CATHETER TIP PRESSURE TRANSDUCER

• US 3,710,781 A
• Filed: 10/12/1970
• Issued: 01/16/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Miles Lowell Edwards, Thomas B. Iv Huthcins
• Original Assignee: Miles Lowell Edwards, Thomas B. Iv Huthcins
• Inventors: Edwards, Miles Lowell, Huthcins, Thomas B. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/080,020
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2R,2S,2.5D,2.5F,2.5F,2.5R,2.1R 23/393,398AR,398R,409
• US Class Current: 600/488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0002 with a pressure sensor at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube

Abstract

A support member has a tubular shank end secured in the end of a catheter tube. A pair of elongated pressure transducer elements is mounted in opposite sides of the support. A flexible rubber sleeve sheathes the support and transducer elements and transmits external fluid pressure to outer faces of the transducer elements. Atmospheric pressure is communicated to inner faces of the transducer elements through said tubular shank and a lumen in the catheter tube.

Claims

1. A catheter pressure transducer assembly comprising a flexible plastic catheter tube, a rigid tip member having a tubular shank on its proximal end received in the end of said catheter tube and having a cylindrical portion abutting the end of said tube, a distal end on said tip member, a pair of opposite side walls extending between said cylindrical portion and said distal end, a pair of ledges on said cylindrical portion recessed between said side walls in spaced relation thereto, a pair of ledges on said distal end recessed between said side walls in spaced relation thereto, a pair of piezo resistive beam elements on opposite sides of said tip member supported on said ledges, the sides of said beam elements being spaced from said side walls so that said beam elements can flex freely between said side walls, an impervious flexible sheath surrounding said tip member, said side walls having edges in the planes of the outer faces of said beam elements to support said sheath in contact with said outer faces, and circuit wires in said catheter tube connected to said beam elements.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1, said tip member having a web portion interconnecting said opposite side walls between said two beam elements.

3. An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said beam elements are held seated on said ledges by said sheath.

4. An assembly as defined in claim 1, said sheath comprising a pre-formed sleeve, and binding means overlying said shank binding said sleeve to said catheter tube and binding said catheter tube to said shank.

5. An assembly as defined in claim 1 including a lumen in said catheter tube communicating atmospheric pressure to the inside of said sheath and containing said circuit wires to said beam elements.

6. A catheter pressure transducer assembly comprising a flexible plastic catheter tube, a rigid tip member having a tubular shank on its proximal end received in the end of said catheter tube and having a cylindrical portion abutting the end of said tube, a distal end on said tip member, a pair of opposite side walls extending between said cylindrical portion and said distal end, a web interconnecting said opposite side walls, a pair of ledges on said cylindrical portion recessed between said side walls in spaced relation thereto on opposite sides of said web, a pair of ledges on said distal end recessed between said side walls in spaced relation thereto on opposite sides of said web, a pair of piezo resistive beam elements supported on said ledges on opposite sides of said web, the sides of said beam elements being spaced from said side walls so that said beAm elements can flex freely between said side walls, an impervious flexible sleeve surrounding said tip member and holding said beam elements seated on said ledges, said side walls having edges in the planes of the outer faces of said beam elements to support said sleeve in contact with said outer faces, binding means overlying said shank binding said sleeve to said catheter tube and binding said catheter tube to said shank, and circuit wires in said catheter tube connected to said beam elements.