Methods and devices for accurate pressure monitoring

• US 20050154320A1
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Oostrom, Johannes H. van, Froelich, Michael A., Melker, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US10/755,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154320A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0261 using hydrostatic pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, devices and systems for accurately monitoring various pressures of a patient. The invention embodiments herein allow for taking into account pressure changes attributed to changes in elevation and tilt attitudes of the patient. Further disclosed herein is a unique and new pressure correction unit that comprises a tilt sensor affixed thereto or integrated therein.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring invasive pressures of a patient comprising at least one patient pressure catheter designed for placement in a patient;

at least one reference pressure detector;

a first transducer in communication with said at least one patient pressure catheter;

a second transducer in communication with said at least one reference pressure detector; and

at least one tilt sensor for sensing tilt of said patient.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first transducer is electrically connected to a pressure monitoring system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one tilt sensor is affixed to or integrated into said at least one reference pressure detector.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one reference pressure detector is mounted to an operating table or an intensive care unit table.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one reference pressure detector comprises a casing to protect said pressure detector.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one patient pressure catheter is positioned in said patient at the opening of the right atrium

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one reference pressure detector comprises a catheter comprising a distal end positioned at a location under the right atrium of said patient and a proximal end connected to said second transducer.

8. A system for monitoring invasive pressures of a patient comprising at least one patient pressure catheter designed for placement in a patient;

at least one reference pressure detector;

a first pressure transducer in communication with said at least one patient pressure catheter; and

a second transducer in communication with said at least one reference detector;

wherein said at least one reference pressure detector is mounted to an operating table or intensive care unit table.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said at least one reference pressure detector comprises a chamber that is exposed to atmospheric conditions, wherein a first end of a tube connects to said chamber and a second end of said tube connects to said second pressure transducer.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said at least reference pressure detector is mounted to the bottom of said operating table or intensive care unit table.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising at least one tilt sensor mounted to said operating table or intensive care unit table.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said at least one tilt sensor is affixed to or integrated with said at least one reference pressure detector.

13. A pressure correction unit for use in invasive pressure monitoring comprising a casing defining a chamber exposed to atmospheric conditions and at least one tilt sensor affixed to or integrated into said pressure correction unit.

14. The pressure correction unit of claim 13 wherein said tilt sensor is a dual axis accelerometer.

15. The pressure correction unit of claim 13 wherein said tilt sensor is electrically connected to a microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to interpret tilt information from said tilt sensor and generate a value representing the change in elevation of a patient'"'"'s right atrium.

16. The pressure correction unit of claim 13 attached to a catheter comprising a distal end and a proximal end;

wherein said catheter is attached to said pressure correction unit at said distal end and connected to a pressure transducer at said proximal end.

19. An operating table comprising the reference pressure correction unit of claim 13 mounted thereto.

17. A method for invasively monitoring pressures of a patient comprising positioning a catheter comprising a distal end and a proximal end in said patient such that said distal end is positioned at the patient'"'"'s heart and said catheter is connected to a first pressure transducer at said proximal end;

providing a reference pressure detector at an affixed location relative to said patient wherein said pressure detector is in communication with a second pressure transducer;

changing the elevation of the patient; and

modulating a pressure measurement of said patient obtained from said catheter to compensate for said change in elevation.

18. A method for invasively monitoring pressures of a patient comprising setting a reference pressure for a patient;

tilting a patient;

detecting the tilt of a said patient;

calculating the change in altitude of a body part of said patient brought about by said tilting; and

modulating a pressure measurement of said patient to compensate for said tilting.