Systems and methods for mechanical displacement of an esophagus

1. An assembly for use with a vacuum system, the assembly comprising:

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; and

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 longitudinal axis, a distal end, a proximal end, and a body, wherein the body defines a plurality of radial vacuum holes spaced circumferentially around the longitudinal axis, 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 a gap portion of the outer tube is defined along the longitudinal axis between the tube tip of the introducer and the distal end of the second segment of the esophageal positioning device when the esophageal positioning device is disposed within the introducer,

wherein the gap portion defines one or more of the radial vacuum holes, and

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.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gap portion defines a higher density of radial vacuum holes than any other portion of the body of the introducer.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a density of radial vacuum holes is highest adjacent the distal end of the outer tube, and the density of radial vacuum holes gradually decreases along the longitudinal axis in a direction from the distal end of the outer tube toward the proximal end of the outer tube.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of the outer tube has an end portion as measured along the longitudinal axis from the tube tip to the pivotal connection between the first segment and the second segment of the esophageal positioning device when the esophageal positioning device is disposed within the introducer, wherein only the end portion of the body of the outer tube defines the plurality of radial vacuum holes.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a length of the gap portion of the outer tube as measured along the longitudinal axis is from 10 mm to 30 mm.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the length of the gap portion of the outer tube as measured along the longitudinal axis is 28 mm.

7. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein a length of the second segment is 40 mm or more.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the introducer further comprises one or more eyelets extending radially outward from the outer tube, wherein each of the one or more eyelets defines an eyelet opening and the eyelet openings of each of the one or more eyelets are axially aligned with each other along the outer tube.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the introducer further comprises one or more occlusion balloons extending radially outward from the outer tube, the one or more occlusion balloons being inflatable.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the one or more occlusion balloons include a first occlusion balloon and a second occlusion balloon, the first occlusion balloon being disposed at the distal end of the outer tube and the second occlusion balloon being disposed at a portion of the outer tube that is adjacent the pivotal connection between the first segment and the second segment of the esophageal positioning device when the esophageal positioning device is disposed within the introducer.

11. 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 longitudinal axis, a distal end, a proximal end, and a body, wherein the body defines a plurality of radial vacuum holes spaced circumferentially around the longitudinal axis, 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 a gap portion of the outer tube is defined along the longitudinal axis between the tube tip of the introducer and the distal end of the second segment of the esophageal positioning device when the esophageal positioning device is disposed within the introducer,

wherein the gap portion defines one or more of the radial vacuum holes, and

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;

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.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the gap portion defines a higher density of radial vacuum holes than any other portion of the body of the introducer.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein a density of radial vacuum holes is highest adjacent the distal end of the outer tube, and the density of radial vacuum holes gradually decreases along the longitudinal axis in a direction from the distal end of the outer tube toward the proximal end of the outer tube.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the body of the outer tube has an end portion as measured along the longitudinal axis from the tube tip to the pivotal connection between the first segment and the second segment of the esophageal positioning device when the esophageal positioning device is disposed within the introducer, wherein only the end portion of the body of the outer tube defines the plurality of radial vacuum holes.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein a length of the gap portion of the outer tube as measured along the longitudinal axis is from 10 mm to 30 mm.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the length of the gap portion of the outer tube as measured along the longitudinal axis is 28 mm.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein a length of the second segment is 40 mm or more.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the introducer further comprises one or more eyelets extending radially outward from the outer tube, wherein each of the one or more eyelets defines an eyelet opening and the eyelet openings of each of the one or more eyelets are axially aligned with each other along the outer tube.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the introducer further comprises one or more occlusion balloons extending radially outward from the outer tube, the one or more occlusion balloons being inflatable.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the one or more occlusion balloons include a first occlusion balloon and a second occlusion balloon, the first occlusion balloon being disposed at the distal end of the outer tube and the second occlusion balloon being disposed at a portion of the outer tube that is adjacent the pivotal connection between the first segment and the second segment of the esophageal positioning device when the esophageal positioning device is disposed within the introducer.