Intra-abdominal pressure monitoring device and method

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a patient includes a urinary catheter () connected to a urine valve () providing selectable communication between a discharge end of the urinary catheter () and either a drain () or a fluid source (). Preferably, the urine valve () is adapted for remote actuation and has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve () contact. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply () and drain () conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits () between a patient's legs. When the urine valve () is oriented to permit communication with the fluid source (), an infusion pump () may be used to infuse a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve () and into the patient's bladder (). A pressure transducer () desirably is connected in-circuit to indicate the fluid's pressure and avoid pressure fluctuations induced by system components. To facilitate the infusion process, an automatic flow control device may be included in a fluid supply path () and arranged to permit repetitive operation of a syringe () to inject a bolus of fluid into the patient's bladder (). Subsequent to making a pressure measurement, the urine valve () is returned to the bladder () draining position.