Method and apparatus for pressure measurement
Inventors
BURNETT, Daniel R. • Reynolds, Byron • Neil, Brian M. • HALL, Gregory W. • Guerra, Paul B.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10758135-B2
Publication Date
2020-09-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for measuring pressure in a patient are provided which may include any number of features. One feature is a pressure measurement system comprising a pressure source, a compliant bladder, a catheter in communication with the pressure source, pressure sensors, and a controller configured to determine a pressure within the compliant bladder. The pressure measurement system can inflate the compliant bladder with gas or air to determine a pressure within a patient. In one embodiment, the pressure measurement system measures pressure within a peritoneal cavity.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a pressure measurement system for measuring pressure in a patient using a pressure measurement catheter with a pressure sensing membrane. The catheter is anchored within a patient and includes a pressure lumen that provides communication between the membrane and a pressure sensor, and a controller uses the pressure signal to determine pressure within the patient.
The controller is configured to detect when the catheter is connected to the controller. The system uses catheter-anchored pressure sensing with an air-filled compliant balloon arrangement in which the controller primes or partially-fills the balloon using priming sequences, including filling with a first volume and then using a second volume and/or venting to atmospheric pressure.
The controller can also perform leak testing and connection diagnostics by identifying drift and pressure cycles associated with respiration and by checking expected air-volume behavior related to kinking. The described catheter and balloon variants include infusion and extraction lumens for therapeutic contexts, kink resistance features such as ridged divider structures, optional redundant pressure lumens, and displacement/void balloon arrangements intended to prevent foreign-object contact.
Claims Coverage
The document identifies two independent claims: a method claim and a system claim. Across these independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on catheter-anchored membrane pressure sensing with lumen-coupled pressure sensing, controller-based determination of patient pressure, and controller detection of catheter connection, with additional dependent refinements covering priming/partial-filling and diagnostic behaviors such as leak testing and connection diagnostics.
Catheter-anchored membrane inflation and pressure determination
Anchoring a pressure measurement catheter within a patient; inflating a pressure sensing membrane disposed on the pressure measurement catheter; measuring a pressure of the pressure sensing membrane with a pressure sensor in communication with the pressure sensing membrane and with a controller to determine a pressure within the patient.
Controller detection of catheter connection
Detecting when the catheter is connected to the controller, as part of the pressure measurement process.
Pressure-lumen communication to membrane and sensor
A catheter configured for anchoring within a patient body and having a pressure lumen disposed in the catheter; a pressure sensing membrane disposed on the catheter, the pressure sensing membrane being in communication with the pressure lumen.
Controller-received pressure signal through lumen
A pressure sensor coupled to the pressure lumen and configured to receive a pressure signal from the pressure sensing membrane via the pressure lumen; a controller configured to receive the pressure signal from the pressure sensor.
Overall, the independent claim coverage is directed to determining patient pressure using an anchored catheter with a pressure sensing membrane communicating through a pressure lumen to a pressure sensor, together with controller-based pressure determination and controller detection of catheter connection. The dependent claim themes further expand this framework with priming/partial-filling sequences and diagnostic behaviors such as leak testing via drift and connection detection.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Peritoneal cavity pressure monitoring during therapeutic hypothermia with hypothermic fluid infusion and/or extraction.
Urinary tract pressure measurement using a Foley-style pressure measurement catheter with a pressure balloon, and additional sensor modalities (as described in the partial content).
Perfusion pressure sensing via intermittently inflatable member and optical detection (as mentioned in the partial content).
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