Medtronic, Inc.

Knud Torp Aundal

Francesco Giovanni Greco

Anders Pedersen

Marianne Nielsen

Kenneth Jorgensen

Kenneth J&oslash;rgensen

An open circuit gravity-assisted uroflowmeter has a urine collector having a generally open inlet in fluid communication with a sensing passage located at a lower elevation than the inlet, the sensing passage intersecting a magnetic field and having electrodes for detecting a flow-dependent voltage induced by the passage of urine through the magnetic field. Preferred embodiments of the uroflowmeter may have low pressure drop, rapid response and simple construction.

Open circuit gravity-assisted uroflowmeter

A catheter system is disclosed including an elongated catheter, an elongated balloon carrier and a disposable balloon formed from an expandable and resilent biocompatible material. The balloon has a lumen disposed between a proximal end and a distal end thereof. The proximal end of the carrier and the distal end of the catheter are configured to permit the distal end of the catheter to matingly engage the proximal end of the carrier. The outer diameter of the balloon carrier and the outer diameter of the balloon are configured such that the diameter of the carrier and the diameter of the balloon permit the balloon first to be slideably mounted onto the balloon carrier and second to be slideably moved from the carrier onto the catheter when the proximal end of the carrier is matingly or otherwise suitably engaged with the distal end of the catheter.

Catheter system having disposable balloon

A passive flowmeter having an inlet, sensing passage and outlet in fluid communication with one another, the sensing passage having a noncircular cross-section having a minor axis generally aligned with a permanent magnetic field and a major axis generally aligned with at least a pair of generally opposed electrodes for detecting a flow-dependent voltage induced by the passage of conductive liquid through the magnetic field. By using both permanent magnets and a noncircular cross-section sensing passage together in the same device, much greater latitude in magnet selection may be obtained. This may facilitate for example the use of lower cost permanent magnets and the construction of a lower cost device for disposable flowmeter applications.

Permanent magnet flowmeter with noncircular sensing passage

An integral trap magnetic flowmeter having an inlet in fluid communication with a sensing passage, the sensing passage intersecting a magnetic field, having electrodes for detecting a flow-dependent voltage induced by the passage of conductive liquid through the magnetic field, and having an outlet at an elevation such that the sensing passage volume normally remains filled with conductive liquid. By maintaining standing liquid in the sensing passage at a height sufficient to fill the sensing passage volume, the flowmeter's response may be made more rapid and more accurate, particularly during the early stages of a short duration liquid discharge. By providing an integral trap, installation errors may be reduced.

Magnetic flowmeter with integral liquid trap

A disposable balloon catheter and corresponding catheter system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the catheter system comprises: (a) an elongated catheter comprising a first outer diameter, a first proximal end and a first distal end; (b) an elongated balloon carrier having a second proximal end, a second distal end and a second outer diameter, the second proximal end of the carrier and the first distal end of the catheter being configured to permit the first distal end of the catheter to matingly engage the second proximal end of the carrier, the second outer diameter of the balloon carrier being similar to the first outer diameter of the catheter; and (c) a disposable balloon formed from an expandable and resilient biocompatible material, the balloon having a lumen disposed between a third proximal end and a third distal end thereof, the lumen having at least a third inside diameter.

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Roskilde, Denmark

Knud Torp Aundal