section so as to place the electrode closer to the stomach wall.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 66 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 3 wherein the means attached to the member includes a cord connected to the member, a distal and a proximal port in the tube disposed on opposite sides of the bendable section, said cord exiting the tube through the distal port and reentering the tube through the proximal port and extending through the tube to the control mechanism.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

An esophageal stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 4 further comprising means for preventing the member from being drawn out the tube through the distal port.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 55 words

An esophageal stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 5 wherein the control mechanism includes a sleeve and slide disposed in the sleeve and attached to the cord for pulling the cord so as to move the member to the extreme distal position and displace the portion of the tube distally of the bendable section.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 5 wherein a second cord is attached to the member and extends from the member proximally out of the tube to the control mechanism.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 7 wherein the control mechanism includes means attached to the cords for taking up one of the cords while playing out the other.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 8 wherein the control mechanism includes a sleeve and a slide movable in the sleeve for taking up and playing out the cords.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 154 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode comprising: a flexible hollow tube having proximal and distal ends adapted to be inserted through the esophagus into the stomach with the distal end extending to a region proximate the ventricles of the heart and the proximal end disposed externally of the body; an electrode carried by the tube at its distal end; means in the tube enabling the distal end thereof to displace laterally with respect to the tube axis so as to be disposed proximate the wall of the stomach near the ventricles so that sufficient axial displacement of the tube in a proximal direction places the stomach wall immediately adjacent the ventricles and the electrode closedly adjacent the ventricles; and displacement means disposed in the tube and controlled from a point externally of the body for causing the distal end of the tube and the electrode to engage the stomach and place the electrode nearer the heart.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 154 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode comprising: a flexible hollow tube having proximal and distal ends adapted to be inserted through the esophagus into the stomach with the distal end extending to a region proximate the ventricles of the heart and the proximal end disposed externally of the body; an electrode carried by the tube at its distal end; means in the tube enabling the distal end thereof to displace laterally with respect to the tube axis so as to be disposed proximate the wall of the stomach near the ventricles so that sufficient axial displacement of the tube in a proximal direction places the stomach wall immediately adjacent the ventricles and the electrode closedly adjacent the ventricles; and displacement means disposed in the tube and controlled from a point externally of the body for causing the distal end of the tube and the electrode to engage the stomach and place the electrode nearer the heart.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 59 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 1 wherein the displacement means includes a member having a diameter smaller than that of the tube enabling the member to move longitudinally within the tube including movement to a point below the first-named means and a cord connected to the member and extending out the proximal end of the tube.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

An esophageal stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 11 wherein the member is a rigid pin extending longitudinally of the tube, and said cord spans the first named means externally of the tube.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 67 words

An esophageal stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 12 wherein a pair of ports are provided in the tube, one on each side of the first named means, and said cord exits from the tube in the port distally of the first named means and reenters the tube through the other port and extends proximally therefrom in the tube to the proximal end of the tube.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 42 words

An esophageal stomach displacement electrode as described in claim 10 wherein the first named means is a crimp in the tube causing it to bend at the crimp when the distal end of the tube is pulled proximally by the displacement means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 112 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode comprising: a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends adapted to be inserted through the esophagus into the stomach; an electrode carried by the tube in the region of its distal end; said tube having hinge means enabling the distal end of the tube to angularly displace in the stomach and contact and displace the stomach when the distal end of the tube is fully displaced; and displacement means disposed in the tube and controlled from a point externally of the body for causing the distal end of the tube to angularly displace, and engage and displace the stomach when the distal end is fully angularly displaced.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 112 words

An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode comprising: a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends adapted to be inserted through the esophagus into the stomach; an electrode carried by the tube in the region of its distal end; said tube having hinge means enabling the distal end of the tube to angularly displace in the stomach and contact and displace the stomach when the distal end of the tube is fully displaced; and displacement means disposed in the tube and controlled from a point externally of the body for causing the distal end of the tube to angularly displace, and engage and displace the stomach when the distal end is fully angularly displaced.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 80 words

A method of noninvasively placing an electrode in the body closely adjacent a selected body organ comprising the steps of: inserting an elongated member carrying an electrode at its distal region through the esophagus into the stomach; displacing the distal region of the elongated member in the stomach to place the electrode in contact with the stomach wall, and thereafter moving the elongated member in a proximal direction to place the stomach wall and electrode closely adjacent the selected organ.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 80 words

A method of noninvasively placing an electrode in the body closely adjacent a selected body organ comprising the steps of: inserting an elongated member carrying an electrode at its distal region through the esophagus into the stomach; displacing the distal region of the elongated member in the stomach to place the electrode in contact with the stomach wall, and thereafter moving the elongated member in a proximal direction to place the stomach wall and electrode closely adjacent the selected organ.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the step of displacing includes displacing the distal region at an angle in the range of 135° from an undisplaced position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the step of displacing includes the step of bending the distal region partially back upon itself.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the step of bending the distal region includes the step of bending the distal region approximately 135° from its original position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-03-29	1996-09-28	1997-03-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-03-29	2000-09-28	2001-03-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-03-29	2004-09-28	2005-03-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Esophageal-stomach displacement electrode

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