Patent ID: 8771207

Claim:
A method for improving the sealing function of the lower oesophageal sphincter in a fundoplication procedure, the method comprising: providing a dilation response testing device comprising an elongated catheter extending between a proximal end and a distal end, a primary inflatable balloon defining a hollow interior region located on the catheter towards the distal end thereof, a primary measuring device located in the hollow interior region of the balloon to produce signals indicative of the transverse cross-sectional area of the balloon, and a secondary inflatable balloon defining a hollow interior region located on the catheter intermediate the primary balloon and the proximal end of the catheter and axially spaced apart from the primary balloon, the method further comprising: locating the dilation response testing device in the oesophagus with the primary balloon located in the lower oesophageal sphincter and the secondary balloon located in the oesophagus spaced apart from the lower oesophageal sphincter, selectively operating the dilation response testing device in one of a first mode during the fundoplication procedure by inflating the primary balloon to dilate the lower oesophageal sphincter to a desired transverse cross-section, and maintaining the primary balloon inflated to maintain the lower oesophageal sphincter dilated to the desired transverse cross-section while the fundoplication procedure is being carried out, and a second mode on completion of the fundoplication procedure to determine the dilation response of the lower oesophageal sphincter, by inflating the primary balloon to engage the lower oesophageal sphincter without dilating the sphincter, maintaining the primary balloon inflated so that the primary balloon expands with the lower oesophageal sphincter as the lower oesophageal sphincter dilates, inflating the secondary balloon to simulate a bolus of food in the oesophagus, and monitoring the dilation response of the sphincter to the simulated bolus of food by reading signals from the primary measuring device to determine the transverse cross-sectional area of the sphincter.