Patent ID: 7223247

Claim:
A method of using an esophageal catheter, having a lumen, comprising the steps of: determining an esophageal location in a patient having an esophagus, comprising the steps of: passing a distal end of said catheter through an esophagus and a lower esophageal sphincter into a stomach of a patient; introducing a flow of gas having a constant pressure to a proximate end of said lumen of said esophageal catheter; measuring a lumen pressure of said gas in said lumen; pulling back said distal end of said catheter from said patient; noting an increase in said lumen pressure; noting a subsequent decrease in said lumen pressure; identifying an upper boundary of said lower esophageal sphincter based upon said decrease; and establishing said esophageal location relative to said upper boundary of said lower esophageal sphincter; and anchoring a capsule to said esophagus with said catheter.