Systems, devices and methods for assessment of body cavity pressures

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods that can be used to obtain objective pressure measurements in a body cavity using one or more monitoring bladders mounted on a catheter. The monitoring bladders may be adapted to connect or be connected to a system capable of providing objective pressure measurements indicative of the compressive forces acting on the one or more monitoring bladder in the body cavity. The body cavity may include, for example, the rectum, esophagus, stomach, intestine, colon, reproductive tract, urethra, oronasopharnygeal tract, etc.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A body cavity pressure measuring device that comprises:
 a catheter comprising a proximal end and a distal end;   a distention device mounted on the catheter proximate the distal end of the catheter, wherein the distention device is expandable and collapsible between a collapsed configuration and a distended configuration;   a plurality of monitoring bladders mounted on the catheter at a location proximal to the distention device, wherein the plurality of monitoring bladders are positioned about a periphery of the catheter at the same longitudinal position, wherein each monitoring bladder occupies only a portion of the periphery of the catheter;   a plurality of monitoring lumens, wherein each monitoring lumen of the plurality of monitoring lumens extends proximally through at least a portion of the catheter from the monitoring bladder towards the proximal end of the catheter, wherein each monitoring lumen is in fluid communication with an interior of one monitoring bladder such that a fluid pressure in the one monitoring bladder is communicated through the monitoring lumen;   wherein the distention device comprises a maximum transverse dimension in the distended configuration that is larger than any maximum transverse dimension of the pressure measuring device in the length occupied by the plurality of monitoring bladders, wherein the maximum transverse dimensions are measured transverse to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         33 . A device according to  claim 32 , wherein the distention device is mounted at a fixed position on the catheter. 
     
     
         34 . A device according to  claim 32 , wherein, in the distended configuration, the distention device comprises a maximum transverse dimension that is larger than a maximum transverse dimension of the pressure measuring device in the length occupied by the monitoring bladder, wherein the maximum transverse dimensions are measured transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         35 . A device according to  claim 32 , wherein the distention device comprises an inflatable chamber that is inflated to expand the distention device to the distended configuration and wherein the inflatable chamber is deflated to collapse the distention device to the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         36 . A device according to  claim 35 , further comprising a distention lumen extending proximally through at least a portion of the catheter from the distention device towards the proximal end of the catheter, wherein the distention lumen is in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber. 
     
     
         37 . A device according to  claim 32 , wherein the catheter comprises a movable sleeve positioned on the catheter proximal of the distention device, wherein the movable sleeve moves along the catheter between the first position proximate the distention device and a second position located proximal of the first position, and wherein the plurality of 
     
     
         38 . A device according to  claim 32 , further comprising an inflation lumen extending proximally through at least a portion of the catheter from the plurality of monitoring bladders towards the proximal end of the catheter, wherein the inflation lumen is in fluid communication with the plurality of monitoring bladders. 
     
     
         39 . A device according to according to  32 , wherein the device further comprises:
 a medical electrode mounted on the catheter proximate the plurality of monitoring bladders; and   an electrical lead operably connected to the medical electrode and extending proximally through at least a portion of the catheter.   
     
     
         40 . A device according to  claim 39 , wherein the medical electrode is attached to an expandable support that is expandable and collapsible between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the medical electrode is closer to the catheter when the expandable support is in the collapsed configuration than when the expandable support is in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         41 . A body cavity pressure measurement system comprising:
 a pressure measuring device that comprises:
 a catheter comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a longitudinal axis extends along the catheter through the proximal end and the distal end; 
 a distention device mounted on the catheter proximate the distal end of the catheter, wherein the distention device is expandable and collapsible between a collapsed configuration and a distended configuration; 
 a plurality of monitoring bladders mounted on the catheter at a location proximal to the distention device, wherein the plurality of monitoring bladders are positioned about a periphery of the catheter at the same longitudinal position, wherein each monitoring bladder occupies only a portion of the periphery of the catheter; a plurality of monitoring lumens, wherein each monitoring lumen of the plurality of monitoring lumens extends proximally through at least a portion of the catheter from the monitoring bladder towards the proximal end of the catheter, wherein each monitoring lumen is in fluid communication with an interior of one monitoring bladder such that a fluid pressure in the one monitoring bladder is communicated through the monitoring lumen; 
 wherein the distention device comprises a maximum transverse dimension in the distended configuration that is larger than any maximum transverse dimension of the pressure measuring device in the length occupied by the plurality of monitoring bladders, wherein the maximum transverse dimensions are measured transverse to the longitudinal axis; and 
   pressure monitoring apparatus operably connected to the plurality of monitoring bladders of the pressure measuring device through the plurality of monitoring lumens, wherein the pressure monitoring apparatus is configured to determine the fluid pressure in the plurality f monitoring bladders by measuring fluid pressure in the plurality of monitoring lumens at a proximal end of the plurality of monitoring lumens.   
     
     
         42 . A system according to  claim 41 , wherein the distention device is mounted at a fixed position on the catheter. 
     
     
         43 . A system according to  claim 41 , wherein, in the distended configuration, the distention device comprises a maximum transverse dimension that is larger than a maximum transverse dimension of the pressure measuring device in the length occupied by the monitoring bladder, wherein the maximum transverse dimensions are measured transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         44 . A system according to  claim 41 , wherein the distention device comprises an inflatable chamber that is inflated to expand the distention device to the distended configuration and wherein the inflatable chamber is deflated to collapse the distention device to the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         45 . A system according to  claim 44 , further comprising a distention lumen extending proximally through at least a portion of the catheter from the distention device towards the proximal end of the catheter, wherein the distention lumen is in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber. 
     
     
         46 . A system according to  claim 41 , wherein the catheter comprises a movable sleeve positioned on the catheter proximal of the distention device, wherein the movable sleeve moves along the catheter between the first position proximate the distention device and a second position located proximal of the first position, and wherein the plurality of 
     
     
         47 . A system according to  claim 41 , further comprising an inflation lumen extending proximally through at least a portion of the catheter from the plurality of monitoring bladders towards the proximal end of the catheter, wherein the inflation lumen is in fluid communication with the plurality of monitoring bladders. 
     
     
         48 . A system according to  claim 41 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a medical electrode mounted on the catheter proximate the monitoring bladder;   an electrical lead operably connected to the medical electrode and extending proximally through at least a portion of the catheter; and   electrical monitoring apparatus operably connected to the medical electrode through the electrical lead, wherein the electrical monitoring apparatus is configured to detect electrical activity in tissue contacting the medical lead.   
     
     
         49 . A system according to  claim 48 , wherein the medical electrode is attached to an expandable support that is expandable and collapsible between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the medical electrode is closer to the catheter when the expandable support is in the collapsed configuration than when the expandable support is in the expanded configuration.