Catheter air management system

摘要

An air management system is described for removing and reintroducing a desired amount of air into an air passage of a pressure measurement catheter. More specifically, the system includes a cylindrical housing, check valves in communication with the housing and an moveable shaft with multiple sealing members along its length. As the shaft is moved within the housing, a piston member causes the residual air in the catheter air passage to be evacuated to a defined negative pressure. Further movement of the shaft causes a piston member to inject a predetermined volume of air into the catheter air passage. In this respect, periodic adjustments of the piston member returns the volume of air in a variable volume chamber to one that is unaffected by residual volume in the chamber and that provides an optimum volume of air to maximize the time the sensor can function accurately between recharging events.

主权项

1. A catheter air management system, comprising:
an air pressure communication passage; a charging assembly connected to said air pressure communication passage; a check valve connected to said air pressure communication passage and further opening at a predetermined pressure; a catheter connection port connected to said air pressure communication passage and selectively connectable to the internal passage of a catheter having an air bladder; and; a pressure transducer connected to said air pressure communication passage; wherein said charging assembly adjusts a pressure level of air inside said air pressure communication passage and further injects a predetermined volume of air; and, wherein said pressure transducer measures said pressure level of air within said air pressure communication passage.