System and method for monitoring and controlling the temperature of a catheter-mounted heater
US5634470A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 3, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/029
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for monitoring and controlling the temperature of a heating element in a thermodilution catheter to maintain it within safe physiological limits includes, in the preferred embodiment, a thermodilution catheter having a resistive heating element with a known temperature coefficient of resistance and system elements which (1) supply and control power to the heating element, (2) monitor the temperature of the heating element by monitoring its resistance, (3) determine the rate of change of the temperature of the heating element, and (4) respond to the rate of temperature change measurement by removing power from the heating element. In an alternate, preferred embodiment, the system further comprises a calibration circuit or resistor and circuit elements which (1) control the supply of power to the system, (2) switch power between the calibration circuit or the heating element, (3) determine whether power has been supplied to the calibration circuit, and (4) respond to the power determination to remove power from the system. The system also includes methods of operation for each of the above-referenced system embodiments.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.