Integrated optic system for monitoring blood pressure

• US 4,727,730 A
• Filed: 07/10/1986
• Issued: 03/01/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medex Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Medex Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sherman, Rand C., Boiarski, Anthony A., Hartman, Nile F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorer, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US06/884,219
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 128/672-675, 128/748, 128/665-667, 128/633-634, 73/705, 73/708, 73/715
• US Class Current: 600/480
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02154 by optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6432 Quenching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6434 Optrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6484 Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/772 Tip coated light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0622 Use of a compensation LED

Abstract

Blood gases and the like are monitored by a single probe having multiple dye wells and dyes immobilized in the wells, the dyes being exposed to the blood gases. Optical fibers and waveguides connected to the dye wells permit light to be directed from a light source to the dyes and the light due to absorption or the spontaneous emission of the dye returned to a light detector. The intensity, phase shift or other mechanism of the returned radiation is a measure of the partial pressure of a respective blood gas.

Claims

1. Blood pressure monitoring apparatus comprising,

a block,

means defining a cavity in said block,

said cavity having an opening,

a resilient diaphragm overlying said opening and having an outside surface exposed to blood in a blood vessel,

a diffraction grating cantilevered over said opening and engaged by said diaphragm to bend said grating into said cavity upon application of blood pressure on the outside surface of said diaphragm,

means for directing a beam of light consisting of two wavelengths onto said diffraction grating,

light-receiving means presenting a surface in said cavity,

and means for measuring the quantity of each said wavelength impinging on said surface.

2. Blood pressure monitoring apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising,

parallel incoming and outgoing waveguides having ends extending into said cavity,

means guiding incoming beams from said incoming waveguide to said diffraction grating and onto said outgoing waveguide,

and optical fibers mounted between said waveguides and said measuring means.

3. Blood pressure monitoring apparatus comprising,

a block having a cavity therein, a light source, first optical fibers connected between said light source and said cavity to direct light rays into said cavity,

a diffraction grating overlying said cavity and being in the path of said light rays, said diffraction grating deflecting in response to variations in fluid pressure external to said block,

monitoring means,

second optical fibers connected between said cavity and said monitoring means and positioned to receive reflections from said diffraction grating,

said monitoring means indicating variations in blood pressure dependent upon the amount of deflection of said diffraction grating.