Esophageal balloon catheter device

Abstract

An esophageal catheter device including a catheter with a balloon pressure sensor affixed to an exterior surface of the catheter, and a stylet assembly including a stylet for providing appropriate rigidity to the catheter to aid insertion in the esophagus and a port for removably mounting a pressure transducer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An esophageal catheter device comprising: 
 a catheter including an open end and a closed end, the closed end for removably mounting one of a pressure transducer and removably receiving a stylet;    a balloon affixed to an exterior surface of the catheter, the balloon useable as a pressure sensor;    a balloon inflation lumen extending through the catheter in communication with the interior of the balloon through at least one aperture extending through the catheter; and    a stylet assembly including a stylet for providing appropriate rigidity to the catheter to aid insertion into the esophagus and a port for removably mounting a pressure transducer.    
     
     
         2 . The esophageal catheter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the stylet assembly further includes a coupler.  
     
     
         3 . The esophageal catheter device according to  claim 2 , wherein the coupler includes the port for mounting the pressure transducer.  
     
     
         4 . The esophageal catheter device according to  claim 2 , wherein the coupler includes a main tube section, the port for mounting the pressure transducer extending from the main tube section.  
     
     
         5 . The esophageal catheter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the catheter includes a plurality of depth markings.  
     
     
         6 . The esophageal catheter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the stylet assembly further includes a coupler and a closure sealing an end of the coupler, the stylet having an end affixed to a portion of the closure.  
     
     
         7 . The esophageal catheter device according to  claim 6 , wherein the coupler includes the port for mounting the pressure transducer.  
     
     
         8 . The esophageal catheter device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hub connector disposed at the open end of the catheter.  
     
     
         9 . The esophageal catheter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is made from a radio-opaque material.  
     
     
         10 . The esophageal catheter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the balloon is made from a latex-free material.  
     
     
         11 . A stylet assembly for an esophageal catheter device having a balloon affixed to an exterior surface of the catheter, the balloon useable as a pressure sensor; the stylet assembly comprising: 
 a coupler;    a stylet having an end affixed to the coupler; and    a port extending from the coupler for removably mounting a pressure transducer.    
     
     
         12 . The stylet assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the coupler includes a main tube section, the port for mounting the pressure transducer extending from the main tube section.  
     
     
         13 . The stylet assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the stylet assembly further includes a closure sealing an end of the coupler, the stylet having an end affixed to a portion of the closure.  
     
     
         14 . A method for intra-thoracic pressure monitoring, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an esophageal catheter device including a catheter, a balloon affixed to an exterior surface of the catheter, the balloon useable as a pressure sensor, a balloon inflation lumen extending through the catheter in communication with the interior of the balloon through at least one aperture extending through the catheter, and a stylet assembly including a stylet for providing appropriate rigidity to the catheter to aid insertion in the esophagus and a port for removably mounting a pressure transducer;    mounting a pressure transducer to the port of the stylet assembly;    inserting the catheter device into an esophagus;    adding the correct amount of air to the sensor balloon;    positioning the sensor balloon of the catheter device in a desired location in the esophagus using pressure information obtained through the sensor balloon, the stylet assembly and pressure transducer working in concert.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of: 
 removing the pressure transducer from the port;    removing the stylet assembly from the open end of the catheter;    mounting the pressure transducer to the open end of the catheter; and    monitoring esophageal pressure using pressure information obtained through the sensor balloon and the pressure transducer working in concert.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the stylet assembly further includes a coupler.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the coupler includes the port for mounting the pressure transducer.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the coupler includes a main tube section, the port for mounting the pressure transducer extending from the main tube section.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the catheter is made from a radio-opaque material.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the balloon is made from a latex-free material.