HEART CATHETERIZATION DEVICE

• US 3,581,733 A
• Filed: 12/11/1968
• Issued: 06/01/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell BV (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Theo Grandjean
• Inventors: Grandjean, Theo
• Application Number:
  US04/783,040
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• US Class Current: 600/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/025 within occluders, e.g. responsive to Korotkoff sounds electric stethoscopes A61B7/04

Abstract

A device for measuring such things as human blood pressure within the blood vessels and heart, which uses a catheter and adapts same for placement over extended periods during its operation. A salt solution, conveyed by valve controlled conduits, is made to constantly flow through the catheter to prevent blood coagulation and also serves to transmit the propagated blood pressure waves to a transducer for measurement.

Claims

1. A device for use in measuring blood characteristics such as blood pressure comprising A catheter tube for insertion into the bloodstream of a body, one end of which is to be placed at the point of measurement within the body, a connection member attached to the other end of said catheter tube, a transducer apparatus having a pressure chamber for picking up and converting pressure variations into proportional electrical voltage variations susceptible of measurement, a channel communicating between said pressure chamber and said connection member, a container for supplying a salt solution to said catheter, a tube communicating between said pressure chamber and said container, a capillary tube connected between said container and said channel for communicating said solution to said catheter and means for applying a pressure of approximately 300 mm. of mercury to the solution in the container, the dimensions of the capillary tube being such that a steady flow of solution is directed through said catheter tube at the rate of approximately 1 to 2 mls. per hour thereby preventing coagulation of blood in the tube so as to permit use thereof over prolonged periods of time.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising means for connecting said container with said capillary tube so as to communicate said solution to said catheter tube, and for connecting said container with the tube communicating between said pressure chamber and said container so as to fill said chamber and channel with said solution.

3. The device according to claim 1 further comprising means for closing the communication tube between said pressure chamber and said container.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said means for closing the communication tube includes a distributing cock for connecting the container with the pressure chamber through said communication tube and/or with said capillary tube.