Venous-Arterial Detector and Pressure Indicator

• US 20070265550A1
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Device Evolutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Surgical Transformations LLC
• Inventors: Choi, Jai Seung, Lee, Eric Chi Kuo, Hsu, Shente Steven, Liang, Kelvin Yu Chung
• Granted Patent: US 7,618,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/584
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/90 Telltale showing entry of blood into body inserted conduit

Abstract

A venous-arterial detector is disclosed. The detector includes a first chamber in fluid communication with a needle, and an indicator chamber in selective fluid communication with the first chamber through a valve. The indicator chamber is pre-pressurized to a defined pressure that preferably exceeds typical venous pressure, and the valve retains that pressure within the indicator chamber. When the needle is inserted into a vessel, if the pressure in the vessel is greater than the defined pressure in the indicator chamber, blood will flow into the indicator chamber, indicating that the vessel is most likely to be an artery.

Claims

1. A venous-arterial detector, comprising:

a first chamber having first opening at a first end and a second opening in a wall thereof;

a needle connected to and in fluid communication with the first chamber through the first opening;

an indicator chamber pre-pressurized to a defined pressure, the indicator chamber being connected to the first chamber through the second opening in the first chamber; and

a valve interposed between the first chamber and the indicator chamber so as to place the indicator chamber in selective fluid communication with the first chamber, the valve being constructed and arranged such that (1) the defined pressure within the indicator chamber cannot pass through the valve, and thus remains within the indicator chamber, and (2) fluid flowing from the first chamber toward the indicator chamber is permitted to pass through the valve;

wherein blood entering the first chamber through the needle flows into the indicator chamber if the pressure of the entering blood is greater than the defined pressure within the indicator chamber.

2. The venous-arterial detector of claim 1, wherein the defined pressure is greater than an average mammalian venous blood pressure and less than an average mammalian arterial blood pressure.

3. The venous-arterial detector of claim 2, further comprising a plunger movably sealing the first chamber, the plunger being constructed and arranged to draw fluid into the first chamber through the needle and to drive fluid out of the first chamber through the needle.

4. The venous-arterial detector of claim 3, wherein the first chamber and the indicator chamber are fixedly attached to one another.

5. The venous-arterial detector of claim 4, wherein the first chamber is generally cylindrical.

6. The venous-arterial detector of claim 5, wherein the indicator chamber is generally cylindrical.

7. The venous-arterial detector of claim 6, wherein the first chamber and the indicator chamber are arranged side-by-side and are connected by a short segment of tubing.

8. The venous-arterial detector of claim 4, wherein the indicator chamber extends circumferentially around at least a portion of the first chamber.

9. The venous-arterial detector of claim 2, wherein the second opening is proximate to the first end.

10. The venous-arterial detector of claim 2, wherein the defined pressure is a pressure in the range of from about 40 mm Hg to about 50 mm Hg above ambient atmospheric pressure.

11. The venous-arterial detector of claim 2, wherein the defined pressure is at least 50 mm Hg above ambient atmospheric pressure.