Bronchial or tracheal tissular water content sensor and system

• US 8,255,025 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Villegas, Diana
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAURITZEN, AMANDA L
• Application Number:
  US11/449,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20070299357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,272 Days
• Field of Search: 600/473, 600/476, 600/310, 600/529, 600/478
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4878 Evaluating oedema

Abstract

The disclosure provides a sensor system for detecting bronchial tissular water content including at least a sensor, a connector, and a monitor. The sensor generates a signal, which may be carried by the connector to the monitor, which generates an output corresponding to the signal. The disclosure additionally provides a sensor for detecting bronchial or tracheal tissular water content including at least a signal generator. The sensor may also include at least a segment of a connector. The disclosure also provides a method of measuring bronchial or tracheal tissular water content by inserting a sensor into an airway of a subject, such as a human, until it becomes lodged in a bronchus or the trachea, then measuring bronchial or tracheal tissular water content using the sensor.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an internal spectroscopic bronchial or tracheal tissular water fraction sensor configured to be placed against bronchial or tracheal tissue and configured to generate a signal indicative of a bronchial or tracheal tissular water fraction based on a spectroscopic measurement when inserted inside a patient and placed against the bronchial or tracheal tissue;

a connector configured to carry the signal; and

a monitor configured to receive the signal and generate an output corresponding to the bronchial or tracheal tissular water fraction.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the bronchial or tracheal tissue comprises a bronchial or a tracheal wall.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an optical signal.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal comprises near infrared light.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an analog signal.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal comprises a digital signal.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an electrical signal.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a tissue hydration probe.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an optical fiber.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an electrically conductive material.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a microchip.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a signal generator.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises an optical fiber.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises an electrically conductive material.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises a shaft connected to the sensor.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the shaft is configured to be inserted into the airway of a subject and to convey the sensor into a bronchus or the trachea of the subject.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the connector further comprises a cable connected to the shaft and the monitor.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises at least one coupler.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitor comprises a display.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitor comprises an alarm configured to be triggered based on the output.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitor comprises a microchip.

22. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one component configured to convert an optical signal to a digital signal, an optical signal to an analog signal, a digital signal to an analog signal, or vice versa.

23. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one replaceable component.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein the replaceable component comprises the sensor.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein the replaceable component comprises the connector or at least a segment of the connector.

26. The system according to claim 1, wherein the monitor is configured to display the bronchial or tracheal tissular water fraction as a percentage.

27. A system comprising:

means for sensing bronchial or tracheal tissular water percentage spectroscopically when inserted inside a patient and placed against bronchial or tracheal tissue;

means for generating a signal indicative of the bronchial or tracheal tissular water percentage;

means for carrying the signal; and

means for receiving the signal and generating an output corresponding to the bronchial or tracheal tissular water percentage.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the bronchial or tracheal tissue comprises a bronchial or tracheal wall.

29. The system according to of claim 27, wherein the signal comprises an optical signal.

30. The system according to claim 27, wherein the signal comprises near infrared light.

31. The system according to claim 27, wherein the signal comprises an analog signal.

32. The system according to claim 27, wherein the signal comprises a digital signal.

33. The system according to claim 27, wherein the signal comprises an electrical signal.

34. A system comprising:

an internal spectroscopic tissular water content sensor configured to be inserted inside a patient and against bronchial tissue of the patient, comprising;

an emitter configured to emit one or more wavelengths;

a detector configured to detect the one or more wavelengths and generate a signal in response to the detected wavelengths based on a spectroscopic measurement, wherein the signal is indicative of a content of water of the bronchial tissue; and

a monitor configured to receive the signal from the detector, comprising;

a microprocessor configured to determine the content of water of the bronchial tissue based on the signal and generate an output corresponding to the content of water of the bronchial tissue.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the one or more wavelengths are sensitive to the content of water of the bronchial tissue.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the monitor comprises an alarm triggered by the output.