Intravascular blood parameter measurement system

• US 4,928,694 A
• Filed: 03/23/1989
• Issued: 05/29/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Maxwell, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US07/328,041
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 128/637, 128/632, 128/635, 128/634, 128/692, 128/673
• US Class Current: 600/312
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02158 provided with two or more sensor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters

Abstract

A parameter of blood is sensed in vivo with a system which includes a catheter and a probe. The catheter has a lumen extending therethrough, a proximal end, a distal end and a distal opening at the distal end. The probe includes one or more sensors at its distal end. A saline solution is introduced into the lumen so that there is an interface adjacent the distal opening of the catheter between the blood and saline solution. The probe is received within the catheter and affixed thereto. The interface is moved back and forth in the lumen to expose the sensors to blood so that they can sense the blood parameters of interest.

Claims

1. A probe for sensing at least one parameter in blood comprising:

first and second optical sensors for sensing at least one parameter in blood selected from the group consisting of blood gases, pH, electrolytes, glucose, and temperature and for providing a signal in response thereto; and

elongated transmission means for transmitting the signals from the first and second sensors proximally;

said first and second sensors being carried by a distal portion of the transmission means with the first and second sensors being at different longitudinal positions along the distal portion of the transmission means; and

said transmission means and said first and second sensors being sized to be received in the cardiovascular system of a patient.

2. A probe as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmission means includes means for transmitting light.

3. A probe as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmission means includes means for transmitting light and said first sensor is a fluorescent sensor.

4. A probe as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second sensors sense first and second different parameters in blood, respectively, and said first and second parameters are different blood gases.

5. A probe as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second sensors sense first and second different parameters in blood, respectively, and said first and second parameters are a blood gas and pH, respectively.

6. A probe as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmission means includes first and second elongated optical fibers, each of said first and second optical fibers has a distal end, said first and second sensors are carried by the first and second optical fibers, respectively, adjacent the distal ends thereof, and said first optical fiber extends distally beyond the second optical fiber.

7. A probe as defined in claim 6 wherein said first and second sensors sense first and second different parameters in blood, respectively, and said first and second parameters are different blood gases.

8. A probe as defined in claim 6 wherein said first and second sensors sense first and second different parameters in blood, respectively, and said first and second parameters are a blood gas and pH, respectively.

9. A probe as defined in claim 6 including a third optical sensor for sensing a parameter in blood, said transmission means includes a third elongated optical fiber having a distal end, said third optical sensor being carried by the third optical fiber adjacent the distal end thereof, and said second optical fiber extends distally beyond the third optical fiber.

10. A probe as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second sensors sense oxygen and carbon dioxide and the first sensor is located proximally of the second sensor.

11. A probe for sensing at least one parameter in blood comprising:

first and second sensors for sensing at least one parameter in blood selected from the group consisting of blood gases, ph, electrolytes, glucose, and temperature and for providing a signal in response thereto; and

first and second elongated optical fibers, each of said first and second optical fibers having a distal end portion which terminates in a distal end, said first and second sensors being optical sensors and being carried by the first and second optical fibers, respectively, adjacent the distal ends thereof;

said first optical fiber extending distally along the distal end portion of the second optical fiber and distally beyond the distal end of the second optical fiber; and

said first and second optical fibers and said first and second sensors being sized to be received in the cardiovascular system of a patient.

12. A probe as defined in claim 11 wherein said first sensor is a fluorescent sensor.

13. A probe as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second sensors sense first and second different parameters in blood, respectively, and said first and second parameters are different blood gases.

14. A probe as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second sensors first and second different parameters in blood, respectively, and said first and second parameters are a blood gas and pH, respectively.

15. A probe as defined in claim 11 including a third optical sensor for sensing a parameter in blood and a third elongated optical fiber having a distal end portion which terminates in a distal end, said third optical sensor being carried by the third optical fiber adjacent the distal end thereof, and said second optical fiber extends distally along the distal end portion of the third optical fiber and distally beyond the distal end of the third optical fiber.

16. An assembly for sensing at least one parameter in blood comprising:

a catheter having a lumen extending therethrough and being sized to be received in the cardiovascular system of a patient; and

a probe including first and second optical sensors for sensing at least one parameter in blood selected from the group consisting of blood gases, pH, electrolytes, glucose, and temperature and for providing a signal in response thereto and elongated transmission means for transmitting the signals from the first and second optical sensors proximally, said first and second optical sensors being carried by a distal portion of the transmission means with the first and second optical sensors being at different longitudinal positions along the distal portion of the transmission means, and said elongated transmission means extending into said lumen and said first and second optical sensors being within said lumen.

17. An assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein the lumen has a distal opening and the sensors are adjacent the distal opening.

18. An assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein the lumen is of reducing cross section toward the distal opening in a tapered zone adjacent the distal opening and the first and second sensors are in the tapered zone.

19. A probe for sensing parameters in blood comprising:

first and second sensors for sensing first and second different parameters in blood, respectively, said parameters being selected from the group consisting of blood gases, pH, electrolytes, and temperature and for providing a signal in response thereto; and

elongated transmission means for transmitting the signals from the first and second sensors proximally;

said first and second sensors being carried by a distal portion of the transmission means with the first and second sensors being at different longitudinal positions along the distal portion of the transmission means; and

said transmission means and said first and second sensors being sized to be received in the cardiovascular system of a patient.

20. A probe as defined in claim 19 wherein said first and second parameters are different blood gases.

21. A probe as defined in claim 19 wherein said first and second parameters are a blood gas and pH, respectively.