An integrated pressure sensing device is disclosed. Embodiments of the disclosed concepts provide a device that integrates hemodynamic pressure transducers or sensors into a single package. The package can be designed for precordial placement on the subject so that pressure readings are substantially accurate and appropriately calibrated without “leveling” the sensors relative to a subject's heart using a separate support, and regardless of the subject's position. A lumen set can be configured to maintain a fluid column between each pressure transducer and the subject's blood stream and in some embodiments, the assembly, including all transducers, can be fed from a single fluid source such as a single IV bag.

This disclosure provides apparatus and methods for detecting pressure changes within a cavity of a patient. A pressure-sensing catheter comprises an elongate member and a monitor lumen. The pressure-sensing catheter may have a hollow pressure-compliant member in fluid communication with the monitor lumen and thereby define a fluid column. A connector apparatus can be in fluid communication with the monitor lumen, and can comprise a first complementary connector and a second complementary connector. One of the first complementary connector and the second complementary connector can have a pressurizing device that can displace a volume of fluid located within a bore of the other complementary connector into the fluid column, wherein the ratio of the volume of displaced fluid to the volume of the fluid column ranges from about 1:2 to about 1:4. The pressure catheter can comprise a radio-opaque band circumscribing the exterior of the elongate member.

A connector apparatus for a pressure sensing catheter having a pressure-compliant member is disclosed. A first complementary connector has an aligning portion and a charging portion, with the aligning portion having a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the charging portion. A second complementary connector has a proximal coupler with an alignment section and a charging section wherein, the alignment section having a cross-sectional area complementary to the cross-sectional area of the aligning portion to receive the alignment portion therein, the charging section having a cross-sectional area complementary to receive the charging portion and a resilient member therein. The first complementary connector can displace a volume of fluid from the proximal coupler into the pressure compliant member when the alignment section receives the aligning portion, the charging section receives the charging portion, and the resilient member forms the fluid tight seal within the charging section.

Systems and methods for controlling fill media in a balloon catheter are disclosed. The system comprises a catheter having an inflatable balloon, a reservoir for fill media, and a first conduit for delivering fill media from the reservoir to the balloon. The system includes a second conduit for returning fill media from the balloon to the reservoir and a pump configured to circulate fill media through the conduits. The system also includes a valve assembly configured for placement in at least three positions. In the first position, fill media is delivered from the reservoir to the balloon to inflate the balloon. In the second position, fill media is drawn out of the balloon and returned to the reservoir. In the third position, fill media circulates through the conduits between the pump and the balloon and is prevented from flowing back to the reservoir.

A balloon catheter (100), suitable for delivery of a balloon to the stomach via application by the nose, the balloon catheter comprising a catheter (2) and one or more inflatable balloons (1) fixedly attached to the catheter. The balloons have an outer diameter from 4 to 7 cm, are made of a relatively hard material (e.g. durometer 70 to 100 shore A), and have an effective length of 7 to 18 cm or a total inner volume of 90 to 330 ml, when inflated by 0.2 psi. A system comprising the balloon catheter, and a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of a fluid inside the balloon, and optionally a fluid pump for inflating and/or deflating the balloon, and a control unit for reading the pressure sensor and optionally for controlling the fluid pump.

A patient monitor configured to receive patient-information electrical signals from an invasive patient sensor and a minimally invasive patient sensor, the patient monitor including a base unit and a detachable user interface unit for displaying hemodynamic parameters determined by the base unit. The base unit and user interface unit can be docked together, tethered together through a cabled connection, or physically separated from one another using wireless communication to transmit and receive information. The base unit and the user interface unit may pair before the user interface unit displays data to link the base unit with the user interface unit. The patient monitor can be configured to switch between invasive and minimally invasive monitoring of hemodynamic parameters of a patient, using invasive measurements to calibrate minimally invasive measurements.

This disclosure provides apparatus and methods for detecting pressure changes within a cavity of a patient. A pressure-sensing catheter comprises an elongate member and a monitor lumen. The pressure-sensing catheter may have a hollow pressure-compliant member in fluid communication with the monitor lumen and thereby define a fluid column. A connector apparatus can be in fluid communication with the monitor lumen, and can comprise a first complementary connector and a second complementary connector. One of the first complementary connector and the second complementary connector can have a pressurizing device that can displace a volume of fluid located within a bore of the other complementary connector into the fluid column, wherein the ratio of the volume of displaced fluid to the volume of the fluid column ranges from about 1:2 to about 1:4. The pressure catheter can comprise a radio-opaque band circumscribing the exterior of the elongate member.

A bowel irrigation system comprising a container adapted for containing a liquid, a catheter comprising an inflated balloon, a tubing connecting the container and the catheter, a pump, a control unit for controlling a flow of fluid in the system, and a pressure sensor is disclosed. The system comprises means for deflating the balloon, as a response to an assessment of a first pressure inside the balloon being greater than a first threshold value, by reducing the amount of liquid inside the balloon by a first amount of liquid. In addition, a method for deflating an inflatable balloon, as a response to an assessment of a first pressure inside the balloon being greater than a first threshold value, by reducing the amount of liquid inside the balloon by a first amount of liquid is disclosed.

A catheter insertable into a patient for monitoring pressure having an expandable outer balloon. An expandable inner balloon is positioned within the lumen of the catheter and has having a second outer wall and forms a gas chamber to monitor pressure within the patient. In response to pressure exerted on the outer wall of the outer balloon, fluid within the outer balloon enters an opening in the wall of the catheter lumen to exert a pressure on the outer wall of the expanded inner balloon to deform the inner balloon and compress the gas within the inner balloon. A pressure sensor communicates with the gas containing chamber for measuring pressure based on compression of gas caused by deformation of the expanded inner balloon resulting from deformation of the expanded outer balloon.

Devices for use with introducers, endoscopes and catheters, where the devices relate to an articulating mechanism that allows a working end of a medical device to be steerable in order to access or visualize targeted sites in the interior of a patient's body.