Intra-Esophageal Balloon System

Abstract

A balloon is provided for selectively moving an esophagus away from an ablation site. The balloon is received through an oral cavity and into the esophagus of a patient. A deflecting member is provided in the tube, the balloon, or both, to selectively distort to bend the balloon and/or the tube to move the esophagus away from the ablation site. The deflecting member may comprise at least one of a strip made of a shape memory material that is responsive to the receipt of a stimulus to deflect to a predetermined shape, a strip that is made of or contains a ferrous material and that deflects in response to the presence of a magnetic field, and a selectively tensionable cable, wire, or string. The deflecting member may be supplemented by a stiffening strip that is located in the balloon and that causes the balloon to expand circumferentially and asymmetrically when inflated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intra-esophageal device comprising:
 a tube presenting at least one lumen, the tube having a proximal end and a distal end;   a balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an opening in fluid communication with the lumen in the tube, wherein the tube and balloon are sized for insertion into a human esophagus; and   a deflecting member which is located at least in part in the balloon and which can be selectively activated to cause the balloon to move the esophagus away from an ablation site.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the deflecting member comprises a strip that is made of a shape memory material that is responsive to the receipt of a stimulus to deflect to a predetermined shape, the deflecting member extending along at least a majority of a longitudinal extent of the balloon. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a stiffening strip that is located in the balloon and that extends longitudinally of the balloon, the stiffening strip distorting less than the surrounding portions of the balloon during balloon inflation so that the balloon as a whole expands asymmetrically about a longitudinal centerline thereof to deflect the esophagus away from the ablation site. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the stiffening strip is positioned on a common side of the balloon as the deflecting member and is in alignment with the deflecting member. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the stiffening strip is located at least generally diametrically opposite the deflecting member. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the deflecting member comprises a strip that is made at least in part of a ferrous material and that deflects in response to the presence of a magnetic field. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the deflecting member comprises a tube that contains a ferrous material and that deflects in response to the presence of a magnetic field. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the deflecting member comprises a tensionable cable that extends along at least along a distal end portion of the tube and that is tensionable from outside of the proximal end of the tube. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the tensionable cable also extends along at least a majority of a longitudinal extent of the balloon. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a stiffening strip that is located in the balloon and that extends longitudinally of the balloon, the stiffening strip distorting less than the surrounding portions of the balloon during balloon inflation so that the balloon as a whole expands asymmetrically about a longitudinal centerline thereof to deflect the esophagus away from the ablation site. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the tensionable element comprises one of a cable, a wire, and string. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein, when inflated, the balloon is 4-7 cm long. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein, when inflated, the balloon has a maximum diameter of less than 3.0 cm. 
     
     
         14 . An intra-esophageal device comprising:
 a tube presenting at least one lumen, the tube having a proximal end and a distal end;   a balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an opening in fluid communication with the lumen in the tube, wherein the tube and balloon are sized for insertion into a human esophagus, and wherein, when inflated, the balloon is 4-7 cm long and has a maximum diameter of less than 3.0 cm.; and   a deflecting member which is located at least in part in the balloon and which can be selectively activated to cause the balloon to bend or bow to move the esophagus away from an ablation site, wherein the deflecting member comprises a strip that is made of a shape memory material that is responsive to the receipt of a stimulus to deflect to a predetermined shape, the deflecting member extending along at least a majority of a longitudinal extent of the balloon.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a stiffening strip that is located in the balloon and that extends longitudinally of the balloon, the stiffening strip distorting less than the surrounding portions of the balloon during balloon inflation so that the balloon as a whole expands asymmetrically about a longitudinal centerline thereof to deflect the esophagus away from the ablation site. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the stiffening strip is positioned on a common side of the balloon as the deflecting member and is in alignment with the deflecting member. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the stiffening strip is located at least generally diametrically opposite the deflecting member.