Systems and methods for monitoring organ activity

摘要

A medical device for monitoring physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of an organ, such as the urinary bladder. The medical device may include an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end. The device may further include an end-effector assembly extending distally from the distal end of the elongate member. The end-effector assembly may also include a plurality of sensing elements for detecting abnormal organ function. Each of the plurality of sensing elements may include one or more of mechanical, visual, chemical, and biological sensors.

主权项

1. A medical device, comprising:
an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; and an end-effector assembly extending distally from the distal end of the elongate member, the end-effector assembly including a plurality of independently steerable sensing elements for detecting abnormal organ function, wherein the plurality of sensing elements includes one or more of mechanical, chemical, and biological sensors; wherein the end-effector assembly further includes a plurality of longitudinally-extending legs and at least one circumferentially-extending leg which form a three-dimensional sphere, wherein each of the plurality of longitudinally-extending legs and the at least one circumferentially-extending leg defines a lumen therein, and at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of independently steerable sensing elements is disposed within the lumen of a respective one of the plurality of longitudinally-extending legs or the at least one circumferentially-extending leg.