Intracorporeal impedance and leak monitoring device
First Claim
1. A leak monitoring system comprising:
- a flexible conduit, wherein the flexible conduit is, during use, positioned inside of an opening in a human body, and wherein the flexible conduit comprises one or more channels;
one or more sensors disposed in or on, or connected to, the flexible conduit, wherein at least one of the sensors, during use, senses impedance changes caused by one or more fluids, introduced into the body part, leaking from the body part and contacting the one or more impedance sensors; and
an electrical conduit connected to provide electrical signals from one or more of the impedance sensors to a measurement determining unit, wherein the measurement determining unit determines, during use, the impedance change due to the presence of at least one fluid leaking from the body part;
wherein fluid leaking from the body part flows through one or more channels in the flexible conduit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The system and method may measure and monitor physiological changes in a body. In some embodiments, the system and method may measure the impedance at a site in the body. In some embodiments, the system and method identify, quantify, and localize leaks from a site following surgery. In an embodiment, the system includes a flexible conduit with one or more sensors. A flexible conduit shape may be selected to facilitate monitoring of physiological changes in a body and/or detection of leaks at a desired site. In an embodiment, contrast solution may be ingested by, injected in, and/or delivered to a patient. If a leak is present at a site, salt contrast solution may leak from a site and be detected by sensors in a flexible conduit.
36 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A leak monitoring system comprising:
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a flexible conduit, wherein the flexible conduit is, during use, positioned inside of an opening in a human body, and wherein the flexible conduit comprises one or more channels; one or more sensors disposed in or on, or connected to, the flexible conduit, wherein at least one of the sensors, during use, senses impedance changes caused by one or more fluids, introduced into the body part, leaking from the body part and contacting the one or more impedance sensors; and an electrical conduit connected to provide electrical signals from one or more of the impedance sensors to a measurement determining unit, wherein the measurement determining unit determines, during use, the impedance change due to the presence of at least one fluid leaking from the body part; wherein fluid leaking from the body part flows through one or more channels in the flexible conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20)
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7. A method of detecting leaks in a body part comprising:
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inserting a flexible conduit in an opening in the body, wherein the flexible conduit comprises two or more sensors disposed in or on, or connected to, the flexible conduit, wherein at least one of the sensors, during use, senses impedance changes proximate to the body part, and wherein the flexible conduit further comprises one or more channels wherein fluid leaking from the body part flows through one or more channels in the flexible conduit; positioning the flexible conduit in the body proximate to a body part such that the two or more sensors are proximate the body part; introducing a fluid into the body, wherein the fluid comprises one or more ions; and monitoring the status of the two or more sensors after the fluid is introduced into the body, wherein a change in the impedance of one or more of the impedance sensors indicates the presence of a leak from the body part. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 17, 18, 21, 22)
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11. A leak monitoring system comprising:
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a flexible conduit, wherein the flexible conduit is, during use, positioned inside of an opening in a human body, and wherein the flexible conduit comprises one or more channels; one or more sensors disposed in, or on, or connected to, the flexible conduit, wherein at least one of the sensors, during use, senses ion concentration changes caused by one or more fluids, introduced into the body part, leaking from the body part and contacting the ion concentration sensor, and wherein ions measured by the ion concentration sensor comprise fluoride, bromide, carbonate, bicarbonate, potassium, copper, lead, silver, gold, sulfide, nitrate, ammonium, iodide, or calcium; and an electrical conduit connected to provide electrical signals from one or more of the ion concentration sensors to a measurement determining unit, wherein the measurement determining unit determines, during use, ion concentration changes due to the presence of at least one fluid leaking from the body part; wherein fluid leaking from the body part flows through one or more channels in the flexible conduit.
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Specification