System and method for measuring the pressure of a fluid system within a patient

• US 20060149161A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integra LifeSciences Switzerland Sàrl
• Original Assignee: Codman & Shurtleff Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wilson, Stephen, Dextradeur, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/561
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/032 Spinal fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0464 Cerebrospinal fluid

Abstract

A pressure sensing apparatus has a pressure sensor component that includes a pressure sensing port, a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of a fluid in the pressure sensing port, and a digital processor communicating with the pressure sensor for performing calculations involving fluid pressures sensed. The pressure sensing apparatus further includes a first chamber in fluid contact with the pressure sensing port, a second chamber fluidically connectable with a patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system, and a membrane located between the first and second chambers so as to transmit fluid pressure from the second chamber to the first chamber.

Claims

1. A pressure sensing apparatus comprising:

a pressure sensor component having a pressure sensing port, a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of a fluid in the pressure sensing port, and a digital processor communicating with the pressure sensor for performing calculations involving fluid pressures sensed;

a first chamber in fluid contact with the pressure sensing port;

a second chamber fluidically connectable with a patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system; and

a membrane located between the first and second chambers so as to transmit fluid pressure from the second chamber to the first chamber.

2. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor component includes a display.

3. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor component is configured to display a graph of fluid pressures sensed over time.

4. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor component is configured to calculate a resting pressure based on fluid pressures measured.

5. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor component is configured to calculate an output resistance based on fluid pressures measured.

6. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor component is configured to calculate a pressure volume index based on fluid pressures measured.

7. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor component is configured to calculate at least one selected from the group consisting of resting pressure, outflow resistance, and pressure volume index in multiple iterations with selective calculation of mean results.

8. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tube in fluid communication with the second chamber and connectable with a fluid system of a patient.

9. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tube is configured to be connected to a patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system.

10. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tube is configured to be connected to a patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system through a lumbar tap.

11. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a three way stopcock located between a patient connecting end of the tube and the second chamber, the three way stopcock including a port through which a fluid may inserted.

12. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein a syringe is fluidically connected to the three way stopcock port.

13. The pressure sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor component is an integral, hand-held component.

14. A pressure sensor component comprising:

a pressure sensing port for containing a fluid for pressure sensing;

a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of a fluid in the pressure sensing port; and

a processor in electrical communication with the pressure sensor, the processor being configured to calculate at least one selected from the group consisting of resting pressure, outflow resistance, and pressure volume index based on fluid pressure measured by the pressure sensor.

15. The pressure sensor component of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor component includes a display.

16. The pressure sensor component of claim 15, wherein the pressure sensor component is configured to display a graph of fluid pressures sensed over time.

17. The pressure sensor component of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor component is configured to calculate at least one selected from the group consisting of resting pressure, outflow resistance, and pressure volume index in multiple iterations with selective calculation of mean results.

18. The pressure sensor component of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor component is configured to calculate each of a resting pressure, an outflow resistance, and a pressure volume index.

19. The pressure sensor component of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor component is configured to prompt a user through a sequence of measurement steps, the measurement steps including the injection of a bolus into the fluid system being measured.

20. The pressure sensor component of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor component is an integral, hand-held component.

21. A method for measuring a pressure of a cerebrospinal fluid system in a patient comprising:

providing a pressure sensing system having a sterile portion for connecting to a patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system and a non-sterile portion including a pressure sensor component having a pressure sensor and a processor for analyzing cerebrospinal fluid pressures measured by the pressure sensor;

connecting the non-sterile portion to the patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system;

measuring and displaying the patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid pressure on the pressure sensor component.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the pressure sensor component calculates a resting pressure based on fluid pressures measured.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the sterile portion includes a bolus apparatus and the method further comprises injecting or withdrawing a bolus of known fluid volume to the patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system while the pressure sensor component measures and displays the patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the pressure sensor component calculates an output resistance based on fluid pressures measured.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the pressure sensor component calculates a pressure volume index based on fluid pressures measured.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein

the pressure sensor component has a pressure sensing port with the pressure sensor sensing a pressure of a fluid in the pressure sensing port;

the non-sterile portion of the pressure sensing system includes a first chamber in fluid contact with the pressure sensing port;

the sterile portion of the pressure sensing system includes a second chamber fluidically connectable with a patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system; and

the pressure sensing system further includes a membrane located between the first and second chambers so as to transmit fluid pressure from the second chamber to the first chamber.