Patient monitoring apparatus and method
First Claim
1. Patient monitoring apparatus comprising an oesophageal probe including an oesophageal balloon for provoking the oesophagus of a patient to cause contractions therein, means for applying a fluid under to the oesophageal balloon, a sensor for detecting signals indicative of oesophageal contractions in the oesophagus of the patient, means for deriving from the said signals an output indicative of the degree of anaesthesia of the patient, and means for protecting the oesophagus of the patient from leakage of the fluid from the probe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for monitoring patient functions, particularly depth of anesthesia includes an oesophageal probe having a balloon located in the patient'"'"'s oesophagus to provoke contractions thereof; a gas cylinder or pump for applying air or saline solution to the balloon and a sensor for detecting signals indicative of oesophageal contraction, from which signals the depth of anesthesia may be estimated.
103 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. Patient monitoring apparatus comprising an oesophageal probe including an oesophageal balloon for provoking the oesophagus of a patient to cause contractions therein, means for applying a fluid under to the oesophageal balloon, a sensor for detecting signals indicative of oesophageal contractions in the oesophagus of the patient, means for deriving from the said signals an output indicative of the degree of anaesthesia of the patient, and means for protecting the oesophagus of the patient from leakage of the fluid from the probe.
- 12. An elongate probe for measuring oesophageal contractions, having a distal end adapted to pass downwardly through the oesophagus of the patient, and a proximal end adapted in use to lie externally of the mouth of the patient, the probe including a first balloon adapted in use to lie within the oesophagus of the patient, a lumen in fluid communication with the first balloon and the proximal end of the probe to enable pressurization of the first balloon for stimulating the oesophagus, to cause contractions therein, a second balloon adapted in use to lie within the oesophagus of the patient for enabling the measurement of pressure within the oesophagus, thereby to sense contractions of the oesophagus, and an enclosure around at least one of the said balloons for preventing the egress of fluid from the respective balloon to the oesophagus in the event of rupture of the respctive balloon.
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16. A method of monitoring the degree of anaesthesia of a patient utilizing an oesophageal of the type including an oesophageal balloon for provoking the oesophagus of a patient to cause contractions therein, means for applying a fluid under pressure to the oesophageal balloon, a sensor for detecting signals indicative of oesophageal contractions in the oesophagus of the patient, means for deriving from the said signals an output indicative of the degree of anaesthesia of the patient, and means for protecting the oesophagus of the patient from leakage of the fluid from the probe, which method comprises passing the oesophageal probe into the oesophagus of the patient, applying a fluid under pressure to the oesophageal balloon, protecting the oesophagus of the patient from leakage of the fluid from the probe utilizing the said protection means, and monitoring the degree of patient anaesthesia by deriving the same from said signals.
Specification