Bronchial or tracheal tissular water content sensor and system

• US 20070299357A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Villegas, Diana
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4878 Evaluating oedema

Abstract

The disclosure provides a sensor system for detecting bronchial tissular water content including at least a sensor, a connector, and a monitor. The sensor generates a signal, which may be carried by the connector to the monitor, which generates an output corresponding to the signal. The disclosure additionally provides a sensor for detecting bronchial or tracheal tissular water content including at least a signal generator. The sensor may also include at least a segment of a connector. The disclosure also provides a method of measuring bronchial or tracheal tissular water content by inserting a sensor into an airway of a subject, such as a human, until it becomes lodged in a bronchus or the trachea, then measuring bronchial or tracheal tissular water content using the sensor.

Claims

1. A sensor system comprising:

a bronchial or tracheal tissular water sensor operable to generate a signal corresponding to bronchial or tracheal tissular water when placed adjacent to a bronchial or tracheal tissue;

a connector operable to carry the signal; and

a monitor operable to receive the signal and generate an output corresponding to the signal.

2. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the bronchial or tracheal tissue comprises a bronchial or a tracheal wall.

3. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an optical signal.

4. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the signal comprises near infrared light.

5. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an analog signal.

6. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the signal comprises a digital signal.

7. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an electrical signal.

8. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises tissue hydration probe.

9. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an indicator chemical.

10. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an optical fiber.

11. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an electrically conductive material.

12. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a microchip.

13. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a signal generator.

14. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is operable to be inserted into a bronchus of a subject.

15. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises an optical fiber.

16. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises an electrically conductive material.

17. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises a shaft connected to the sensor.

18. The sensor system according to claim 17, wherein the shaft is operable to be inserted into the airway of a subject and to convey the sensor into a bronchus or the trachea of the subject.

19. The sensor system according to claim 17, wherein the connector further comprises a cable connected to the shaft and the monitor.

20. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises at least one coupler.

21. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the monitor comprises a display.

22. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the monitor comprises an alarm operable to be triggered based on the output.

23. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the monitor comprises a microchip.

24. The sensor system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one component operable to convert an optical signal to a digital signal, an optical signal to an analog signal, a digital signal to an analog signal, or vice versa.

25. The sensor system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one replaceable component.

26. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the replaceable component comprises the sensor.

27. The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the replaceable component comprises the connector or at least a segment of the connector.

28. A sensor system comprising:

means for sensing bronchial or tracheal tissular water when placed adjacent to a bronchial or tracheal tissue;

means for generating a signal corresponding to bronchial or tracheal tissular water;

means for carrying the signal; and

means for receiving the signal and generating an output corresponding to the signal.

29. The sensor system according to claim 28, wherein the bronchial or tracheal tissue comprises a bronchial or tracheal wall.

30. The sensor system according to of claim 28, wherein the signal comprises an optical signal.

31. The sensor system according to claim 28, wherein the signal comprises near infrared light.

32. The sensor system according to claim 28, wherein the signal comprises an analog signal.

33. The sensor system according to claim 28, wherein the signal comprises a digital signal.

34. The sensor system according to claim 28, wherein the signal comprises an electrical signal.

35. A sensor comprising a signal generator operable to sense bronchial or tracheal tissular water and generate a signal corresponding to bronchial or tracheal tissular water when placed adjacent to a bronchial or tracheal tissue.

36. The sensor according to claim 35, wherein the sensor is operable to deliver the signal to a sensor system when coupled to the sensor system.

37. The sensor according to claim 35, wherein the bronchial or tracheal tissue comprises a bronchial or tracheal wall.

38. The sensor according to claim 35, wherein the signal comprises at least one of an optical signal, an analog signal, a digital signal, or an electrical signal.

39. The sensor according to claim 35, wherein the signal comprises near infrared light.

40. The sensor according to claim 35, wherein the signal generator comprises a microchip.

41. The sensor according to claim 35, comprising an outer portion operable to protect the signal generator.

42. The sensor according to claim 35, comprising an indicator.

43. The sensor according to claim 35, wherein the sensor has an ellipsoid cross-sectional shape and a diameter of approximately 1 mm up to 6 mm.

44. The sensor according to claim 35, comprising at least a segment of a connector coupled to the signal generator and operable to carry the signal.

45. The sensor according to claim 35, wherein the sensor has been previously used.

46. The sensor according to claim 45, wherein the sensor has been repaired.

47. A sensor comprising:

a signal generation device operable to sense bronchial or tracheal tissular water and generate a signal corresponding to bronchial or tracheal tissular water when placed adjacent to a bronchial or tracheal tissue.

48. The sensor according to claim 47, wherein the sensor is operable to deliver the signal to a sensor system when coupled to the sensor system.

49. The sensor according to claim 47, wherein the tissue comprises a bronchial or tracheal wall.

50. The sensor according to claim 47, wherein the signal comprises at least one of an optical signal, an analog signal, a digital signal, or an electrical signal.

51. The sensor according to claim 47, wherein the signal comprises near infrared light.

52. The sensor according to claim 47, comprising a protective device.

53. The sensor according to claim 47, comprising an indicator device.

54. The sensor according to claim 47, comprising at least a segment of a connector device coupled to the signal generation device and operable to carry the signal.

55. The sensor according to claim 47, wherein the sensor has been previously used.

56. The sensor according to claim 55, wherein the sensor has been repaired.

57. A method of using a sensor in a subject comprising:

inserting a sensor and at least a segment of a connector into an airway of the subject; and

lodging the sensor in an bronchus such that at least a portion of the sensor is adjacent to a bronchial or tracheal wall.

58. The method according to claim 57, comprising connecting a replaceable sensor component to a sensor system prior to inserting the sensor.

59. The method according to claim 58, comprising:

removing the sensor from the subject after providing information; and

disconnecting the replaceable sensor component from the sensor system.

60. The method of determining tissular water content in a subject comprising:

generating a signal corresponding to bronchial or tracheal tissular water content using a sensor;

conveying the signal from the sensor to the connector;

conveying the signal from the connector to a monitor; and

providing information corresponding to tissular water content using the signal and the monitor.

61. The method according to claim 60, wherein the subject is a human.

62. The method according to claim 60, wherein providing information comprises displaying numeric information on a display of the monitor.

63. The method according to claim 60, wherein providing information comprises triggering an alarm when tissular water content is abnormal.