A device can be coupled to a foley catheter inserted into the bladder of a patient, where the foley catheter includes a urine passage through which urine can be drained from the bladder. The device includes a pressure sensor that is connected to a urine outlet of the urine passage and configured to measure a pressure value of the urine being drained through the urine outlet, a processor connected to the pressure sensor and configured to determine whether the foley catheter can be removed by comparing the pressure value and a predetermined threshold value, and a display unit connected to the processor and displaying whether the foley catheter can be removed according to the control of the processor.

The present disclosure discusses a urinary catheter attachment that is equipped with a sensor and microcontroller that monitors bladder parameters, such as pressure or volume, and determines when the bladder is full and should be voided. In various embodiment, the disclosed system allows individuals who cannot know, feel, or remember when their bladder should be voided to use catheter accessories such as catheter valves. According to various embodiments, the system computes bladder fullness through an algorithm and triggers the alert system when a bladder fullness threshold is passed. In various embodiments, the alert system includes, but is not limited to, notifications via smartphone or smart devices, wearable technology, and patient management systems. The alert system may be substituted with an electronically actuated catheter valve.

A urodynamic investigation apparatus for receipt of urine from a bladder is provided. The apparatus is characterized by a tubular element, first and second fittings, and a sleeve element, for select passage of urine there through, within the tubular element. The tubular element is characterized by opposing first and second end portions, and a port. The fittings are adapted to be received by the opposing end portions of the tubular element so as to delimit an apparatus chamber. The sleeve element, suspended between the fittings within the chamber, has collapsed and open configurations. The collapsed configuration is indicative of a no urine flow condition, and the open configuration indicative of a urine flow condition, with the sleeve element urine flow condition being a function of pressure applied to the chamber via the port of the tubular element.

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 urodynamic investigation apparatus for receipt of urine from a bladder is provided. The apparatus is characterized by a tubular element, first and second fittings, and a sleeve element, for select passage of urine there through, within the tubular element. The tubular element is characterized by opposing first and second end portions, and a port. The fittings are adapted to be received by the opposing end portions of the tubular element so as to delimit an apparatus chamber. The sleeve element, suspended between the fittings within the chamber, has collapsed and open configurations. The collapsed configuration is indicative of a no urine flow condition, and the open configuration indicative of a urine flow condition, with the sleeve element urine flow condition being a function of pressure applied to the chamber via the port of the tubular element.

The system allows optimizing the dispensing of aerosol medicaments. In particular the system allows the administration of an exogenous pulmonary surfactant to very young patients (e.g. preterm neonates). A catheter (101) conveys atomized surfactant directly to the retropharyngeal region in order to increase efficiency of the medicament administration without being invasive: this is particularly important for very young patients, such as pre-term born neonates suffering from neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (nRDS). The catheter is made of biocompatible flexible material (e.g. plastic material). It is possible to couple the catheter with a rigid scaffolding (e.g. metallic) to increase stiffness of the device and to improve easiness of positioning operations. The delivery of the atomized medicament is done by means of an air blasting technique.

A biomedical pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in a fluid includes an optical fiber having at least one measurement section arranged at a distance from a distal end of the optical fiber. The biomedical pressure sensor further includes a deforming member on the outer surface of the optical fiber at the location of the measurement section that is arranged for locally deforming the optical fiber under the influence of the applied pressure of the fluid to be measured. The measurement section is arranged for measuring said local deformation of the optical fiber.

A medical apparatus includes a medical device capable of maneuvering within a patient, an input device configured to be operated by a hand of a user, one or more sensors for sensing whether the hand of the user is interacting with the input device, and a controller configured to determine whether the one or more sensors is sensing that the hand of the user is interacting with the input device, and in a case that the controller determines that the one or more sensors is sensing that the hand of the user is not interacting with the input device, prevent actuation of the medical device.

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.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for maintaining a level set of a pulmonary artery catheterization apparatus that includes a pulmonary artery pressure sensor in communication with a pulmonary artery catherization manifold affixed to a pulmonary artery catheter. The method includes calibrating leveling of the pulmonary artery pressure sensor (at the level of the right atrium) with the pulmonary artery catheterization manifold by recording a vertical level of a leveling base positioned at a common level to the manifold, relative to a vertical level of a leveling sensor positioned at a common level to the pulmonary artery pressure sensor. The method further includes monitoring a difference between the recorded vertical level of the leveling base relative to the vertical level of the leveling sensor. Finally, the method includes generating an alert in a user interface element of the leveling sensor in response to the monitored difference exceeding a threshold value.