Method and apparatus for measuring flow through a lumen
First Claim
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1. A method for monitoring flow through a prosthesis, said method comprising:
- providing a first tubular prosthesis having a first lumen therethrough and a first sensor coupled to and helically disposed around the first tubular prosthesis and a second tubular prosthesis having a second sensor helically disposed there around, said second tubular prosthesis coaxially mounted to the first tubular prosthesis such that the first sensor does not intersect the second sensor, wherein the first and second sensors sense one of stress exerted on the prosthesis or strain exerted on the prosthesis, and outputting data related to the sensed stress or strain;
coupling the prosthesis to a fluid path in a patient so that fluid flows through the prosthesis;
determining occlusion by directly measuring, with the sensor, one of stress or strain exerted on the prosthesis;
transmitting data representative of the measured stress or strain to a receiver disposed extracorporeally relative to the patient; and
outputting the data.
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Abstract
A prosthesis for monitoring a characteristic of flow includes a first tubular prosthesis having a lumen and a sensor for detecting the characteristic of flow through the lumen. The sensor may be covered with another tubular prosthesis or by a layer of material in order to insulate the sensor from the fluid flow. A pocket may be formed between the tubular prosthesis and the adjacent layer of material or prosthesis and the sensor may be disposed in the pocket.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring flow through a prosthesis, said method comprising:
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providing a first tubular prosthesis having a first lumen therethrough and a first sensor coupled to and helically disposed around the first tubular prosthesis and a second tubular prosthesis having a second sensor helically disposed there around, said second tubular prosthesis coaxially mounted to the first tubular prosthesis such that the first sensor does not intersect the second sensor, wherein the first and second sensors sense one of stress exerted on the prosthesis or strain exerted on the prosthesis, and outputting data related to the sensed stress or strain; coupling the prosthesis to a fluid path in a patient so that fluid flows through the prosthesis; determining occlusion by directly measuring, with the sensor, one of stress or strain exerted on the prosthesis; transmitting data representative of the measured stress or strain to a receiver disposed extracorporeally relative to the patient; and outputting the data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for monitoring flow through a prosthesis, said method comprising:
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providing a tubular prosthesis having a lumen therethrough and a longitudinal axis parallel to the lumen, a sensor operatively coupled with the prosthesis, the sensor directly measuring one of stress exerted on the prosthesis or strain exerted on the prosthesis, and outputting data related to the measured stress or strain, wherein the sensor comprises a first sensor oriented in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second sensor oriented in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; coupling the prosthesis to a fluid path in a patient so that fluid flows through the prosthesis; determining occlusion by directly measuring with the sensor one of stress or strain exerted on the prosthesis; transmitting data representative of the measured stress or strain to a receiver disposed extracorporeally relative to the patient; and outputting the data. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification