System and method for assessing capillary vitality

• US 8,133,177 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vasamed, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vasamed, Inc.
• Inventors: LaPlante, Paulita, Bartnik, Daniel J., Kimball, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Mallari, Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'ANGELO, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/021,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,505 Days
• Field of Search: 600/504, 600/507, 600/323, 600/335, 600/334, 600/495, 600/496, 600/363, 600/322, 600453-456, 600/300, 600/386, 600391-392, 128/635, 128/668
• US Class Current: 600/363
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0295 using plethysmography, i.e. measuring the variations in the volume of a body part as modified by the circulation of blood therethrough, e.g. impedance plethysmography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00

Abstract

A device for assessing capillary vitality comprises an inflatable cuff, a blood flow sensor and a pressure sensor in communication with the cuff, a pressure instrument in fluid communication with the cuff for inflation and deflation thereof, a microprocessor coupled to the pressure instrument for controlling airflow, at least one metabolic sensor for measuring a metabolic condition, and a computer program executable by the microprocessor. The pressure instrument includes a source of pressurized air and a conduit connecting the source of pressurized air to the cuff. The microprocessor is arranged to receive inputs from the blood flow, pressure and metabolic sensors. When executed by the microprocessor, the computer program causes the microprocessor to initiate an automatic inflation sequence resulting in a no flow condition, initiate an automatic deflation sequence, automatically qualify a perfusion measurement as an SPP value upon one or more conditions being met during the deflation sequence, and initiate the measurement of at least one metabolic factor.

Claims

1. A device for assessing capillary vitality comprising:

an inflatable cuff;

a blood flow sensor in communication with the cuff for measuring blood flow in a patient;

a pressure sensor in communication with the cuff for reading pressure levels in the cuff;

a pressure instrument in fluid communication with the cuff for inflation and deflation thereof, the pressure instrument comprising;

a source of pressurized air; and

a conduit connected to the source of pressurized air and the cuff, thereby placing the source of pressurized air in fluid communication with the cuff;

at least one metabolic sensor for measuring at least one metabolic condition of the patient;

a microprocessor operably coupled to said pressure instrument and capable of controlling pressurized airflow to and from the cuff, wherein said microprocessor is arranged to receive inputs from the blood flow, pressure and metabolic sensors;

a computer program executable by the microprocessor such that when executed, the computer program causes the microprocessor to;

initiate an automatic inflation sequence resulting in a no flow condition;

initiate an automatic deflation sequence;

automatically qualify a perfusion measurement as skin perfusion pressure value upon all conditions of a set of predetermined conditions being met during the deflation sequence;

initiate the measurement of at least one metabolic condition through said at least one metabolic sensor,

wherein a relationship among the measurements of blood flow, pressure and said at least one metabolic condition are displayed.

2. The device for assessing capillary vitality of claim 1 further comprising an array of metabolic sensors for measuring pCO₂, pH, NADH and SaO₂.

3. The device for assessing capillary vitality of claim 2 wherein said array of metabolic sensors are integrated into said cuff.

4. The device for assessing capillary vitality of claim 3 wherein said cuff is permeable.

5. A device for assessing capillary vitality comprising:

an inflatable cuff;

a blood flow sensor in communication with the cuff for measuring blood flow in a patient;

a pressure sensor in communication with the cuff for reading pressure levels in the cuff;

a pressure instrument in fluid communication with the cuff for inflation and deflation thereof, the pressure instrument comprising;

a source of pressurized air; and

a conduit connected to the source of pressurized air and the cuff, thereby placing the source of pressurized air in fluid communication with the cuff;

array of metabolic sensors for measuring pCO₂, pH, NADH and SaO₂ of the patient;

a microprocessor operably coupled to said pressure instrument and capable of controlling pressurized airflow to and from the cuff, wherein said microprocessor is arranged to receive inputs from the blood flow, pressure and metabolic sensors;

a computer program executable by the microprocessor such that when executed, the computer program causes the microprocessor to;

initiate an automatic inflation sequence resulting in a no flow condition;

initiate an automatic deflation sequence;

automatically qualify a perfusion measurement as a skin perfusion pressure value upon one or more conditions being met during the deflation sequence;

initiate the measurement of at least one metabolic factor through said at least one metabolic sensor,

wherein a relationship among the blood flow, pressure and metabolic measurements are displayed.

6. The device for assessing capillary vitality of claim 5 wherein said array of metabolic sensors are integrated into said cuff.

7. The device for assessing capillary vitality of claim 5 wherein said cuff is permeable.