Urodynamic catheter

• US 5,385,563 A
• Filed: 09/14/1993
• Issued: 01/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Original Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Inventors: Gross, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISS, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/120,500
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 604/264, 604/280, 604/284, 604/100, 604/117, 128/748
• US Class Current: 604/284
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/205 Determining bladder or urethral pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked

Abstract

Disclosed is a urodynamic catheter having a fill lumen for filling the bladder with liquid; at least a first pressure-sensing lumen having an opening adapted for being positioned within the bladder for obtaining pressure readings of the bladder; and preferably also a second pressure-sensing lumen having an opening adapted for being positioned within the urethra while the opening of the first pressure-sensing lumen is within the bladder, the opening in the urethra being for obtaining pressure readings of the urethra.

Each pressure-sensing lumen has a radio-opaque element fixedly seated therewithin in close proximity to and distal to the opening in the lumen for determining proper placement of the catheter within the patient.

Claims

1. A urodynamic catheter comprising a flexible tube having a distal end for insertion within the urogenital tract of a male patient or the urinary tract of a female patient and an opposed proximal end;

a fill lumen extending between the ends of the tube and having at least one opening at its distal end adapted for introducing a liquid into a patient'"'"'s bladder;

a first pressure-sensing lumen having an opening adapted for being positioned within the bladder for obtaining pressure readings as the bladder is filled with liquid through the fill lumen and then as the bladder empties; and

a radio-opaque marker element fixedly seated within the first pressure-sensing lumen in close proximity and distal to the opening in the pressure-sensing lumen.

2. A urodynamic catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein the fill lumen has a pair of openings for introducing a liquid into the bladder.

3. A urodynamic catheter as defined in claim 2 wherein the opening in the first pressure-sensing lumen is disposed longitudinally between the pair of openings in the fill lumen.

4. A urodynamic catheter as defined in claim 1 including a second pressure-sensing lumen having an opening adapted to be positioned within a patient'"'"'s urethra for obtaining pressure readings of the urethra while the openings in the fill lumen and first pressure-sensitive lumens remain positioned in the bladder;

and a radio-opaque marker element fixedly seated within the second pressure-sensing lumen in close proximity and distal to the opening in the second pressure-sensing lumen.

5. A urodynamic catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the proximal end of each pressure-sensing lumen is adapted for connection to means for determining pressure readings;

and the proximal end of the fill lumen is adapted for placement in fluid communication with a source of liquid for filling the bladder.

6. A urodynamic catheter comprising a flexible tube having opposed proximal and distal ends, the distal end being adapted for insertion within the urogenital tract of a male patient or the urinary tract of a female patient;

a fill lumen extending between the ends of the tube and having at least one opening at its distal end adapted for introducing a liquid into a patient'"'"'s bladder in preparation for obtaining pressure profile readings of the bladder and the urethra;

a first pressure sensing lumen extending between the ends of the tube and having an opening adapted for being positioned within the bladder for obtaining pressure readings as the bladder is filled with liquid through the fill lumen and then as the bladder empties, the first pressure-sensing lumen having a radio-opaque marker element fixedly seated therein in close proximity and distal to the opening in the first pressure-sensing lumen;

and a second pressure-sensing lumen extending between the ends of the tube and having an opening positioned proximal to the opening in the first pressure-sensitive lumen such that when the openings in the first pressure-sensing lumen and fill lumen are positioned within the bladder the opening in the second pressure-sensing lumen can be positioned within the patient'"'"'s urethra, the second pressure-sensing lumen having a radio-opaque marker element in close proximity to and distal to the opening in the second pressure-sensing lumen,

whereby the precise-location of the urodynamic catheter inserted in the patient can be determined by detector means determining the location of the radio-opaque elements with respect to the bladder and urethra, respectively, and any necessary positioning adjustments made to place the first and second pressure-sensing lumens in proper positioning for obtaining pressure readings of the bladder and urethra.