CATHETER WITH PRESSURE SENSOR SYSTEM

• US 20080228167A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Original Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Inventors: Mittermeyer, Stephan, Harlep, Andreas
• Application Number:
  US12/048,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228167A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02158 provided with two or more sensor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14292 Computer-based infusion planning or simulation of spatio-temporal infusate distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0002 with a pressure sensor at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00

Abstract

A catheter for administering a substance into a patient'"'"'s tissue including a number of pressure sensors for detecting changes in the shape of the catheter or a backflow along the surface of the catheter. In response to the pressure distribution profile collected along the surface or length of the catheter, the physician may simulate or adapt the substance administration plan to accommodate the actual position of the catheter or the backflow along the surface of the catheter.

Claims

1. A catheter for administering a substance into a patient'"'"'s tissue, comprising:

an elongated catheter body that surrounds a lumen; and

a plurality of pressure sensors provided in or on the catheter body,

wherein the plurality of pressure sensors detect a pressure distribution over a portion of the catheter body.

2. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors are positioned at least partially within a material that comprises the catheter body and are operable to measure a pressure profile in or on the material.

3. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors are positioned at least partially on a surface of the catheter body and are operable to measure an ambient pressure profile exerted on the surface of the catheter body.

4. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors are arranged on a surface of the catheter body in the form of a coating or covering.

5. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors are arranged in a cross-sectional plane of the catheter and are distributed circumferentially on or in the catheter body.

6. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors are arranged along a longitudinal portion of the catheter body at predetermined locations and/or in a uniform spacing.

7. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors are arranged at a distal end (away from a handle end) of the catheter or over a length at the distal end of the catheter.

8. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors include piezoelectric elements.

9. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors include resistive wire strain elements.

10. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors include electrical resistance elements that respond to changes in pressure or length.

11. The catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of interfaces and/or signal taps or signal relaying devices arranged on the plurality of pressure sensors.

12. A method for administering a substance into a patient'"'"'s tissue, comprising:

providing a catheter having an elongated catheter body that surrounds a lumen, said body including a plurality of pressure sensors,

detecting a pressure distribution over a portion of the catheter via the plurality of pressure sensors, and

determining a change in shape of the catheter based on the detected pressure distribution.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising determining the extent and direction of the change in shape of the catheter.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising simulating the dispersion of a substance from the catheter, said simulation performed with computer assistance.

15. The method according claim 12, further comprising preparing a substance administration plan and applying an adaptation to the substance administration plan based on the change in shape of the catheter.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the adaptation to the substance administration plan comprises changes to a substance flow rate or a change to the catheter position.

17. A method for administering a substance into a patient'"'"'s tissue, comprising:

providing a catheter having an elongated catheter body that surrounds a lumen, said body including a plurality of pressure sensors,

detecting a pressure distribution over a portion of the catheter via the plurality of pressure sensors, and

determining the presence and/or extent of a backflow along the catheter body based on the detected pressure distribution.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising simulating the dispersion of a substance from the catheter with computer assistance, in the advance of or during treatment.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising using the detected pressure distribution in a real-time simulation of the dispersion of a substance from the catheter.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

preparing a substance administration plan; and

applying an adaptation to the substance administration plan based on the presence and extent of the backflow.