METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING BARRETT'S METAPLASIA OF THE ESOPHAGUS

摘要

A system for detecting Barrett's metaplasia utilizes an illumination andimaging probe (32) at the end of a catheter (34). The probe (32) illuminatesthe wall of the esophagus and returns reflected light to be processed toprovide a visual indication of the color of the esophageal wall. The positionof the probe along the length of the esophagus is also measured to allow amedical practitioner to determine the location of the transition from the pinkstomach lining to the white esophageal lining.