Systems and methods for mechanical displacement of an esophagus

1. An assembly for use with a vacuum system and an esophageal positioning device, the esophageal positioning device comprising a first segment and a second segment, wherein the first segment has a central axis and the second segment has a proximal end pivotally connected to the first segment and a distal end opposite and spaced apart from the proximal end, the second segment being pivotable about the first segment between a first position and a second position upon articulation, wherein the distal end of the second segment is disposed along the central axis in the first position and the distal end of the second segment is displaced from the central axis in the second position, the assembly comprising:

an introducer sized to receive the esophageal positioning device, the introducer comprising:

a soft outer tube sized to pass through a mouth or nasal passage into an esophagus, the soft outer tube comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a body, wherein the body defines a plurality of radial vacuum holes spaced circumferentially around the soft outer tube, wherein the plurality of radial vacuum holes are in fluid communication with the vacuum system to apply a vacuum to an esophageal wall; and

a tube tip located at the distal end of the outer tube,

wherein the distal end of the second segment remains a same distance from the proximal end of the second segment in the first position and the second position, and

wherein the proximal end of the second segment is located on the central axis in the first position and the second position.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the second segment of the esophageal positioning device is spaced apart from the tube tip of the introducer when the esophageal positioning device is disposed within the introducer.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tube tip comprises a hard polymer tip having a soft, circular contour, wherein the tip is bonded to the distal end of the outer tube.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the introducer further comprises one or more internal vacuum passages that extend a distance from the proximal end towards the distal end within the body of the outer tube, wherein the one or more internal vacuum passages are in fluid communication with the plurality of vacuum holes to apply the vacuum to the esophageal wall via the vacuum system.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the introducer further includes a vacuum port comprising a vacuum port body and a vacuum port cap, wherein the vacuum port body comprises a vacuum line hook up that is in fluid communication with the one or more internal vacuum passages, wherein the vacuum port body is bonded to both the introducer and the vacuum port cap to create an air tight seal.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , further including an articulation pivot pin pivotally connecting the second segment to the first segment, wherein the introducer further comprises a plurality of radiopaque markers located proximal to a location where the pivot pin would reside within the introducer, wherein the plurality of radiopaque markers span distally from the location to the tube tip.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the introducer further comprises a plurality of radiopaque markers for indicating multi-directional movement of the second segment.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vacuum holes are positioned along an outer surface of the outer tube such that at least a portion of the plurality of vacuum holes span at least a portion of the outer tube designed to cover the second segment of the esophageal positioning device when the esophageal positioning device is fully received within the introducer.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube comprises a multi-durometer material such that the stiffness of the outer tube varies along the body of the outer tube.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a feedback mechanism to indicate the degree to which a vacuum seal has been formed between the assembly and an esophagus.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube further comprises an ultrasound imaging device.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube further comprises a fiber optic light source and a camera.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second segment is sized to displace the esophageal wall by 1.5 or more centimeters upon articulation.

14. A method of using a mechanical esophageal displacement system, the method comprising:

inserting an assembly into an esophagus of a patient via a mouth or nasal passage, wherein the assembly includes:

an introducer comprising:

a soft outer tube sized to pass through a mouth or nasal passage into an esophagus, the soft outer tube comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a body, wherein the body defines a plurality of radial vacuum holes spaced circumferentially around the soft outer tube, wherein the plurality of vacuum holes are in fluid communication with the vacuum system to apply a vacuum to an esophageal wall;

a vacuum port comprising a vacuum port body, a vacuum line hook up, and a vacuum port cap; and

a tube tip located at the distal end of the outer tube;

coupling a vacuum system to the vacuum line hook up of the introducer;

advancing an esophageal positioning device through the outer tube of the introducer, wherein the esophageal positioning device includes a first segment and a second segment, wherein the first segment has a central axis, wherein the second segment having a proximal end pivotally connected to the first segment and a distal end opposite and spaced apart from the proximal end, the second segment being pivotable about the first segment between a first position and a second position upon articulation, wherein the distal end of the second segment is disposed along the central axis in the first position and the distal end of the second segment is displaced from the central axis in the second position,

wherein the distal end of the second segment remains a same distance from the proximal end of the second segment in the first position and the second position, and

wherein the proximal end of the second segment is located on the central axis in the first position and the second position;

engaging the vacuum system to adhere a portion of the outer tube to an esophageal wall; and

articulating the second segment about the first segment a selected angle from the first position to the second position.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the introducer further comprises one or more internal vacuum passages that extend a distance from the proximal end towards the distal end within the body of the outer tube, wherein the one or more internal vacuum passages are in fluid communication with the plurality of vacuum holes to apply the vacuum to the esophageal wall via the vacuum system.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the distal end of the second segment of the esophageal positioning device is spaced apart from the tube tip of the introducer when the esophageal positioning device is disposed within the introducer.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the introducer further comprises a plurality of radiopaque markers for indicating multi-directional movement of the second segment.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the selected angle is 45 degrees.