A CATHETER, A BALLOON CATHETER AND A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING THE TRANSVERSE CROSS-SECTION OF A STOMA

摘要

A balloon catheter (1) comprises a catheter (2) and a balloon (6) located on the distal end of the catheter. A pair of stimulating electrodes (15) for receiving a constant current stimulating signal when the balloon (6) is inflated with an electrically conductive medium and a plurality of sensing electrodes (16) for producing voltage response signals are located on the catheter (2). The voltage response signals are indicative of the values of th transverse cross-sectional area of the balloon (6) adjacent the sensing electrodes (16). A first lumen <9) accommodates the inflating medium to and from the balloon (6), and a second lumen (19) accommodates electrically conductive wires (18) to the stimulating and sensing electrodes (15,16). A pressure sensing element (21) is located in a protective housing (22) in the second lumen (19), and communicates through a communicating opening (26) in the protective housing (22) and through a communicating port (24) in the catheter (2) with a hollow interior region (7) of the balloon (6).