Method and system for measuring pulmonary artery circulation information
First Claim
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1. A transbronchial medical system for measuring pulmonary circulation information of the pulmonary artery from the bronchi and without penetrating the pulmonary artery during a live procedure comprising:
- a transbronchial catheter comprising a flexible shaft and a distal section, said distal section comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer; and
an ultrasound Doppler signal processing unit comprising;
an output port for delivering outgoing electrical signals to said at least one ultrasonic transducer;
an input port for receiving incoming electrical signals from said at least one ultrasonic transducer;
a processor in communication with said output port and said input port and configured (a) to control the outgoing electrical signals delivered to said ultrasonic transducer;
(b) to receive and analyze the incoming electrical signals for volumetric flowrate (Q) of the pulmonary artery using Doppler shifting and time of flight analysis;
(c) to determine a precursor pressure signature of the fluid in the pulmonary artery using Doppler shifting; and
(d) to identify a pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) by comparing said precursor pressure signature to a database of pressure signatures determined prior to the live procedure wherein each of said predetermined pressure signatures has a corresponding mean pulmonary arterial pressure determined prior to the live procedure.
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Abstract
Minimally invasive systems and methods are described for measuring pulmonary circulation information from the pulmonary arteries. A transbronchial Doppler ultrasound catheter is advanced through the airways and in the vicinity of the pulmonary artery. Doppler ultrasound energy is sent through the airway wall and across the pulmonary artery to obtain velocity information of blood flowing through the artery. The velocity information is used to compute pulmonary circulation information including but not limited to flowrate.
29 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A transbronchial medical system for measuring pulmonary circulation information of the pulmonary artery from the bronchi and without penetrating the pulmonary artery during a live procedure comprising:
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a transbronchial catheter comprising a flexible shaft and a distal section, said distal section comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer; and an ultrasound Doppler signal processing unit comprising; an output port for delivering outgoing electrical signals to said at least one ultrasonic transducer; an input port for receiving incoming electrical signals from said at least one ultrasonic transducer; a processor in communication with said output port and said input port and configured (a) to control the outgoing electrical signals delivered to said ultrasonic transducer;
(b) to receive and analyze the incoming electrical signals for volumetric flowrate (Q) of the pulmonary artery using Doppler shifting and time of flight analysis;
(c) to determine a precursor pressure signature of the fluid in the pulmonary artery using Doppler shifting; and
(d) to identify a pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) by comparing said precursor pressure signature to a database of pressure signatures determined prior to the live procedure wherein each of said predetermined pressure signatures has a corresponding mean pulmonary arterial pressure determined prior to the live procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10)
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7. A method for determining pulmonary circulation information in a pulmonary artery of a patient during a live procedure without puncturing or opening the pulmonary artery, said method comprising:
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providing an ultrasound Doppler catheter, said catheter comprising a distal section and at least one ultrasound transducer in said distal section; advancing said distal section of said ultrasound Doppler catheter through a natural respiratory opening of the patient, and into an airway and to a location along an airway wall such that at least a portion of said distal section and said at least one ultrasound transducer is in proximity of the pulmonary artery; sending and receiving ultrasonic waves to said pulmonary artery from said ultrasound transducer; determining a measured pressure signature by analyzing the received ultrasonic waves; and comparing the measured pressure signature to a database created prior to the live procedure, said database comprising one or more predetermined pressure signatures wherein each of said predetermined pressure signatures has an associated mean pulmonary arterial pressure measured prior to the live procedure. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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11. A transbronchial method for determining flowrate in a blood vessel in the thoracic cavity during a live procedure, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasound catheter, said catheter comprising a distal section and at least one ultrasound transducer in said distal section; advancing said distal section of said catheter through a natural respiratory opening, and into an airway such that at least a portion of said distal section and said at least one ultrasound transducer is in proximity of the blood vessel; sending ultrasound energy along a path across a tissue region, said tissue region including said blood vessel; and analyzing reflected ultrasound energy to determine flowrate in said blood vessel wherein said analyzing comprises comparing a measured pressure signature to a database created prior to the live procedure, said database comprising one or more predetermined pressure signatures wherein each of said predetermined pressure signatures has an associated mean pulmonary arterial pressure measured prior to the live procedure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification