Sensor for transcutaneous measurement of vascular access blood flow
US6804543B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 19, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 19, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/14532
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical sensor includes a sensing pair of complementary emitter and detector elements for measuring the bulk absorptivity (&agr;) of an area parallel to and including a hemodialysis access site, and a normalizing pair of complementary emitter and detector elements for measuring the absorptivity (&agr;o) of the tissue itself perpendicular to the access site. The pairs of emitter and detector elements define two lines at right angles to each other, and one of the pairs lies to one side of the line defined by the other of the pairs, such that the two pairs of emitter and detector elements form a “T” shape. Indicator dilution techniques are used to measure vascular access flow rates during routine hemodialysis, using the sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.