Patent · US Expired

In vivo zeroing of catheter pressure sensor

US6120457A · kind A · utility

74Cited by
19References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 2, 1997
Grant dateSep 19, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 2, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/02156
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A catheter-based physiological pressure sensing device, which can be calibrated in vivo, is disposed in the distal end of a catheter, and is preferably in the form of a bulb-like device. The pressure sensing device includes a pressure sensor tip and pressure sensor element disposed in the pressure sensor tip. The pressure sensor element has first and second opposing surfaces which form separate and isolatable first and second chambers. An aperture is formed in an external wall of the pressure sensor tip to provide a passageway into the first chamber and expose the first surface of the pressure sensor element to a physiological pressure. A blocking element, such as a balloon, is disposed in the first chamber and is adapted for selectively blocking the aperture. To measure a physiological pressure, the aperture is unblocked to allow an outside pressure into the first chamber and a reference pressure is presented to the second chamber so that the surfaces of the pressure sensing element can measure the differential pressure. To calibrate or zero the device, the blocking element blocks the aperture to seal the first chamber with respect to external pressure and a fluid at a known press…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.