Esophageal Probes and Methods

Abstract

Methods for collapsing a tubular organ, such as the esophagus, involve inserting a device into the tubular organ, at least partially sealing off a section of the tubular organ, and drawing in the wall of the tubular organ by application of suction. The devices may be used to move the wall of the tubular organ away from an area undergoing treatment or therapy, such as to minimize damage to the tubular organ by application of radiofrequency energy or to limit temperature increase of the tubular organ.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for collapsing a tubular organ away from an area of an internal organ undergoing a treatment by a thermal ablation device to minimize thermal damage to the tubular organ, the method comprising:
 inserting a device into a portion of a tubular organ of a mammalian subject, said device comprising:
 a tube portion having an outer surface and at least one internal lumen, wherein said at least one internal lumen connects to at least one fenestration, said at least one fenestration being disposed on said outer surface of said tube portion; 
 a connecting conduit coupled to said tube portion, said connecting conduit housing a suction line connected to said at least one internal lumen and interfacing with a suction source; 
 a first sealing feature disposed at a proximal end of said tube portion; and 
 a second sealing feature disposed at a distal end of said tube portion; 
   forming a sealed area of said portion of said tubular organ by expanding said first and second sealing features against a wall of said tubular organ; and   applying suction at said at least one fenestration by activating said suction source;   evacuating gas or fluid in a volume enclosed by said outer surface, said first sealing feature, said second sealing feature, and said sealed surface, wherein the gas or fluid is evacuated through said at least one fenestration;   drawing said wall at said sealed area toward said tube portion;   decreasing outer dimensions of said sealed area of said tubular organ; and   performing the treatment of the area of an internal organ by a thermal ablation device while the outer dimensions of said sealed area of said tubular organ are decreased.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second sealing features each comprise a sealing balloon attached to at least one inflation/deflation device through said connecting conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one fenestration comprises a plurality of fenestrations disposed on said outer surface of said tube portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor is disposed on said tube portion, said at least one sensor being selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an electrical conductivity/resistance sensor, a position sensor, an MRI fiducial marker and a CT fiducial marker. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising causing contact of said wall of said tubular organ with said at least one sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further detecting said contact of said wall of said tubular organ with said at least one sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising measuring at least one of temperature, pressure, electrical resistance/conductivity of said wall of said tubular organ. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one temperature sensor is disposed on said tube portion, said at least one temperature sensor having an output that controls a power output of said thermal ablation device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said thermal ablation device comprises an RF ablation device for treating atrial fibrillation in a heart. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tube portion has a length of about 8 centimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second sealing features form seals with a diameter of about 3 centimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one fenestration is smaller than about 0.5 centimeters in diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular organ comprises an esophagus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said decreasing the outer dimensions of said sealed area of said tubular organ comprises shrinking in diameter of about 50%. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises struts that are adapted to deploy outward from said tube portion, the method further comprising supporting a portion of said wall against drawing of said wall using the struts. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tube portion does not include a deflection catheter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said internal organ is a heart. 
     
     
         18 . A method for measuring a temperature of a wall of a tubular organ, comprising:
 inserting a device into a portion of a tubular organ of a mammalian subject, said device comprising:
 a tube portion having an outer surface and at least one internal lumen, wherein said at least one internal lumen connects to at least one fenestration, said at least one fenestration being disposed on said outer surface of said tube portion; 
 a connecting conduit coupled to said tube portion, said connecting conduit housing a suction line connected to said at least one internal lumen and interfacing with a suction source; 
 a first sealing feature disposed at a proximal end of said tube portion; 
 a second sealing feature disposed at a distal end of said tube portion; and 
 at least one sensor disposed on said tube portion, said at least one sensor being selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an electrical conductivity/resistance sensor, 
 wherein said tube portion does not provide thermal damage to the tubular organ; 
   forming a sealed area of said portion of said tubular organ by expanding said first and second sealing features against a wall of said tubular organ; and   applying suction at said at least one fenestration by activating said suction source;   evacuating gas or fluid in a volume enclosed by said outer surface, said first sealing feature, said second sealing feature, and said sealed surface, wherein the gas or fluid is evacuated through said at least one fenestration;   drawing said wall at said sealed area toward said tube portion;   causing contact of said wall of said tubular organ with said at least one sensor; and   measuring at least one of temperature, pressure, electrical resistance/conductivity of said wall of said tubular organ while said wall of said tubular organ is in contact with said at least one sensor.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one sensor is a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 inserting a thermal ablation device for treating an internal organ other than the tubular organ;   collapsing said tubular organ away from an area of said internal organ; and   treating said area of said internal organ with said thermal ablation device while minimizing thermal damage to the tubular organ.