Method of locating the tip of a central venous catheter
First Claim
1. A method of locating a tip of a central venous catheter having a portion disposed within the superior vena cava, the catheter comprising a distal pair of electrodes and a proximal pair of electrodes spaced longitudinally from the distal pair of electrodes, the method comprising:
- obtaining a distal electrical signal from the distal pair of electrodes;
generating a first P wave from the distal signal;
obtaining a proximal electrical signal from the proximal pair of electrodes;
generating a second P wave from the proximal signal;
comparing the first and second P waves;
obtaining a reference electrical signal in the superior vena cava;
generating a reference P wave from the reference electrical signal;
comparing the reference P wave with at least one of the first and second P waves; and
determining a location of the tip of the central venous catheter based on the comparison of the first and second P waves and the comparison of the reference P wave with at least one of the first and second P waves.
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Abstract
A method of locating a tip of a central venous catheter (“CVC”) having a distal and proximal pair of electrodes disposed within the superior vena cava, right atrium, and/or right ventricle. The method includes obtaining a distal and proximal electrical signal from the distal and proximal pair of electrodes and using those signals to generate a distal and proximal P wave, respectively. A deflection value is determined for each of the P waves. A ratio of the deflection values is then used to determine a location of the tip of the CVC. Optionally, the CVC may include a reference pair of electrodes disposed within the superior vena cava from which a reference deflection value may be obtained. A ratio of one of the other deflection values to the reference deflection value may be used to determine the location of the tip of the CVC.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of locating a tip of a central venous catheter having a portion disposed within the superior vena cava, the catheter comprising a distal pair of electrodes and a proximal pair of electrodes spaced longitudinally from the distal pair of electrodes, the method comprising:
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obtaining a distal electrical signal from the distal pair of electrodes; generating a first P wave from the distal signal; obtaining a proximal electrical signal from the proximal pair of electrodes; generating a second P wave from the proximal signal; comparing the first and second P waves; obtaining a reference electrical signal in the superior vena cava; generating a reference P wave from the reference electrical signal; comparing the reference P wave with at least one of the first and second P waves; and determining a location of the tip of the central venous catheter based on the comparison of the first and second P waves and the comparison of the reference P wave with at least one of the first and second P waves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification