Apparatus and method for continuous monitoring of tissue carbon dioxide and pH using capnometric recirculating gas tonometry
First Claim
1. A tonometry catheter apparatus comprising:
- an elongate flexible tube having a proximal extracorporeal end and a distal intracorporeal end;
the distal end of the tube havinga distensible, inflatable, gas-permeable tonometry vessel, the vessel and the distal end defining therebetween a space which is filled with a gas,an in-flow orifice in communication with the space, through which gas may enter the vessel,an in-flow lumen with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in communication with the in-flow orifice,an out-flow orifice in communication with the space, through which the gas may exit the vessel, andan out-flow lumen with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in communication with the out-flow orifice,the proximal end of the tube havingmeans for propelling gas into the vessel, the propelling means being selected from a group consisting of a peristaltic pump, a roller pump, an impeller pump, a blower, a propeller, a fan, a circulator, and their equivalents, andmeans for continuously quantifying the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas exiting the vessel, anda hollow connecting member linking the propelling and quantifying means to define with the vessel, the in-flow lumen and the out-flow lumen a closed path through which the gas may continuously recirculate under a relatively constant pressure, thereby resulting in a substantially error-free, stable reading.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tonometry catheter apparatus comprising an elongate flexible tube having a proximal extracorporeal end and a distal interacorporeal end. The distal end of the tube has a distensible, gas-permeable tonometry vessel, the vessel and the distal end defining therebetween a space which may be filled with a gas. An in-flow orifice lies in communication with the space, through which gas may enter the vessel. An in-flow lumen with a distal end and a proximal end is also provided, the distal end being in communication with the in-flow orifice. An out-flow orifice lies in communication with the space, through which the gas may exit the vessel. An out-flow lumen is disposed with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in communication with the out-flow orifice. The proximal end of the tube has a pump for propelling gas into the vessel. A capnometer and a sensor quantify the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas exiting the vessel. A hollow connecting member defines with the vessel, the in-flow lumen and the out-flow lumen a closed path through which the gas may continuously recirculate.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A tonometry catheter apparatus comprising:
-
an elongate flexible tube having a proximal extracorporeal end and a distal intracorporeal end; the distal end of the tube having a distensible, inflatable, gas-permeable tonometry vessel, the vessel and the distal end defining therebetween a space which is filled with a gas, an in-flow orifice in communication with the space, through which gas may enter the vessel, an in-flow lumen with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in communication with the in-flow orifice, an out-flow orifice in communication with the space, through which the gas may exit the vessel, and an out-flow lumen with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in communication with the out-flow orifice, the proximal end of the tube having means for propelling gas into the vessel, the propelling means being selected from a group consisting of a peristaltic pump, a roller pump, an impeller pump, a blower, a propeller, a fan, a circulator, and their equivalents, and means for continuously quantifying the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas exiting the vessel, and a hollow connecting member linking the propelling and quantifying means to define with the vessel, the in-flow lumen and the out-flow lumen a closed path through which the gas may continuously recirculate under a relatively constant pressure, thereby resulting in a substantially error-free, stable reading. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 19)
-
-
9. A tonometry catheter apparatus comprising:
-
an elongate flexible tube having a proximal extracorporeal end and a distal intracorporeal end; the distal end of the tube having a distensible, inflatable, gas-permeable tonometry vessel, the vessel and the distal end defining therebetween a space which is filled with a gas, an in-flow orifice in communication with the space, through which gas may enter the vessel, an in-flow lumen with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in communication with the in-flow orifice, an out-flow orifice in communication with the space, through which the gas may exit the vessel, and an out-flow lumen with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in communication with the out-flow orifice, the proximal end of the tube having means for propelling gas into the vessel, means for continuously quantifying the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas exiting the vessel, a hollow connecting member linking the propelling and quantifying means to define with the vessel, the in-flow lumen and the out-flow lumen a closed path through which the gas may continuously recirculate under a relatively constant pressure, thereby resulting in a substantially error-free, stable reading, one or more safety pressure relief lumens, and one or more pressure relief valves in communication with in-flow, the out-flow, and the one or more safety pressure relief lumens to regulate pressure within the closed path in the event of malfunction that could otherwise lead to an undesirable and hazardous progressive accumulation of gas within a body cavity of a human subject in which the vessel is inserted. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
-
10. A tonometry catheter apparatus comprising:
-
an elongate flexible tube having a proximal extracorporeal end and a distal intracorporeal end; the distal end of the tube having a distensible, inflatable, gas-permeable tonometry vessel, the vessel and the distal end defining therebetween a space which is filled with a gas, an in-flow orifice in communication with the space, through which gas may enter the vessel, an in-flow lumen with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in communication with the in-flow orifice, an out-flow orifice in communication with the space, through which the gas may exit the vessel, and an out-flow lumen with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being in communication with the out-flow orifice, the proximal end of the tube having means for propelling gas into the vessel, means for continuously quantifying the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas exiting the vessel, and a hollow connecting member linking the propelling and quantifying means to define with the vessel, the in-flow lumen and the out-flow lumen a closed path through which the gas may continuously recirculate under a relatively constant pressure, thereby resulting in a substantially error-free, stable reading, one or more safety pressure relief lumens, and a pressure sensing means in communication with the one or more safety pressure relief lumens for quantifying pressure in the closed path and detecting undesirable or hazardous increases in pressure within a body cavity of a human subject in whom the vessel has been inserted. - View Dependent Claims (11, 13, 14)
-
-
18. A method for continuous indirect monitoring of organ or tissue oxygenation, gas exchange, and pH comprising:
-
providing a catheter having an elongate flexible tube; introducing the catheter into an organ of interest so that a gas-permeable, inflatable vessel is disposed at a desired sampling site; positioning the vessel at the sampling site for a length of time sufficient to allow carbon dioxide gas at the sampling site to diffuse across the vessel'"'"'s wall and into an out-flow lumen provided within the flexible tube; circulating gas under a relatively constant pressure within a closed circuit defined by the vessel, the in-flow lumen, the out-flow lumen, and a hollow connecting member connecting the in-flow and out-flow lumens; analyzing gas on a continuous basis within the closed circuit for the level of carbon dioxide gas within the gas mixture contained in the circuit; determining the intracellular pH of the organ or tissue at or near the sampling site on a continuous basis from the level of carbon dioxide gas and a measure or estimate of body bicarbonate concentration; and determining whether organ or tissue hypercapnia, acidosis, hypoxia, or ischemia are present on the basis of the determination of carbon dioxide gas level within the vessel and on the basis of intracellular pH determination. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification