| 摘要 |
An apparatus and method for identifying and marking regions of tissue obstruction in the upper airway of a patient. The invention provides a greatly improved method for use during a sleep apnea study to particularize the location of a region of obstruction. The precise location of the obstruction may be marked for surgical removal or reduction. Broadly speaking, the apparatus includes a multiluminate catheter having an outer wall circumscribed by multiple discrete perforate regions. The proximal portion of each lumen opens into a selected perforate region and the distal portion is coupled with a pressure transducer. Each lumen is equipped with a syringe port for injecting a tissue marking dye into the obstructing tissue region. The catheter outer wall may include a radiopaque marker in order to facilitate location of the catheter within the airway of a patient. |
