Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

Other

Wallace H Ring

Timothy J Erskine

Kim L Richardson

Steven C Kimble

Gary E Gustafson

Gerald H Peterson

Richard A Elwyn

John C Adair

A catheter carrying a sensor for placement in a catheter adapter has proximal and distal parts with a passage therebetween. The distal part detachably fits within a catheter adapter. The connector, when attached to the adapter, places the passage in fluid communication with and near a catheter lumen. A sensor on the connector within the distal part is exposed to the passage for fluid communication with the lumen. The sensor mounts on a tube or in an inside wall of the distal part and extends within the passage and partially through the distal part to monitor pressure with a first side of the sensor exposed to the passage and a second side of the sensor covering an exit from the connector near the proximal part. The second side is vented to atmospheric pressure and a sensor signal communication means connects the sensor to pass signals from the sensor through the exit. A sleeve extends distally on the connector for threaded engagement with a male luer on the adapter allowing fluid tight communication between a cavity within the adapter and the passage. The distal part substantially fills the cavity reducing the hydraulic column volume in the lumen and the passage. A method places a catheter into a human or animal to provide access to dynamic pressure, measures atmospheric pressure with a sensor carried on a connector, sets the signal response of the sensor measurement to a datum for atmospheric pressure applied to first and second sides and attaches the connector to the adapter to fit the distal part into the cavity in the adapter so gas within the cavity and the passage escapes to provide a hydraulic column substantially free of gas.

Apparatus for carrying a sensor in a connector for a catheter adapter

A sensor assembly for an in vivo physiological pressure measurement has a member with a distal end to ease placement of the catheter sensor assembly in vivo. A passage is preferably in an intermediate part of the member and is open but covered by a pressure responsive sensor sealing the passage. The sensor has a first side away from the intermediate part for exposure to in vivo physiological pressure and a second side in fluid communication with the passage. A pressure connecting means for inhibiting liquid communication located between the physiological pressure and the passage is arranged for selectively connection therebetween so that when connected the pressure on the first and second sides of the sensor can be substantially equalized. A control ex vivo makes the selective connection of the second side of the pressure sensor and the physiological pressure. A method for rezeroing an in vivo pressure sensor has the steps of obtaining a signal from the first side of the sensor at distal end, using a pressure substantially equal to the in vivo pressure and applying that pressure to the second side of the sensor.

Apparatus for rezeroing an in vivo pressure sensor and method for

A catheter adapter, with a side port connection, contains a one-piece integral bifunctional resilient combination valve which serves to prevent back flow from the patient. It allows infusion from either the primary axial port or from the side port and provides automatic shut-off when the infusion pressure becomes lower than the ambient pressure in the patient's body from either port.

Apparatus and method for a side port cathether adapter with a one piece

A tracheal tube that may be constructed for either oral or nasal use is preformed as a flexible integral unit from flexible material having a memory so as to return to preformed shape following flexure. The tube has a proximal or machine end portion and a distal or patient end portion interconnected along the length of the tube by an intermediate portion and an abrupt bend portion. The distal or patient end portion and the adjoining intermediate portion merge into each other along the length of the tube and include curvature such that they will positionally conform to the shape of a patient's posterior pharynx and trachea and extend therealong when the tracheal tube is installed for use. The abrupt bend portion interconnects the proximal or machine end portion and the intermediate portion along the length of the tube at an angle substantially no greater than 90.degree., so such proximal or machine end portion will be located exteriorly of the body opening of the patient and will extend along the face of the patient exteriorly of such body opening when the tracheal tube is installed for use. In those embodiments intended for oral use, the distal or patient end portion extends in the same general direction as the proximal or machine end portion. In those intended for nasal use, the distal or patient end portion extends in the opposite direction. In both instances, there is a springlike action from the bend portion toward the distal or patient end of the tube that tends to hold the tube in place without harming delicate tissues. A pair of ports are preferably provided adjacent the distal or patient end of the tube as a safety measure to supply ventilation to both the right and th left lungs during anesthesia should the tube be accidentally advanced beyond the trachea.

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Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Wallace H Ring