Digitally controlled, disposable syringe inflation system, and method

Abstract

An electronically controlled syringe system for connection to a balloon catheter or other balloon-type member and for automatically monitoring, displaying and recording inflation data when the syringe system is used to inflate the balloon of the catheter or other balloon-type member. A syringe having a barrel and a syringe plunger is selectively operable to increase fluid pressure applied to the balloon catheter or other balloon member by sliding the plunger further into the barrel. Positive pressure applied to the balloon catheter or member is released by withdrawing the syringe plunger toward the rear of the barrel. A piezoresistive semiconductor transducer housed on the barrel of the syringe senses fluid pressure applied by the syringe. The electric signal output by the transducer is input to a controller where the signal is digitally processed so as to derive and record therefrom electronic data representing the magnitude of applied fluid pressure, and so as also to derive the length of time that fluid pressure is applied. The electronic data representing this information is automatically displayed and recorded. In one embodiment, the controller is also mounted onto the syringe barrel to provide a digitally controlled inflation syringe system that is completely self-contained, and disposable.