Patent ID: 6315733
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A method for the continuous measurement of portal blood pressure, comprising the steps of:providing a device having a tube with proximal and distal open ends, an esophageal inflatable balloon mounted over said tube, a first inflation lumen opening into said esophageal inflatable balloon for directing pressurized fluid to inflate said esophageal inflatable balloon, a gastric inflatable balloon mounted over said tube between said esophageal inflatable balloon and said distal open end, a second inflation lumen opening into said gastric inflatable balloon for directing pressurized fluid to inflate said gastric balloon, and a sensor attached to one of said balloons;backloading said device on an endoscope, oral-gastric tube or other tube introducer by passing the introducer through said open ends of said tube;passing the introducer down the esophagus;advancing said de vice along the introducer with a pusher down the esophagus to a location within the stomach;positioning said gastric balloon inside the stomach and inflating said gastric balloon;pulling said gastric balloon against the proximal stomach and the diaphragmatic hiatus with a traction means to seat said gastric balloon against the gastric cardia;inflating the esophageal inflatable balloon to fix said device across the diaphragmatic hiatus by the two opposed balloons;releasing said traction means;locating said sensor to a position above or adjacent to the esophageal inflatable balloon, to monitor esophageal varices;gradually inflating said balloons until blood flow in the portal collateral veins traversing the diaphragmatic hiatus occludes, whereby the esophageal varices collapse or blood flow ceases, or is reduced to a nadir as detected by said sensor; andmonitoring the pressure inside said esophageal inflatable balloon and said gastric inflatable balloon to obtain an indication of the portal blood pressure as the tamponade pressure required to occlude portal collateral veins leading to the esophagus.