Patent ID: 7479120
Filing Date: 2009-01-20
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for investigating force-deformation properties in muscles walls of a bodily hollow system using a balloon, wherein (i) said system has an opening, (ii) said balloon is situated between a proximal end and a distal end of a catheter, (iii) said catheter comprises an inside canal, and (iv) said method comprises the steps of: (a) inflating said balloon until said balloon abuts the inner wall of said system, wherein the inflation is a stepwise distension or a ramp distension with controlled distension rates, such that said balloon and said catheter are fixed longitudinally in relation to said system, and subsequently (b) introducing a mechanical stimulus by the inflated balloon to the muscles in the walls, wherein said mechanical stimulus is introduced between the opening of said system and the distal end of the catheter through said canal, (c) measuring the change of a physical property of the balloon during inflation of the balloon, wherein said physical property is a dimensional state of the balloon itself, is correlated to a force induced to the balloon, or is a mutual state between the balloon and the wall of the system, whereby (d) computing the data related to the active tissue properties from the data related to the passive tissue properties and the total tissue properties obtained from step (c) according to the equation: total tissue properties=active tissue properties+passive tissue properties, and (e) deriving force-deformation diagrams from the data related to the passive tissue properties and the active tissue properties.