Transonic Systems, Inc.

Cornell University

Novartis Ag

Cornelis J Drost

Nikolai M Krivitski

Yuri Shkarlet

Lauren Ostergren

Irina Sergeeva

G Jan Milanowski

Andrey Kopychev

Nader Nazarifar

Shawn X Gao

Gregory Galyanov

Yuri M Shkarlet

Guillermo Mendoza

Geoff Van Fleet

A system and method for identifying a disruption of a flow from an extracorporeal circuit to a patient circulatory system, such as a venous needle dislodgement or an access-bloodline separation, is based on flow rate data of the extracorporeal circuit. A patient contribution to the flow rate data can be identified as a harmonic and monitored to assess the presence of the disruption. The system can identify an inharmonic change, such as a spike, in the flow rate in the extracorporeal circuit, wherein the inharmonic change can be used alone or in conjunction with the identified harmonic to assess the existence of the disruption. The system can employ the spike in a blood flow rate as well as a spike in a dialysate flow rate fluidly connected to the extracorporeal circuit, wherein the spike can be used to identify the disruption.

Method and apparatus for identifying disruption of a fluid connection between an extracorporeal circuit and a patient circulatory system

Couplant delivery support

A system and method for measuring fluid flow and pressure in a flexible conduit is disclosed. An embodiment of the system and method uses an ultrasound sensor for determining volume of flow and a tonometric system for determining pressure along a common length of a flexible conduit.

System and method of perivascular pressure and flow measurement

A surgical cassette have a rigid fluid channel formed into a rigid plastic component or housing. The piezoelectric crystals of an ultrasonic flow meter are positioned on one side of the fluid channel. The side wall of the fluid channel opposite the piezoelectric crystals is exposed to fluid in the flow channel on its interior side and is exposed to ambient air on its exterior side. The interface between the wall and the air acts as an acoustic reflector for the operation of the ultrasonic flow meter.

Surgical system having a cassette with an acoustic air reflector

A method is provided for employing a transit time ultrasound sensor, wherein the sensor can be used for the measurement of liquid flow in a conduit, the sensor having an acoustic path formed of materials matched in ultrasound properties to a flow under test, and designed to conform to the shape of the conduit. The transit time ultrasound sensor can be configured as a clamp on device, wherein the conduit walls are constructed from such an ultrasonically-matched material. Alternately, the transit time ultrasound sensor can be employed in a perivascular configuration, wherein the ultrasonically-matched material is operably intermediate the blood vessel and the sensor.

Method of employing a transit time ultrasound sensor

A method and apparatus for determining an initial flow rate in a conduit is disclosed. A known change is made to the flow to be measured, resulting changes (or values corresponding to these changes), or relative changes in the flow to be measured are monitored and the initial flow in the conduit is calculated from the value of the known change and monitored changes. Devices to practice the method include catheters having one or two sensors and one or two sites for introducing the volume change.

Method and apparatus to determine an initial flow rate in a conduit

A transit time ultrasound sensor is employed for the measurement of liquid flow in a conduit, the sensor having an acoustic path formed of materials matched in ultrasound properties to the flow under test, and designed to conform to the shape of the conduit. The sensor can be configured as a clamp on device, wherein the conduit walls are constructed from such an ultrasonically-matched material. Alternately, in a perivascular configuration, the ultrasonically-matched material is operably intermediate the blood vessel and the sensor.

Acoustically coupled ultrasonic transit time flow sensors

Method and apparatus to measure blood flow by an introduced volume change

The present invention provides a method for measuring the blood flow rate within an A-V shunt via indicator dilution techniques. Unknown flow resistance within the A-V shunt are addressed by adjusting a measured flow rate to provide a flow rate within a predetermined margin of error. The calculated flow rate can be rejected based upon flow conditions of the introduced indicator. Different indicator introduction rates can be used to enhance accuracy of the measured flow. The indicator flow path can include a flow restrictor to limit the flow rate of the indicator to below a predetermined value.

Method of blood flow measurement in arterio-venous hemodialysis shunts by indicator dilution

A probe includes a handle, neck, and sensor head. The neck consists of a stiff portion and a flexible portion. The neck is offset from the handle so that a hand of a surgeon holding the handle does not block the surgeon's view of sensor head. In another embodiment, the stiff portion includes three sections that have separate and distinct linear axes. The extended axis of the section adjacent the handle intersects the juncture of the flexible portion and the stiff portion of the neck, while the sensor head is connected to the flexible portion of the neck. The precise alignment of the handle and neck enables the precise placement of the sensor head around a small blood vessel.

Ultrasonic probe

A transducer array and excitation circuitry for producing ultrasonic waves in a controlled pattern and for causing the waves to be scanned along the array. The array comprises a plurality of transducer elements coupled to each other in such a way as to produce a desired wave pattern when selected elements are activated. The array may be constructed from plural transducer elements or from a single plate of transducer material comprising a plurality of elements that can be individually activated, the plural elements being intercoupled to produce the desired wave pattern. The arrangement is such that a minimum number of electrical connections to the transducer elements are required to create the desired wave pattern and to scan that pattern across the face of the array.

Ultrasonic transducer array with controlled excitation pattern

Methods and apparatus for calibrating terminated ultrasonic electroacoustic transducers are disclosed. The transducers are excited by a driving signal to emit an ultrasonic acoustic wave, which wave is received either by the same transducer after reflection or by a second transducer to produce an output signal. The driving signal and output signal are supplied to measuring circuitry deriving transducer performance calibration signals, such as transducer gain, transducer sensitivity, acoustic field pressure and intensity. These performance characteristics of the transducer are measured in absolute terms under conditions of actual termination. The transducer characteristics are obtained in order to determine the acoustical performance of transducers useful in biomedical and other fields.

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Ithaca, NY, United States of America

Cornelis J Drost