Pressure applicator devices particularly useful for non-invasive detection of medical conditions

• US 20040215085A1
• Filed: 05/24/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itamar Medical Ltd. (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Itamar Medical Ltd. (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Schnall, Robert P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,916,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1073 Measuring volume, e.g. of limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

A probe for application to a body part particularly a finger of a patent to detect a change in the physical condition of the patient includes a housing defining a compartment closed at one end and open at the opposite end for receiving the distal end of the patient'"'"'s finger and a medium wholly self-contained within the probe for applying a static pressure field substantially uniformly around the distal end of the patient'"'"'s finger, of a predetermined magnitude sufficient to substantially prevent distention of the venous vasculature, uncontrolled venous backflow, and retrograde shockwave propagation into the distal end, and to partially unload the wall tension of, but not to occlude, the arteries in the distal end when at heart level or below. A sensor senses changes in the distal end of the patient'"'"'s finger related to changes in arterial blood volume therein.

Claims

1-3. -3. (Cancelled)

4. A device to be applied around a body part of a patient, comprising a probe including:

a housing for application to the body part; and

pressurizing means for applying a static pressure field substantially uniformly around the body part, said pressurizing means including;

an inner resilient membrane within said housing and defining therewith an inner chamber to be filled with a fluid for applying said static pressure via said membrane substantially uniformly around a distal end of the body part including a distal tip; and

an outer resilient membrane attached to said housing externally thereof and defining therewith an outer chamber communicating with said inner chamber via openings in said housing enlarging an effective volume of said inner chamber such as to cause said inner membrane to apply substantially the same static pressure around the body part despite changes in volume thereof.

48. The device according to claim 4, wherein the body part is a finger.

5-47. -47. (Cancelled)