Blood flow meter and flow probe therefor

• US 20060079786A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Transoma Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Transoma Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Stofer, Alyse Renee, Busch, Robert, Shipkowitz, Tanya, Brockway, Robert V., Yates, John M., Vanhee, Justin
• Application Number:
  US11/249,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079786A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/465
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

Flow probe designs that are relatively atraumatic to blood vessels and therefore are suitable for chronic implantation.

Claims

1. A flow probe for measurement of fluid flow in a conduit, comprising:

a housing configured to at least partially surround the conduit, the housing having an open portion configured to receive the conduit therethrough;

at least one flow sensor disposed in the housing; and

a coupling member connected to the housing, the coupling member configured to at least partially surround the conduit and to close the open portion of the housing.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises blood.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a blood vessel.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one flow sensor comprises one or more ultrasound transducers.

5. A device as in claim 4, wherein the one or more ultrasound transducers are disposed in the housing diametrcally opposite and longitudinally spaced from each other.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein the housing defines at least one window for the ultrasound transducers.

7. A device as in claim 6, wherein the at least one window comprises an interior groove extending at least partially around the conduit.

8. A device as in claim 7, wherein the housing comprises a first material and a second material is disposed in the interior groove.

9. A device as in claim 8, wherein the second material substantially fills the interior groove.

10. A device as in claim 8, wherein the second material has an ultrasonic property that is similar to an ultrasonic property of blood vessel tissue.

11. A device as in claim 8, wherein the first material has a first ultrasonic property and the second material has second ultrasonic property that is different from the first ultrasonic property.

12. A device as in claim 8, wherein the second material has an acoustic impedance that is similar to an acoustic impedance of blood vessel tissue.

13. A device as in claim 8, wherein the first material has a first acoustic impedance and the second material has second acoustic impedance that is different from the first acoustic impedance.

14. A device as in claim 8, wherein the second material has a propagation constant that is similar to a propagation constant of blood vessel tissue.

15. A device as in claim 8, wherein the first material has a first propagation constant and the second material has second propagation constant that is different from the first propagation constant.

16. A device as in claim 8, wherein the second material has an attenuation and propagation constant that is similar to an attenuation and propagation constant of blood vessel tissue.

17. A device as in claim 8, wherein the first material has a first attenuation and propagation constant and the second material has second attenuation and propagation constant that is different from the first attenuation and propagation constant.

18. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing and coupling member comprise biocompatible materials.

19. A device as in claim 1, wherein the coupling member includes two ends that are releasably connectable to the housing, and wherein at least one of the ends is pivotable when connected to the housing.

20. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing has an interior surface that interfaces with the conduit, the interior surface having a concave geometry in lateral cross section and a convex geometry in longitudinal cross section.

21. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing has an interior surface that interfaces with the conduit, the interior surface having a concave curvature in lateral cross section and a convex taper in longitudinal cross section.

22. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing has an interior surface that interfaces with the conduit, the interior surface having a substantially square geometry in lateral cross section.

23. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing has an interior surface that interfaces with the conduit, the interior surface having a plurality of projections.

24. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing has an interior surface that interfaces with the conduit, the interior surface having a plurality of recesses.

25. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a layer of material surrounding at least a portion of the housing and the coupling member, wherein the layer of material promotes tissue in-growth.

26. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a layer of material overlaying a portion of the housing, wherein the layer of material promotes tissue in-growth.

27. A device as in claim 26, wherein the layer of material comprises a polymeric fabric.

28. A device as in claim 26, wherein the layer of material comprises a polymeric mesh.

29. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a layer of material overlaying a portion of the coupling member, wherein the layer of material promotes tissue in-growth.

30. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing and the coupling define an interior size, and wherein a portion of the coupling member is adjustable to change the size.

31. A system for measurement of fluid flow in a conduit, comprising:

an implantable flow probe as defined in claim 1;

an implantable flow meter circuit connected to the flow probe;

an implantable telemetry circuit connected to the flow meter; and

a remote telemetry device in wireless communication with the implantable telemetry unit.

32. A method of measuring blood flow in a blood vessel, comprising:

providing a flow probe as defined in claim 1;

providing a flow meter circuit connected to the flow probe;

providing a telemetry circuit connected to the flow meter; and

implanting the flow probe about the blood vessel.