Non-invasive aortic impingement

Abstract

A method for subdiaphragm hemorrhage control in a patient or for non-invasively enhancing cerebral and myocardial perfusion in a patient includes positioning a moveable surface through the esophagus adjacent the patient's esophageal-gastric junction and displacing the moveable surface thereby applying a force posteriorly in the direction of the patient's descending aorta sufficient to partially or substantially completely occlude the descending aorta. The moveable surface may be positionable in a lower portion of the esophagus where the esophagus and the aorta pass through the diaphragm or may be positioned in a portion of the patient's stomach juxtaposed with the patient's descending aorta.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A non-invasive method of subdiaphragm hemorrhage control in a patient, including: 
 positioning a moveable surface through the patient's esophagus adjacent the patient's esophageal-gastric junction; and    displacing the moveable surface thereby applying a force posteriorly in the direction of the patient's descending aorta sufficient to at least partially occlude the descending aorta.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including positioning said moveable surface with an elongated member and wherein said applying said force includes moving said moveable surface with a displacement mechanism joining said moveable surface to said elongated member.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  including anchoring said elongated member with an anchoring member in the patient's esophagus.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  including anchoring said elongated member with an anchoring member in the patient's stomach.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said displacement mechanism includes parallel linkages supporting said moveable surface in a parallel relationship with said elongated member.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said moveable surface pivots with respect to said elongated member.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said moveable surface is defined by a cuff and wherein said displacing the moveable surface includes inflating said cuff sufficiently to at least partially occlude the descending aorta.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said cuff inflates unidirectionally.  
     
     
         9 . A non-invasive method of enhancing cerebral and myocardial perfusion in a patient, including: 
 positioning a moveable surface through the patient's esophagus adjacent the patient's esophageal-gastric junction; and    displacing the moveable surface thereby applying a force posteriorly in the direction of the patient's descending aorta sufficient to at least partially occlude the descending aorta and thereby increasing central and intracranial arterial pressure.    
     
     
         10 . A non-invasive method of enhancing cerebral and myocardial perfusion in a patient, including: 
 positioning an inflatable device through the patient's esophagus in a portion of the patient's stomach juxtaposed with the patient's descending aorta and inflating the inflatable device; and    applying a force with the inflated device posteriorly in the direction of the patient's descending aorta sufficient to at least partially occlude the descending aorta and thereby increasing central and intracranial arterial pressure.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  including positioning said inflatable device with an elongated member attached to said inflatable device and wherein said applying said force includes moving said inflatable device in the direction of the patient's diaphragm by applying traction to said elongated member.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said applying a force includes applying a force on an exterior surface of the patient.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  using a belt around the patient's thoraco-abdominal region to apply said force.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  including positioning said inflatable device with an elongated member and wherein said applying said force includes moving said inflatable device with a connecting member joining said inflatable device to said elongated member.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said connecting member is a lever.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  including anchoring said elongated member with an anchoring member in the patient's esophagus.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  including anchoring said elongated member with an anchoring member in the patient's stomach.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said anchoring member is another inflatable device positioned to react with the patient's diaphragm.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  including positioning said inflatable device with an elongated member and wherein said applying a force includes providing a substantially rigid portion of said elongated member and expanding said inflatable device posteriorly from said rigid portion.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  including anchoring said elongated member with an anchoring member in the patient's esophagus.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  including anchoring said elongated member with an anchoring member in the patient's stomach.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said anchoring member is another inflatable device positioned to react with the patient's diaphragm.  
     
     
         23 . A non-invasive method of subdiaphragm hemorrhage control in a patient, including: 
 positioning an inflatable device through the patient's esophagus in a portion of the patient's stomach juxtaposed with the patient's descending aorta and inflating the inflatable device; and    applying a force with the inflated device posteriorly in the direction of the patient's descending aorta sufficient to at least partially occlude the descending aorta    
     
