Sensing pressure

• US 20040068203A1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gellman, Barry N., Madden, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/263,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068203A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02158 provided with two or more sensor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/205 Determining bladder or urethral pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/22 Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow exercising apparatus A63B21/00 ; measuring of work or force in general G01L

Abstract

A device for measuring pressure applied to a urethra of a patient includes an elongate member with a plurality of pressure sensors disposed thereon. The device can be inserted into the urethra. Each sensor is capable of outputting a signal representative of an amount of pressure applied to the urethra at the location of that sensor when the elongate member is positioned within the urethra and pressure is applied to the urethra. The pressure can be applied to the urethra by a urethral sling. A physician can manipulate and adjust the sling based on the pressure information provided by the device.

Claims

1. A device for measuring pressure applied to a urethra, comprising:

an elongate member positionable within a lumen of the urethra; and

a plurality of pressure sensors disposed on the elongate member, each of the plurality of pressure sensors capable of outputting a signal representative of an amount of pressure applied to the urethra at the location of that sensor when the elongate member is positioned within the lumen of the urethra and pressure is applied to the urethra.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a display for receiving at least one of the signals and displaying a representation of the amount of pressure represented by the at least one signal.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the representation displayed by the display is a pressure distribution.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein a sling disposed beneath the urethra applies pressure to the urethra.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pressure sensors comprises an electroactive pressure-sensitive film disposed around the elongate member.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pressure sensors comprises a linear array of the pressure sensors.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the center-to-center spacing between each of the sensors in the linear array is between about 0.5 mm and about 5.0 mm.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pressure sensors comprises a grid array of the pressure sensors.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the center-to-center spacing between each of the sensors in the grid array is between about 0.5 mm and about 5.0 mm.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the grid array is disposed at least partially around a circumference of the elongate member.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein at least some of the plurality of pressure sensors are partially recessed into a surface of the elongate member.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of pressure sensors has a thickness of less than about 1.27 mm.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of sensors includes at least one electrical lead extending from the sensor.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the electrical leads are located at least partially within the elongate member.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of pressure sensors is capable of measuring pressure between about 0 psi and 5 psi.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongate member is sufficiently rigid to minimize deformation of the plurality of pressure sensors disposed on the elongate member when the elongate member is positioned within the lumen of the urethra and pressure is applied to the urethra.

17. The device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless transmitter coupled to at least one of the plurality of pressure sensors for transmitting the signal output by that sensor when the elongate member is positioned within the lumen of the urethra and pressure is applied to the urethra.

18. A method of determining pressure applied to a urethra, comprising:

providing an elongate member including a plurality of pressure sensors disposed on the elongate member, each of the plurality of pressure sensors capable of outputting a signal representative of an amount of pressure applied to that sensor;

positioning the elongate member, with the sensors disposed thereon, within a lumen of the urethra;

applying pressure to the urethra such that each of at least some of the plurality of pressure sensors outputs the signal representative of the amount of pressure applied to that sensor; and

perceiving a representation of the amount of pressure represented by the at least some of the signals to determine pressure applied to the urethra.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of applying pressure comprises applying pressure to the urethra by manipulating a sling disposed beneath the urethra.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of perceiving comprises viewing the representation which comprises a visual indication of the amount of pressure.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of perceiving comprises listening to the representation which comprises an aural indication of the amount of pressure.

22. A method of indicating pressure applied to a urethra, comprising:

providing an elongate member including a plurality of pressure sensors disposed on the elongate member, each of the plurality of pressure sensors capable of outputting a signal representative of an amount of pressure applied to that sensor;

receiving the signals from at least some of the sensors when the elongate member is positioned within a lumen of the urethra and pressure is applied to the urethra; and

displaying a representation of the amounts of pressure applied to the at least some of the sensors.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

providing a computer system capable of storing the signals output by the at least some of the sensors; and

storing the signals output by the at least some of the sensors with the computer system.

24. A device for measuring pressure within a body of a patient, comprising:

an elongate member positionable in the body; and

a plurality of pressure sensors disposed on the elongate member, each of the plurality of pressure sensors capable of outputting a signal representative of an amount of pressure applied to the sensor when the elongate member is positioned within the body;

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the elongate member is positionable within a bladder of the body.

26. The device of claim 24 wherein the elongate member is positionable within a rectum of the body.

27. The device of claim 24 wherein the elongate member is positionable within an esophagus of the body.

28. The device of claim 24 wherein the elongate member is positionable within a vagina of the body.

29. The device of claim 24 wherein the elongate member is positionable within a cervix of the body.

30. The device of claim 24 wherein the elongate member is positionable within a tissue in the body.

31. The device of claim 24 wherein the elongate member is positionable within a body cavity.

32. The device of claim 24 wherein the elongate member is positionable within a lumen of the body.