System and method for remote measurement of fluid flow

• US 5,873,837 A
• Filed: 09/09/1997
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Claude P. Lieber, Rajeev Bhatia
• Original Assignee: Claude P. Lieber, Rajeev Bhatia
• Inventors: Bhatia, Rajeev, Lieber, Claude P.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASTORINO, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US08/929,228
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 600/500-506, 128/897-898
• US Class Current: 600/504
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0265 using electromagnetic means, e.g. electromagnetic flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6884 Clamps or clips

Abstract

System and method for remote measurement of flow through an expansible conduit, particularly a surgically implanted arteriovenous or arterioarterial prosthetic.

Claims

1. A apparatus for measuring hemodynamic parameters related to blood flow comprising:

a surgically implantable expandable prosthetic conduit adapted to be in the limb of a human;

a magnetic composition, wherein the magnetic composition is a particle-epoxy composition that is coated around said surgically implanted expandable prosthetic conduit;

said magnetic composition affixed to said surgically implantable expandable prosthetic conduit which conduit is adapted to expand in response to fluctuations in fluid movement through the surgically implantable expandable conduit, and said conduit having a means for generating magnetic fluctuations;

a transponding means for receiving said magnetic fluctuations from said magnetic composition and emits voltage signals representative of the fluctuations;

a signal analyzer that receives the emitted signals, calculates a difference between signals and outputs associated electrical values indicative of blood flow.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, which includes means for receiving and displaying outputs from said associated electrical values.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transponding means comprises a Hall Effect transducer.

4. A method for measuring hemodynamic parameters related to blood flow comprising:

providing a surgically implanted expandable prosthetic conduit in the limb of a human, for receipt of blood flow therethrough;

providing the conduit with means to generate a voltage indicative of blood flow;

measuring, at a distance from the conduit and over a first period of time, a voltage caused by the blood flow so as to generate a first waveform of voltage or current versus time;

measuring, at a distance from the conduit and over a second period of time, a voltage caused by the flow so as to generate a second waveform of voltage or current versus time;

calculating the difference between the first and second waveforms as to regards to their amplitudes or frequencies;

wherein the measuring steps each comprise the transmission of a wireless signal to a signal analyzer from a transponder affixed to the conduit,

wherein the means to generate the voltage indicative of blood flow is generated by a Hall Effect transducer which is responsive to a flux of a magnetic composition affixed to the expandable conduit;

wherein the magnetic composition is a particle-epoxy composition that is coated around said surgically implanted expandable prosthetic conduit located in the limb of a human;

wherein the blood flow is pustile in nature and creates expansions in the surgically implanted expandable prosthetic conduit.