System and method of perivascular pressure and flow measurement

摘要

A system and method for measuring fluid flow and pressure in a flexible conduit is disclosed. An embodiment of the system and method uses an ultrasound sensor for determining volume of flow and a tonometric system for determining pressure along a common length of a flexible conduit.

主权项

1. A method for determining fluid volume flow and a pressure of a fluid flowing along a flattened section of a flexible conduit, the method comprising the steps of:
making at least two passes of an ultrasound beam emanating from a housing through the flexible conduit at an oblique angle to the fluid flowing in the flexible conduit, wherein the two passes are in opposite directions along a same path, and wherein the ultrasound beam illuminates the fluid flowing in the flexible conduit on each pass; determining a change in a characteristic of the ultrasound beam after each pass through the flexible conduit; determining the fluid volume flow; flattening with a pressure sensor connected to the housing, at a position where the ultrasound wave beam passes through the fluid, a portion of an outside surface of the flexible conduit to form a stationary flat surface without creating a full occlusion in the flexible conduit and; obtaining a pressure reading from the outside surface of the flattened portion of the flexible conduit.