The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 02, 1999
Victor E. Kimball, Burnsville, MN (US);
Max Harry Weil, Northbrook, IL (US);
Wanchun Tang, Palm Desert, CA (US);
Jose Bisera, Camarillo, CA (US);
Institute of Critical Care Medicine, Palm Springs, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for assessing impairment of blood circulation in a patient, such as that in perfusion failure, by measurement of blood flow in the gastrointestinal tract or upper respiratory/digestive tract of the patient. The method comprises introducing a blood-flow sensor into the gastrointestinal tract or the upper respiratory/digestive tract of a patient, placing the sensor adjacent a mucosal surface therein, and measuring blood flow in adjacent tissue to determine blood flow in that tissue. The method may also involve measurement of PCO,and/or pH in combination with the blood flow determination. The invention affords rapid measurement and detection of perfusion failure.