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Publication Number
US-11653941-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
This inflatable balloon includes a balloon body, an inflation opening for the introduction of a fluid into the balloon body so as to inflate it under pressure, and at least one device for measuring a biological quantity of cavity tissues and/or of biological fluids present in this cavity. The measuring device includes an external sensor attached on an external face of the wall of the balloon body and adapted to supply an electrical measurement signal sensitive to the measured biological quantity, and an internal module located inside the balloon body and including a processing device adapted to process the electrical measurement signal in order to provide at least one measurement of the biological quantity.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a medical inflatable balloon intended to be inserted deflated into a cavity of a human or animal body and inflated inside the cavity in order to press against it. The balloon includes a balloon body with a wall made of flexible inflatable material and an inflation opening for introducing a fluid to inflate the balloon body under pressure. The balloon further includes at least one measuring device for measuring a biological quantity of biological tissues of the cavity and/or of the biological fluids present in the cavity.
The at least one measuring device includes an external sensor attached on an external face of the balloon wall and designed to supply an electrical measurement signal sensitive to the measured biological quantity. The measuring device also includes an internal module located inside the balloon body and including a processing device designed to process the electrical measurement signal to provide at least one measurement of the biological quantity. The external sensor transmits the electrical measurement signal to the internal module by one or more electrical wire(s) passing through conduit(s) formed through the wall, and a sealing material obstructs the conduit(s).
In specific embodiments, the balloon wall and measuring device arrangement is adapted for medical use in otorhinolaryngology or neurosurgery, including a balloon body that is pre-formed to conform to internal shapes of a nasal cavity when inflated. The internal module can be attached on an internal face of the wall, and it can include wireless communication and memory to provide remote monitoring and storage of at least one biological quantity measurement. The described system supports measurements with the sensor attached to the balloon wall and the signal processing carried out by the internal processing module.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims. Across these claims, the main inventive features are centered on an inflatable balloon pressed against a body cavity wall and a measuring device that uses an external sensor on the balloon wall to generate an electrical measurement signal processed by an internal module, with the signal conveyed through wall conduits sealed by a sealing material, plus application-specific and additional internal-module features.
Inflatable balloon with cavity-pressing wall and inflation opening
An inflatable balloon for medical use intended to be inserted deflated into a cavity of a human or animal body then inflated inside this cavity in order to press against it, comprising a balloon body, a wall made of flexible inflatable material, and an inflation opening for the introduction of a fluid to inflate the balloon body under pressure.
Measuring device with external sensor on external face
The at least one measuring device includes an external sensor attached on an external face of the wall of the balloon body and designed to supply an electrical measurement signal sensitive to the measured biological quantity.
Internal module processing of electrical measurement signal
An internal module located inside the balloon body and including a processing device designed to process the electrical measurement signal in order to provide at least one measurement of the biological quantity.
Signal transmission through sealed wall conduits
The external sensor transmits the electrical measurement signal to the internal module by one or more electrical wire(s) passing through conduit(s) formed through the wall, wherein a sealing material obstructs the conduit(s).
Otorhinolaryngology or neurosurgery use with nasal cavity pre-formed balloon body
The balloon is for a use in otorhinolaryngology or neurosurgery and includes a balloon body pre-formed to conform to internal shapes of a nasal cavity of a human or animal body when the inflatable balloon is inflated.
Internal module attachment on internal face of the wall
The internal module is attached on an internal face of the wall of the balloon body.
Overall, the independent claims cover a medical inflatable balloon configured to press against a cavity wall, with biological-quantity measurement implemented by an external sensor on the balloon wall providing an electrical measurement signal to an internal module having a processing device. The signal path is through wall conduits obstructed by sealing material, and the claims further include application-specific nasal cavity conformity for otorhinolaryngology/neurosurgery and an internal-module attachment location on the internal face of the wall.
Stated Advantages
Allows measurement of a biological quantity of biological tissues of the cavity and/or of the biological fluids present in this cavity.
Provides at least one measurement by processing the electrical measurement signal using an internal module located inside the balloon body.
Enables the electrical measurement signal to be transmitted to the internal module through conduits formed through the wall while using a sealing material to obstruct the conduit(s).
Enables otorhinolaryngology or neurosurgery use with a balloon body pre-formed to conform to internal shapes of a nasal cavity when inflated.
Documented Applications
Use in otorhinolaryngology or neurosurgery, including a balloon body pre-formed to conform to internal shapes of a nasal cavity when inflated.
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