Systems and methods of identifying catheter malfunctions using pressure sensing
First Claim
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1. A method of identifying the presence of a catheter malfunction, the method comprising:
- delivering pulses of a fluid into a delivery lumen of an implanted catheter;
measuring decay time after a selected pulse, wherein the decay time is the time required for pressure within the delivery lumen to fall below a selected threshold pressure value after a selected event corresponding to the selected pulse;
comparing the decay time to a selected decay time; and
determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a leak in the catheter if the decay time is below the selected decay time.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for determining whether a catheter malfunction is present in a catheter by analyzing changes in the pressure of fluids being pumped through the delivery lumen of the catheter. The pressure changes that may be monitored may include, e.g., the peak pressure within the catheter and/or the pressure decay profile. The catheter malfunctions that may be determined using the methods and systems of the invention may include, e.g., leaks, blockages, the presence of gas bubbles, etc.
174 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of identifying the presence of a catheter malfunction, the method comprising:
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delivering pulses of a fluid into a delivery lumen of an implanted catheter; measuring decay time after a selected pulse, wherein the decay time is the time required for pressure within the delivery lumen to fall below a selected threshold pressure value after a selected event corresponding to the selected pulse; comparing the decay time to a selected decay time; and determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a leak in the catheter if the decay time is below the selected decay time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 23, 24)
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9. A method of identifying the presence of a catheter malfunction, the method comprising:
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delivering pulses of a fluid into a delivery lumen of an implanted catheter; measuring decay time after a selected pulse, wherein the decay time is the time required for pressure within the delivery lumen to fall below a selected threshold pressure value after a selected event corresponding to the selected pulse; and assigning a timeout value to the decay time if the pressure within the delivery lumen does not fall below the selected threshold pressure value after a selected timeout time. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 25, 26)
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16. A method of identifying the presence of a catheter malfunction, the method comprising:
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delivering pulses of a fluid into a delivery lumen of an implanted catheter; measuring peak pressure within the delivery lumen after a selected pulse; comparing the measured peak pressure to a selected peak pressure value; and determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a disconnected catheter if the measured peak pressure value is below the selected peak pressure value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28)
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22. A method of determining the presence of a catheter malfunction, the method comprising:
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delivering pulses of the fluid into a delivery lumen of the catheter;
measuring peak pressure within the delivery lumen after a selected pulse;comparing the measured peak pressure to a selected peak pressure value; determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a disconnected catheter if the measured peak pressure value is below the selected peak pressure value after comparing the measured peak pressure to the selected peak pressure; measuring decay time after a selected pulse, wherein the decay time is the time required for pressure within the delivery lumen to fall below a selected threshold pressure value after a selected event corresponding to the selected pulse; assigning a timeout value to the decay time if the pressure within the delivery lumen does not fall below the selected threshold pressure value after a selected timeout time; comparing the decay time to a selected decay time after measuring the decay time; determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a leak in the catheter if the decay time is below the selected decay time; and
determining the existence of a catheter malfunction in the form of a blockage in the delivery lumen if the decay time is at the timeout value.
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Specification