APPARATUS FOR MONITORING INTRA-ABDOMINAL PRESSURE
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring hydraulic pressure in the bladder of a medical patient to infer intra-abdominal pressure of that patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a urinary catheter with a distal end adapted for insertion into said bladder and a proximal end comprising a drain portion adapted to drain fluid from said bladder;
a container of fluid;
a first fluid path defined by structure configured to permit introduction of fluid from said container into said bladder;
a pump disposed to permit urging fluid from said container along said first fluid path;
a second fluid path defined by structure configured to permit fluid communication between said distal end of said catheter and a fluid receiver;
a pressure transducer disposed to measure pressure of fluid communicating through said catheter effective to permit measuring said hydraulic pressure inside said bladder; and
a urine drain valve disposed in association with said second fluid path and comprising a valve element configured and arranged such that;
at a first position of said valve element, structure associated with said valve element resists fluid flow along said first path while permitting fluid flow along said second path; and
at a second position of said valve element, structure associated with said valve element permits fluid flow along said first path while resisting fluid flow along said second path.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a hospitalized patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve having selectable communication positions between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve contact. One operable protective housing may be embodied as a separate tray component. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient'"'"'s legs. When the urine valve is oriented for communication to the fluid source, an infusion pump may be used to introduce a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve and into the patient'"'"'s bladder where the fluid'"'"'s pressure can be measured. Desirably, a double check valve is included in a fluid supply path and arranged to permit repetitive operation of a syringe to inject a bolus of fluid into the patient'"'"'s bladder. Subsequent to making a pressure measurement, the urine valve is returned to the bladder draining position.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring hydraulic pressure in the bladder of a medical patient to infer intra-abdominal pressure of that patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a urinary catheter with a distal end adapted for insertion into said bladder and a proximal end comprising a drain portion adapted to drain fluid from said bladder; a container of fluid; a first fluid path defined by structure configured to permit introduction of fluid from said container into said bladder; a pump disposed to permit urging fluid from said container along said first fluid path; a second fluid path defined by structure configured to permit fluid communication between said distal end of said catheter and a fluid receiver; a pressure transducer disposed to measure pressure of fluid communicating through said catheter effective to permit measuring said hydraulic pressure inside said bladder; and a urine drain valve disposed in association with said second fluid path and comprising a valve element configured and arranged such that; at a first position of said valve element, structure associated with said valve element resists fluid flow along said first path while permitting fluid flow along said second path; and at a second position of said valve element, structure associated with said valve element permits fluid flow along said first path while resisting fluid flow along said second path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for measuring hydraulic pressure in the bladder of a medical patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a catheter adapted for draining urine from said patient into a drain conduit; a container of fluid; structure defining a first fluid path between said container of fluid and a proximal portion of said catheter; a pump disposed to urge fluid flow along said first fluid path; a pressure transducer arranged to measure a pressure of said fluid in said first fluid path at a location downstream of said pump; and a drain valve operable to occlude said drain conduit while permitting fluid flow through said first fluid path, said drain valve being configured to remain in association with said drain conduit when said drain valve is in a configuration to permit fluid flow through said drain conduit, wherein; a urine draining lumen forming a flow path through said valve has a minimum characteristic size in excess of about 3/16 inches (4.8 mm) when in an un-occluded state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A drain valve, having only two distinct flow paths therethrough, and being adapted at a distal end for association with a urinary catheter to facilitate measuring hydraulic pressure in the bladder of a medical patient to infer intra-abdominal pressure of that patient, the drain valve comprising:
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an infusion fluid path configured to permit infusing fluids into said catheter; and a drain path configured for draining fluids from said catheter;
wherein;at a first configuration of said drain valve, structure associated with said drain valve resists fluid flow along said infusion fluid path while permitting fluid flow along said drain path; and at a second configuration of said drain valve, structure associated with said drain valve permits fluid flow along said infusion fluid path while resisting fluid flow along said drain path. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A plumbing subsystem, having only two distinct flow paths along lumen disposed therethrough, the plumbing subsystem being adapted at a distal end for association with a urinary catheter to facilitate measuring hydraulic pressure in the bladder of a medical patient to infer intra-abdominal pressure of that patient, respective flow paths of the plumbing subsystem comprising:
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an infusion fluid path configured to permit infusing fluids into said catheter; and a drain path configured for draining fluids from said catheter;
wherein;at a first configuration of said plumbing subsystem, structure associated with said plumbing subsystem resists fluid flow along said infusion fluid path while permitting fluid flow along said drain path; and at a second configuration of said plumbing subsystem, structure associated with said plumbing subsystem permits fluid flow along said infusion fluid path while resisting fluid flow along said drain path. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification