Body fluid drainage system

• US 10,166,375 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2015
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Washington
• Original Assignee: University of Washington
• Inventors: Browd, Samuel R., Lutz, Barry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimbouski, Ariana
• Application Number:
  US14/667,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20150196742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0003 having an additional lumen transmitting fluid pressure to the outside for measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83

Abstract

Drainage systems for excess body fluids and associated methods are disclosed herein. A body fluid drainage system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, for example, can include a catheter that has an exterior surface, a proximal portion, and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion. The body fluid drainage system can further include a valve device, a pressure sensor, and a controller operatively coupled to the valve device and the pressure sensor. The valve device can include an actuator positioned over the exterior surface of the catheter. The actuator is movable between an open position that allows body fluid flow through the catheter, a closed position that at least substantially obstructs the body fluid flow through the catheter, and intermediate positions that partially obstruct the body fluid flow through the catheter. The controller can change the position of the actuator in response to a predetermined condition of the pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A body fluid drainage system, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion is configured to be in fluid communication with a site of excess body fluid within the patient;

a valve device configured to change resistance to flow through the catheter;

a pressure sensor assembly including a first pressure sensor upstream of the valve device configured to measure pressure within a catheter portion upstream of the valve device and a second pressure sensor downstream of the valve device configured to measure pressure within a catheter portion downstream of the valve device, wherein the pressure sensor assembly is configured to be spaced apart from the inlet of the catheter and the ventricles of the patient'"'"'s brain, and wherein pressure measurements taken from the pressure sensor assembly are used to derive pressure at a position spaced apart from the first and second pressure sensors; and

a controller operatively coupled to the valve device and the pressure sensor assembly, wherein the controller is configured to derive pressure via the pressure sensor assembly, and wherein the controller is configured to change the resistance to flow through the valve device in response to the derived pressure.

2. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising:

a reservoir between the proximal and distal portions of the catheter, the reservoir having a cross-sectional dimension greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the proximal and distal portions of the catheter, wherein the proximal portion, the reservoir, and the distal portion form a single lumen through which body fluid can flow, and wherein the reservoir is configured to be compressed to flush fluid at least one of proximally through the catheter or distally through the catheter.

3. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the valve device comprises at least one pinch valve.

4. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the valve device comprises an interface member acting on an exterior surface of the catheter.

5. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the valve device comprises a compliant interface member acting on an exterior surface of the catheter.

6. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1, further comprising:

a magnetic shield over the valve device and the controller, the magnetic shield obstructing magnetic interference with the valve device and the controller.

7. The body fluid drainage system of claim 1 wherein the valve device comprises an actuator acting on the catheter, and wherein the actuator is configured to hold at least one of an open position, a closed position, or an intermediate position without power.

8. A body fluid drainage system, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion is configured to be in fluid communication with a site of excess body fluid within the patient;

a valve device configured to change resistance to flow through the catheter;

at least a first pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure within the catheter;

a pressure reference line configured to measure a pressure head between a desired reference location and the first pressure sensor; and

a controller operatively coupled to the valve device and the at least one pressure sensor, wherein the controller is configured to change the resistance to flow of body fluid in response to a difference between the pressure within the catheter and the pressure head.

10. The body fluid drainage system of claim 8 wherein the at least one pressure sensor comprises at least two pressure sensors, wherein a first pressure sensor is configured to measure pressure within the catheter and a second pressure sensor is configured to measure the pressure head.

11. The body fluid drainage system of claim 8 wherein the pressure reference line comprises a tube that extends between a flexible end cap configured to be positioned external to the site of excess body fluid at a first end portion and a pressure sensor at a second end portion.

12. The body fluid drainage system of claim 8 wherein the controller is additionally configured to ignore transient pressure conditions due to at least one of a cardiac cycle, coughing, and patient movement.

9. A body fluid drainage system, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion is configured to be in fluid communication with a site of excess body fluid within the patient;

a valve device configured to change resistance to flow through the catheter;

a differential pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure within the catheter;

a pressure reference line configured to measure a pressure head between a desired reference location and a location of the differential pressure sensor; and

a controller operatively coupled to the valve device and the differential pressure sensor, wherein the controller is configured to change the resistance to flow of body fluid in response to a difference between the pressure within the catheter and the pressure head.

13. A body fluid drainage system, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion is configured to be in fluid communication with a site of excess body fluid within the patient;

a valve device configured to change resistance to flow through the catheter;

at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure within the catheter;

a pressure reference line configured to measure a pressure head caused by body fluid in the catheter; and

a controller operatively coupled to the valve device, the at least one pressure sensor, and the pressure reference line, wherein the controller is configured to change the resistance to flow of body fluid in response to input from the at least one pressure sensor and the pressure reference line.

14. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the pressure reference line comprises a tube that extends between an end cap at a first end portion and a pressure sensor at a second end portion.

15. The body fluid drainage system of claim 14 wherein the end cap comprises a flexible container.

16. The body fluid drainage system of claim 15 wherein the end cap additionally comprises a protective barrier preventing accidental compression of the flexible container.

17. The body fluid drainage system of claim 15 wherein the end cap additionally comprises a protective barrier that is vented to allow pressure communication with an environment external to the barrier.

18. The body fluid drainage system of claim 13 wherein the controller is additionally configured to ignore transient pressure conditions due to at least one of a cardiac cycle, coughing, and patient movement.