Apparatus and method for medical measurement

• US 8,708,927 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laborie Medical Technologies, Corp. (2941881 Canada, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Laborie Medical Technologies Canada, ULC (1098467 B.C. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dijkman, Gerrat
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US12/723,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20100168608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 600/468, 600/488, 600/561, 600/587
• US Class Current: 600/561
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02158 provided with two or more sensor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/205 Determining bladder or urethral pressure

Abstract

A measuring device for medical applications in at least one example embodiment includes a first part provided with measuring means for measuring data of a patient, and a second part provided with communication means for sending the data. In at least one example embodiment, the second part is releasably connected to the first part.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one pressure sensor unit including

a housing having at least one pressure chamber and at least one catheter connector where a passageway is present from the catheter connector to the pressure chamber,

at least one of said at least one pressure chamber includes a pressure sensor, and

at least one electrical connector;

a module including

at least one module connector for releasably connecting to said at least one electrical connector of said at least one sensor unit, and

a wireless transmitter in electrical communication with said at least one module connector;

a memory in electrical communication with said pressure sensor, said memory is located in at least one of said pressure sensor unit and said module; and

a processor connected to said memory and said wireless transmitter.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said module further includes a plurality of electrode jacks, said plurality of electrode jacks are connected to said wireless transmitter.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said module further includes means for measuring electrophysiological signals.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory stores data from said at least one pressure sensor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one catheter attached to one of said at least one pressure sensor unit, where an interior passageway in said catheter is in fluid communication with said pressure sensor.

6. A system for measuring and transmitting data to an external device, the system comprising:

at least one catheter transferring fluid having a pressure;

at least one pressure sensor connected to said at least one catheter, said at least one pressure sensor detecting the pressure of the fluid;

at least one cassette housing said at least one pressure sensor and having a one way valve in fluid connection with one of said at least one catheter; and

a transmitter releasably connected to said at least one cassette, said transmitter receiving an electrical signal representing a fluid pressure from said at least one pressure sensor and transmitting a signal based on the electrical signal to the external device.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a memory connected to said transmitter.

8. The system according to claim 6, further comprising at least one battery connected to said transmitter.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein said at least one cassette further includes

a cover.

10. The system according to claim 6, further comprising

a processor connected to said transmitter, and

a plurality of electrode jacks connected to said processor;

and

wherein said processor and said plurality of electrode jacks together are adapted to measure electrophysiological data.

11. The system according to claim 6, wherein said transmitter is a wireless transmitter.

12. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a radio frequency receiver.

13. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said at least one pressure sensor is in fluid communication with said at least one catheter to detect the pressure directly from the fluid delivered by said at least one catheter.

14. An apparatus comprising:

at least one cassette including

a housing having a pressure chamber,

a one-way valve connected to the pressure chamber,

a catheter connecter connected to the pressure chamber at an end opposite to said one-way valve,

a sensor in said housing and exposed to said pressure chamber such that said sensor can detect a pressure of fluid present in said pressure chamber, and

an electrical connector connected to said sensor;

a communications module including

at least one connector releasably connected to one of said at least one electrical connector,

a wireless transmitter connected to said at least one connector, and

a radio frequency receiver; and

wherein when said at least one electrical connector is connected to said at least one connector, an electrical pathway exists between said sensor and said transmitter.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a memory in communication with said transmitter and said sensor, said memory is located in at least one of said cassette and said communications module.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising at least one catheter attached to each cassette.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said communications module further includes a processor.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said communications module further includes a processor connected to said plurality of electrode jacks that together are adapted to measure electrophysiological data.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said communications module further includes a plurality of electrode jacks.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

at least three measuring components, each measuring component including;

a catheter connection port capable of connecting to a catheter tube,

a pressure chamber in fluid communication with said catheter connection port, and

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said pressure chamber;

at least one chip in electrical communication with each pressure sensor; and

an electrical connector releasably connectable to a module.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each of said measuring components includes a valve connected to said catheter connection port.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each of said measuring components includes a non-return valve in fluid communication with said pressure chamber.