     
         24 . A non-invasive apparatus for at least partially occluding the descending aorta of a patient, comprising: 
 a tubular member configured at least in part to a patient's esophagus;    a selectively moveable portion of the tubular member positioned adjacent the patient's esophageal-gastric junction when said tubular member is positioned in a patient's esophagus, said portion moveable a sufficient distance and having a surface of sufficient area to at least partially occlude the patient's descending aorta; and    a displacement mechanism for displacing said moveable portion in the direction of the patient's descending aorta when said tubular member is positioned in the patient's esophagus with a force sufficient to cause at least partial occlusion of the patient's descending aorta.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus in  claim 24  including an anchoring member which is adapted to anchoring said tubular member in the patient's esophagus.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus in  claim 24  including an anchoring member which is adapted to anchoring said tubular member in the patient's stomach.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus in  claim 24  wherein said displacement mechanism includes a connecting member joining said moveable portion to said tubular member which is operable to move said moveable portion posteriorly in the direction of the patient's descending aorta.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus in  claim 27  wherein said connecting member is a lever.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus in  claim 28  wherein said moveable portion is an inflatable member pivotally joined with said elongated member by said lever.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus in  claim 24  wherein said moveable portion includes a moveable surface and said displacement mechanism includes parallel linkages supporting said moveable surface in a parallel relationship with said elongated member.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus in  claim 30  including a sheath covering said moveable surface.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus in  claim 24  wherein said moveable portion is defined by a cuff and wherein said displacement mechanism includes an inflation mechanism adapted to inflating said cuff.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus in  claim 32  wherein said cuff inflates unidirectionally.  
     
     
         34 . A non-invasive apparatus for at least partially occluding the descending aorta of a patient, comprising: 
 an inflatable member;    a positioning device which positions said inflatable member through the patient's esophagus in a portion of the patient's stomach juxtaposed with the patient's descending aorta;    an inflation mechanism which selectively inflates said inflatable member; and    a force-producing mechanism producing a force with a surface of said inflatable member posteriorly in the direction of the patient's descending aorta sufficient to cause at least partial occlusion of the patient's descending aorta.    
     
     
         35 . The apparatus in  claim 31  wherein said positioning device is an elongated member which positions said inflatable member in the patient's stomach and wherein said force-producing mechanism includes a connecting member joining said inflatable device to said elongated member which is operable to move said inflatable member posteriorly in the direction of the patient's descending aorta.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus in  claim 35  wherein said connecting member is a lever.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus in  claim 35  including an anchoring member which anchors said elongated member in the patient's esophagus.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus in  claim 35  including an anchoring member which anchors said elongated member in the patient's stomach.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus in  claim 34  wherein said force-producing mechanism includes a strap applied externally around the patient's thoraco-abdominal region wherein tightening of the strap applies a force on the inflatable member posteriorly in the direction of the patient's descending aorta.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus in  claim 39  wherein said inflatable device substantially fills the patient's stomach.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus in  claim 34  wherein said positioning device is an elongated member which positions said inflatable member in the patient's stomach and including a substantially rigid portion of said elongated member wherein said force is produced by expanding said inflatable device posteriorly from said substantially rigid portion.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus in  claim 41  including an anchoring member which anchors said elongated member in the patient's esophagus.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus in  claim 41  including an anchoring member which anchors said elongated member in the patient's stomach.  
     
     
         44 . A non-invasive apparatus for at least partially occluding the descending aorta of a patient, comprising: 
 an inflatable member;    an elongated member which positions said inflatable member through the patient's esophagus in one of a portion of the patient's stomach juxtaposed with the patient's descending aorta and adjacent the patient's esophageal-gastric junction;    an inflation mechanism which selectively inflates said inflatable member; and    a displacement mechanism which is operable to displace said inflatable member from said elongated member posteriorly in the direction of the patient's descending aorta thereby producing a force posteriorly in the direction of the patient's descending aorta sufficient to at least partially occlude the descending aorta.    
     
     
         45 . The apparatus in  claim 44  including an anchoring member which anchors said elongated member in the patient's esophagus.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus in  claim 44  including an anchoring member which anchors said elongated member in the patient's stomach.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus in  claim 44  wherein said displacement mechanism is a lever.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus in  claim 44  wherein said inflatable member has a diameter of between approximately 1.5 inches and approximately 10 inches when inflated.  
     
     
         49 . The apparatus in  claim 48  wherein said inflatable member has a diameter of between approximately 2 inches and approximately 4 inches when inflated.