System and method for measuring the pressure of a fluid system within a patient

• US 9,931,043 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integra LifeSciences Switzerland Sàrl
• Original Assignee: Integra LifeSciences Switzerland Sàrl
• Inventors: Wilson, Stephen F., Dextradeur, Alan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US14/956,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20160089044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/032 Spinal fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0464 Cerebrospinal fluid

Abstract

A pressure sensing apparatus has a pressure sensor component that includes a pressure sensing port, a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of a fluid in the pressure sensing port, and a digital processor communicating with the pressure sensor for performing calculations involving fluid pressures sensed. The pressure sensing apparatus further includes a first chamber in fluid contact with the pressure sensing port, a second chamber fluidically connectable with a patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system, and a membrane located between the first and second chambers so as to transmit fluid pressure from the second chamber to the first chamber.

Claims

1. A method for measuring a pressure of a cerebrospinal fluid system in a patient comprising:

providing a pressure sensing system having a sterile portion for connecting to a patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system and a non-sterile portion, the non-sterile portion including a pressure sensor component having a pressure sensor and a processor for analyzing cerebrospinal fluid pressures measured by the pressure sensor;

connecting the sterile portion to the patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system through a puncture site, the sterile portion providing access to the cerebrospinal fluid system outside of the patient'"'"'s body;

measuring the patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid pressure using the pressure sensor component and displaying the patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid pressure on the pressure sensor component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor component calculates a resting pressure based on fluid pressures measured.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sterile portion includes a bolus apparatus and the method further comprises injecting or withdrawing a bolus of known fluid volume to the patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system while the pressure sensor component measures and displays the patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pressure sensor component calculates an output resistance based on fluid pressures measured.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the pressure sensor component calculates a pressure volume index based on fluid pressures measured.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

the pressure sensor component has a pressure sensing port with the pressure sensor sensing a pressure of a fluid in the pressure sensing port;

the non-sterile portion of the pressure sensing system includes a first chamber in fluid contact with the pressure sensing port;

the sterile portion of the pressure sensing system includes a second chamber fluidically connectable with a patient'"'"'s cerebrospinal fluid system; and

the pressure sensing system further includes a membrane located between the first and second chambers so as to transmit fluid pressure from the second chamber to the first chamber.