Systems and methods of identifying catheter malfunctions using pressure sensing
First Claim
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1. A method of identifying the presence of a catheter malfunction, the method comprising:
- delivering pulses of a fluid into a delivery lumen of an implanted catheter;
measuring decay time after a selected pulse, wherein the decay time is the time required for pressure within the delivery lumen to fall below a selected threshold pressure value after a selected event corresponding to the selected pulse;
comparing the decay time to a selected decay time; and
determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a leak in the catheter if the decay time is below the selected decay time.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for determining whether a catheter malfunction is present in a catheter by analyzing changes in the pressure of fluids being pumped through the delivery lumen of the catheter. The pressure changes that may be monitored may include, e.g., the peak pressure within the catheter and/or the pressure decay profile. The catheter malfunctions that may be determined using the methods and systems of the invention may include, e.g., leaks, blockages, the presence of gas bubbles, etc.
144 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of identifying the presence of a catheter malfunction, the method comprising:
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delivering pulses of a fluid into a delivery lumen of an implanted catheter;
measuring decay time after a selected pulse, wherein the decay time is the time required for pressure within the delivery lumen to fall below a selected threshold pressure value after a selected event corresponding to the selected pulse;
comparing the decay time to a selected decay time; and
determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a leak in the catheter if the decay time is below the selected decay time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of identifying the presence of a catheter malfunction, the method comprising:
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delivering pulses of a fluid into a delivery lumen of an implanted catheter;
measuring decay time after a selected pulse, wherein the decay time is the time required for pressure within the delivery lumen to fall below a selected threshold pressure value after a selected event corresponding to the selected pulse; and
assigning a timeout value to the decay time if the pressure within the delivery lumen does not fall below the selected threshold pressure value after a selected timeout time. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of identifying the presence of a catheter malfunction, the method comprising:
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delivering pulses of a fluid into a delivery lumen of an implanted catheter;
measuring peak pressure within the delivery lumen after a selected pulse;
comparing the measured peak pressure to a selected peak pressure value; and
determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a disconnected catheter if the measured peak pressure value is below the selected peak pressure value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of determining the presence of a catheter malfunction, the method comprising:
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delivering pulses of the fluid into a delivery lumen of the catheter;
measuring peak pressure within the delivery lumen after a selected pulse;
comparing the measured peak pressure to a selected peak pressure value;
determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a disconnected catheter if the measured peak pressure value is below the selected peak pressure value after comparing the measured peak pressure to the selected peak pressure;
measuring decay time after a selected pulse, wherein the decay time is the time required for pressure within the delivery lumen to fall below a selected threshold pressure value after a selected event corresponding to the selected pulse;
assigning a timeout value to the decay time if the pressure within the delivery lumen does not fall below the selected threshold pressure value after a selected timeout time;
comparing the decay time to a selected decay time after measuring the decay time;
determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a leak in the catheter if the decay time is below the selected decay time; and
determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a blockage in the delivery lumen if the decay time is at the timeout value.
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23. An implantable infusion system comprising:
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a pump mechanism fluidly coupled to a reservoir to receive fluid contained within the reservoir;
a catheter comprising a delivery lumen fluidly coupled to the pump mechanism, wherein the delivery lumen extends to a delivery region in the catheter;
a pressure sensor positioned to monitor fluid pressure within the delivery lumen of the catheter and provide a pressure signal representative of the fluid pressure; and
control electronics connected to receive the pressure signal from the pressure sensor, wherein the control electronics further;
measures decay time in the fluid pressure after a selected pulse based on the pressure signal, wherein the decay time is the time required for fluid pressure within the delivery lumen to fall below a selected threshold pressure value after a selected event corresponding to the selected pulse;
compares the decay time to a selected decay time; and
determines the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a leak in the catheter if the decay time is below the selected decay time. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. An implantable infusion system comprising:
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a pump mechanism fluidly coupled to a reservoir to receive fluid contained within the reservoir;
a catheter comprising a delivery lumen fluidly coupled to the pump mechanism, wherein the delivery lumen extends to a delivery region in the catheter;
a pressure sensor positioned to monitor fluid pressure within the delivery lumen of the catheter and provide a pressure signal representative of the fluid pressure; and
control electronics connected to receive the pressure signal from the pressure sensor, wherein the control electronics further;
measures decay time after a selected pulse based on the pressure signal, wherein the decay time is the time required for pressure within the delivery lumen to fall below a selected threshold pressure value after a selected event corresponding to the selected pulse; and
assigns a timeout value to the decay time if the fluid pressure within the delivery lumen does not fall below the selected threshold pressure value after a selected timeout time. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. An implantable infusion system comprising:
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a pump mechanism fluidly coupled to a reservoir to receive fluid contained within the reservoir;
a catheter comprising a delivery lumen fluidly coupled to the pump mechanism, wherein the delivery lumen extends to a delivery region in the catheter;
a pressure sensor positioned to monitor fluid pressure within the delivery lumen of the catheter and provide a pressure signal representative of the fluid pressure; and
control electronics connected to receive the pressure signal from the pressure sensor, wherein the control electronics further;
determines peak pressure within the delivery lumen after a selected pulse based on the pressure signal;
compares the peak pressure to a selected peak pressure value; and
determines the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a disconnected catheter if the peak pressure value is below the selected peak pressure value. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification