SYSTEM, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RECORDING PRESSURE PROFILES IN THE PHARYNX AND IN THE UPPER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER UPON SWALLOWING

摘要

The invention refers to a system, device and method for recording a pressure profile from the pharynx and from the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) upon swallowing, comprising a manometric catheter (10) insertable into the esophagus and having a first lumen (11) connected to a first pressure sensor (2) and to a water supply by which the first lumen is continuously flushed with water in an open perfusion manometry system for registering the activity of the pharyngeal muscles, a second lumen (12) connecting a water-filled, inelastic elongate balloon (13) to a second pressure sensor (3) in a closed system by which pressure variations in the upper esophageal sphincter is simultaneously and continuously registered, and a processor unit (6) recording and displaying timely correlated pressure profiles derived from pressure data registered by the two pressure sensors (2; 3). Specifically, the invention prescribes that the balloon (13) is filled with water to atmospheric pressure outside the esophagus, and as such insertable into the esophagus for registering absolute pressures from the UES during a normal swallowing act.