Electronically monitored angioplasty system
First Claim
1. An angioplasty system comprising:
- an angioplasty syringe with an outlet connectable to a balloon catheter having a balloon to be inflated and deflated;
pressure transducer means mounted in fluid communication with the syringe outlet for generating an electrical pressure signal corresponding to the pressure in the balloon;
conversion circuit means coupled to said pressure transducer means for converting said electrical pressure signal to a numerical pressure value, said conversion circuit means including a read-out for displaying the numerical pressure value; and
verifier circuit means coupled to the conversion circuit means for selectively causing said conversion circuit means to offset the numerical pressure value by a predetermined amount whereby observing a change in the displayed numerical value on said read-out corresponding to said predetermined amount verifies operation of said conversion circuit means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronically monitored angioplasty system is provided with a verifier circuit to verify the operation of conversion circuitry for converting an electrical pressure signal from a pressure transducer to a displayed numerical value on a digital read-out. The verifier circuit is selectively activated to offset the displayed numerical value by a predetermined amount and upon deactivation the displayed numerical value returns to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer in the balloon. In one embodiment, a reference signal to the conversion circuitry is selectively offset by a signal corresponding to the predetermined amount and in another embodiment the electrical pressure signal itself is selectively offset by a reference signal corresponding to the predetermined amount. In another aspect of the system, an audible balloon deflation indicator circuit sounds a pleasant signal that the pressure within the balloon has fallen below a threshold pressure so the doctor need not divert attention from the patient.
126 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An angioplasty system comprising:
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an angioplasty syringe with an outlet connectable to a balloon catheter having a balloon to be inflated and deflated; pressure transducer means mounted in fluid communication with the syringe outlet for generating an electrical pressure signal corresponding to the pressure in the balloon; conversion circuit means coupled to said pressure transducer means for converting said electrical pressure signal to a numerical pressure value, said conversion circuit means including a read-out for displaying the numerical pressure value; and verifier circuit means coupled to the conversion circuit means for selectively causing said conversion circuit means to offset the numerical pressure value by a predetermined amount whereby observing a change in the displayed numerical value on said read-out corresponding to said predetermined amount verifies operation of said conversion circuit means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electronic monitor for an angioplasty system having an angioptasty syringe with an outlet connectable to a balloon catheter terminating in a balloon to be inflated and deflated and a pressure transducer for generating an electrical pressure signal corresponding to the pressure in the balloon, the monitor comprising:
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input means for receiving the signal from the pressure transducer; and conversion circuit means coupled to the input means for converting the electrical pressure signal to a numerical pressure value, said conversion circuit means including a read-out for displaying the numerical pressure value; and verifier circuit means coupled to the conversion circuit means for selectively causing said conversion circuit means to offset the numerical pressure value by a predetermined amount whereby observing a change in the displayed numerical value on said read-out corresponding to said predetermined amount verifies operation of said conversion circuit means. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for verifying operation of an angioplasty system having an angioplasty syringe connected to a balloon catheter terminating in a balloon to be inflated and deflated, comprising:
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mounting a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the syringe; generating an electrical pressure signal corresponding to the pressure in the balloon from the pressure transducer; converting in conversion circuitry the electrical pressure signal to a numerical pressure value; displaying the numerical pressure value; and verifying the operation of the conversion circuitry by selectively offsetting the numerical pressure value by a predetermined amount whereby observing a change in the displayed numerical pressure value on said read-out corresponding to said predetermined amount verifies said conversion circuit means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification