Intrauterine pressure catheter device
First Claim
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1. A pressure catheter for detecting changes in pressure within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
- an elongated outer hollow tube defining a fluid channel extending longitudinally through an interior thereof, and at least one aperture formed in said outer hollow tube to provide communication between an exterior of said outer hollow tube and said fluid channel;
an inner tube positioned at least partially within said elongated outer hollow tube;
a flaccid, pressure-compliant member defining an interior chamber in communication with said inner tube, said flaccid, pressure-compliant member having an exterior surface exposed by structure of said catheter to a fluid environment within said patient'"'"'s body when inserted therein and substantially protected by structure of said pressure catheter from direct contact with tissues within said patient'"'"'s body while inserted therein; and
a charging structure for charging air into said inner tube, said inner tube and said flaccid, pressure-compliant member defining a closed air column operative to transmit said changes in pressure acting upon said flacid, pressure-compliant member through said inner tube subsequent to receiving a charge of air.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure catheter for monitoring changes in pressure within the body is comprised of an outer hollow tube containing a fluid channel and a closed air column having a pressure-compliant member which is deformable upon an increase in pressure. A change in pressure deforms the pressure-compliant member, which modifies the pressure in the air column, and is translated to a pressure sensor which converts the pressure change data to an electrical signal recognizable by a fetal monitor. The pressure catheter of the present invention is particularly suitable for intrauterine pressure monitoring during labor.
100 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A pressure catheter for detecting changes in pressure within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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an elongated outer hollow tube defining a fluid channel extending longitudinally through an interior thereof, and at least one aperture formed in said outer hollow tube to provide communication between an exterior of said outer hollow tube and said fluid channel; an inner tube positioned at least partially within said elongated outer hollow tube; a flaccid, pressure-compliant member defining an interior chamber in communication with said inner tube, said flaccid, pressure-compliant member having an exterior surface exposed by structure of said catheter to a fluid environment within said patient'"'"'s body when inserted therein and substantially protected by structure of said pressure catheter from direct contact with tissues within said patient'"'"'s body while inserted therein; and a charging structure for charging air into said inner tube, said inner tube and said flaccid, pressure-compliant member defining a closed air column operative to transmit said changes in pressure acting upon said flacid, pressure-compliant member through said inner tube subsequent to receiving a charge of air. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A pressure catheter for detecting changes in pressure within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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an elongated hollow tube having a first end and a second end; a channel extending longitudinally through said elongated hollow tube from proximate said first end to proximate said second end of said elongated hollow tube, said channel being in sealed communication with an interior chamber of a pressure-compliant member disposed proximate said second end of said elongated hollow tube, said catheter including structure for exposing an exterior surface of said pressure-compliant member to a fluid environment within said patient'"'"'s body when said second end of said elongated hollow tube is inserted therein and protecting said pressure-compliant member from direct contact with tissues of said patient'"'"'s body while inserted therein; a charging structure associated with an outlet of said channel proximate said first end of said elongated hollow tube for charging a volume of air into, and sealing said volume of air within, said channel and said interior chamber of said pressure-compliant member; a pressure detection device operable to detect pressure changes in said sealed volume of air; and an electronic signaling structure for transmitting detected pressure data to a monitor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification