Method and apparatus for the measurement of intra-abdominal pressure
First Claim
1. A method of determining the intra-abdominal pressure in a patient having a catheter that drains fluid from the patient into a collection container, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a reservoir between the catheter and the collection container, the reservoir being connected to the catheter by a transparent inlet tube such that the reservoir fills with the fluid drained from the patient when the reservoir is positioned below the patient;
raising the reservoir to a defined measurement height above the patient such that the volume of the fluid in the reservoir flows back into the patient through the transparent inlet tube and the catheter; and
measuring the height of the fluid in the transparent inlet tube after the fluid has been returned to the patient from the reservoir to determine the intraabdominal pressure in the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring the intra-abdominal pressure within a patient. A reservoir is positioned between a drainage catheter (e.g. a urinary catheter or naso-gastric tube) and a collection container for the fluid being drained from the patient'"'"'s body. The reservoir defines a constant volume and receives the withdrawn fluid through a manometer tube having a series of markings. The reservoir includes an air vent that ensures that the volume of fluid in the reservoir is held at atmospheric pressure when the reservoir is raised above the patient. When the reservoir is raised to a predetermined measurement height above the patient, the volume of fluid in the reservoir is returned to the patient. The height of the liquid column within the manometer tube provides a direct indication of the intra-abdominal pressure of the patient.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of determining the intra-abdominal pressure in a patient having a catheter that drains fluid from the patient into a collection container, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a reservoir between the catheter and the collection container, the reservoir being connected to the catheter by a transparent inlet tube such that the reservoir fills with the fluid drained from the patient when the reservoir is positioned below the patient;
raising the reservoir to a defined measurement height above the patient such that the volume of the fluid in the reservoir flows back into the patient through the transparent inlet tube and the catheter; and
measuring the height of the fluid in the transparent inlet tube after the fluid has been returned to the patient from the reservoir to determine the intraabdominal pressure in the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
connecting the reservoir to a source of negative pressure such that the source of negative pressure draws the fluid from the patient into the reservoir;
providing an air vent in the reservoir such that when the air vent is open, the interior of the reservoir is maintained at atmospheric pressure;
blocking the air vent when the reservoir is positioned below the patient; and
opening the air vent to vent the reservoir to atmosphere when the reservoir is at the measurement height.
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9. A device for determining the intra-abdominal pressure in a patient having a catheter for draining fluid from the patient into a collection container, the apparatus comprising:
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a reservoir having an inlet and an outlet;
a transparent inlet tube connecting the inlet of the reservoir to the catheter such that the fluid from the patient drains into the reservoir through the inlet tube when the reservoir is below the patient and fluid from the reservoir flows back to the patient when the reservoir is positioned above the patient;
a drainage tube connecting the outlet of the reservoir to the collection container, wherein fluid for the reservoir overflows into the discharge tube through the outlet;
an air vent formed in the reservoir such that the interior of the reservoir is vented to atmospheric pressure when the air vent is in an open position;
a measurement height indicator associated with the inlet tube, wherein the measurement height indicator determines a measurement height of the reservoir above the patient, the measurement height being used to determine the intra-abdominal pressure; and
a liquid level indicator associated with the inlet tube to indicate the height of the liquid in the inlet tube when the reservoir is at the measurement height. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of determining the intra-abdominal pressure in a patient having a catheter that drains fluid from the patient into a collection container, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a reservoir between the catheter and the collection container, the reservoir being connected to the catheter by an inlet tube such that the reservoir fills with the fluid drained from the patient when the reservoir is positioned below a horizontal axis extending through the abdominal cavity of the patient when the patient is a supine position;
allowing the reservoir to fill with the fluid from the patient until the volume of fluid overflows through an outlet formed in the reservoir, such that a measurement volume of fluid is contained within the reservoir;
raising the reservoir to a measurement height above the horizontal axis passing through the patient such that the measurement volume of fluid in the reservoir flows back into the patient through the inlet tube and the catheter; and
measuring the height of the fluid in the inlet tube above the horizontal axis when the reservoir is at the measurement height, the height of the fluid in the inlet tube being indicative of the intra-abdominal pressure in the patient. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification