System and method for monitoring pleural fluid

• US 9,888,870 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Inventors: Miserlis, Dimitrios, Cluff, Kim, Kelly, Abby M., Higgins, Suzanne J., Twedt, Max H.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US14/378,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20150031968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0813 Measurement of pulmonary parameters by tracers, e.g. radioactive tracers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/025 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0275 Nitric oxide [NO]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/101 Pleural cavity

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to intrapleural air leak detection and monitoring. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an air leak may be detected utilizing at least one sensor to determine whether fluid extracted from a pleural cavity of a patient includes carbon dioxide and/or a second substance. The second substance may be a foreign substance inhaled by the patient to confirm presence of the air leak. The air leak may be further monitored over a period of time by collecting temporally successive measurements associated with detected concentrations of carbon dioxide. Therefore, tissue damage and recovery may be assessed according to objectively collected criteria.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring pleural fluid, comprising:

at least one detection unit comprising a first sensor configured to detect carbon dioxide and a second sensor configured to detect a second substance, the at least one detection unit configured to;

receive fluid from a pleural cavity of a patient, detect carbon dioxide present in the fluid, and detect a second substance present in the fluid; and

at least one processing unit in communication with the at least one detection unit, the at least one processing unit configured to;

receive a first electrical signal from the first sensor when the first sensor detects carbon dioxide present in the fluid;

provide a first indication that air is leaking into the pleural cavity of the patient upon receipt of the first electrical signal;

receive a second electrical signal from the second sensor when the second sensor detects the second substance present in the fluid; and

provide a second indication confirming that air is leaking into the pleural cavity of the patient upon receipt of the second electrical signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second substance is non-toxically inhalable by the patient.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second substance comprises at least one of helium, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitric oxide.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to acquire a plurality of temporally successive measurements associated with concentrations of carbon dioxide detected by the at least one detection unit.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an adaptor fluidically coupled to a chest tube, the adaptor configured to direct a first portion of fluid received from the chest tube along a detection path to the at least one detection unit, and further configured to direct a second portion of fluid received from the chest tube along drainage path to a fluidically coupled drainage canister.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an indicator in communication with the at least one processing unit, the indicator configured to provide the first indication and the second indication as at least one of an audible indication and a visual indication.

7. A system for monitoring pleural fluid, comprising:

at least one detection unit comprising a first sensor configured to detect carbon dioxide and a second sensor configured to detect a second substance, the at least one detection unit configured to;

receive fluid from a pleural cavity of a patient, detect carbon dioxide present in the fluid, and detect a second substance present in the fluid;

at least one processing unit in communication with the at least one detection unit, the at least one processing unit configured to;

receive a first electrical signal from the first sensor when the first sensor detects carbon dioxide present in the fluid;

provide a first indication that air is leaking into the pleural cavity of the patient upon receipt of the first electrical signal;

receive a second electrical signal from the second sensor when the second sensor detects the second substance present in the fluid; and

provide a second indication confirming that air is leaking into the pleural cavity of the patient upon receipt of the second electrical signal; and

a user interface in communication with the at least one processing unit, the user interface configured to provide the first indication when the first electrical signal is received from the at least one processing unit, and provide the second indication when the second electrical signal is received from the at least one processing unit.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second substance is non-toxically inhalable by the patient.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the second substance comprises at least one of helium, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitric oxide.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to acquire a plurality of temporally successive measurements associated with concentrations of carbon dioxide detected by the at least one detection unit, and the user interface is further configured to display information associated with the plurality of temporally successive measurements.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

an adaptor fluidically coupled to a chest tube, the adaptor configured to direct a first portion of fluid received from the chest tube along a detection path to the at least one detection unit, and further configured to direct a second portion of the fluid received from the chest tube along drainage path to a fluidically coupled drainage canister.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a drainage canister fluidically coupled to a chest tube, the drainage canister configured for receiving fluid extracted from the pleural cavity of the patient by the chest tube, wherein the at least one detection unit is disposed within the drainage canister.

13. A method of monitoring pleural fluid, comprising:

receiving fluid from a pleural cavity of a patient;

detecting carbon dioxide present in the fluid;

providing a first indication that air is leaking into the pleural cavity of the patient when carbon dioxide is detected in the fluid;

detecting a second substance present in the fluid; and

providing a second indication confirming that air is leaking into the pleural cavity of the patient when the second substance is detected in the fluid.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing the second substance for inhalation by the patient.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second substance comprises at least one of helium, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitric oxide.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting a concentration of carbon dioxide in the fluid; and

monitoring a change in the detected concentration of carbon dioxide over a period of time.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

directing a first portion of fluid received from the pleural cavity of the patient along a detection path to at least one detection unit; and

directing a second portion of fluid received from pleural cavity along drainage path to a drainage canister.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

directing fluid received from the pleural cavity of the patient along a drainage path to a drainage canister, wherein at least one detection unit is disposed within the drainage canister.