Abstract
A catheter for measuring temperature of a fluid in a body cavity includes a catheter body having a proximal end and an opposite distal end with a tip; an inflow lumen; an outflow lumen; and a temperature sensor lumen having a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor lumen is arranged closer to the outflow lumen and to the inflow lumen in the catheter body. The temperature sensor includes a sensing element positioned at the tip of the distal end to measure a temperature of a fluid in a body cavity when the distal end of the catheter body is inserted into a body cavity.
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A catheter for measuring temperature of a fluid in a body cavity, wherein said catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a proximal end and an opposite distal end comprising a tip; and wherein said catheter body further comprises: an inflow lumen extending from an irrigation opening in a sidewall of said tip to said proximal end; an outflow lumen extending from a drainage opening in said sidewall of said tip to said proximal end; and a temperature sensor lumen comprising a temperature sensor; wherein said temperature sensor lumen is arranged closer to said outflow lumen than to said inflow lumen in said catheter body; and wherein said temperature sensor comprises a sensing element positioned in said temperature sensor lumen at said tip of said distal end; and wherein said sensing element is configured to measure a temperature of a fluid in a body cavity when said distal end of said catheter body is inserted into a body cavity.
17. The catheter according to claim 16, wherein said sensing element is positioned closer to said drainage opening than to said irrigation opening in said catheter body.
18. The catheter according to claim 16, wherein said temperature sensor lumen is arranged in said catheter body at the outer periphery of said catheter body.
19. The catheter according to claim 16, wherein a thickness of said sidewall of said tip is minimized at said distal end where said sensing element is positioned.
20. The catheter according to claim 16, wherein said temperature sensor lumen is separate in said catheter body from said inflow lumen and separate from said outflow lumen.
21. The catheter according to claim 16, wherein said catheter is a lavage catheter.
22. The catheter according to claim 16, wherein said inflow lumen and said outflow lumen are configured to be coupled at said proximal end of said catheter body to a fluid circulation system; and wherein said distal end of said catheter body is configured to be inserted into said body cavity.
23. The catheter according to claim 22, wherein said inflow lumen is further configured to allow a fluid of said fluid circulation system to flow from said proximal end to said body cavity through said irrigation opening; and wherein said outflow lumen is further configured to allow said fluid to flow out from said body cavity through said drainage opening to said proximal end.
24. The catheter according to claim 16, wherein said catheter is a urinary catheter and wherein said distal end is configured to be inserted into a bladder of a patient.
25. The catheter according to claim 16, wherein said temperature sensor lumen extends in said catheter body from said proximal end to said distal end.
26. The catheter according to claim 10, wherein said temperature sensor further comprises an electrical wire extending along said temperature sensor lumen between said sensing element and said proximal end of said catheter body.
27. The catheter according to claim 16, wherein said inflow lumen and said outflow lumen are not in fluid communication.
28. The catheter according to claim 16, wherein a diameter of said outflow lumen is larger than a diameter of said inflow lumen.
29. The catheter according to claim 16, wherein said catheter body further comprises an inflation balloon.
30. A method for manufacturing a catheter for measuring temperature of a fluid in a body cavity, wherein said catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a proximal end and an opposite distal end comprising a tip; wherein said method comprises the steps of: providing a catheter body comprising a proximal end and an opposite distal end comprising a tip; forming an irrigation opening in a sidewall of said tip; providing an inflow lumen extending from said irrigation opening to said proximal end; forming a drainage opening in said sidewall of said tip; providing an outflow lumen extending from said drainage opening to said proximal end; providing a temperature sensor lumen comprising a temperature sensor, wherein said temperature sensor comprises a sensing element; arranging said temperature sensor lumen closer to said outflow lumen than to said inflow lumen in said catheter body; and positioning said sensing element in said temperature sensor lumen at said tip of said distal end such that said sensing element measures a temperature of a fluid in a body cavity when said distal end of said catheter body is inserted into a body cavity.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0063] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a catheter according to the present invention.
[0064] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a catheter according to the present invention when the catheter is introduced into a body cavity of a patient.
[0065] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a cross-section of the distal end of a catheter according to the present invention.
[0066] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a cross-section of the catheter body according to the present invention.
[0067] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the steps of the method according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)
[0068] According to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a catheter 1 for measuring temperature of a fluid 2 in a body cavity comprises a catheter body 100. The catheter body 100 extends along a longitudinal direction 6. The traverse direction 5 and the direction 7 traverse to the longitudinal direction 6 and to the traverse direction 5 are also indicated on FIG. 1. The catheter body comprises a proximal end 101 and an opposite distal end 102. The distal end 102 comprises a tip 103. The catheter body 100 comprises an irrigation opening 111 from which fluid 2 is allowed flowing from the catheter body 100 to the body cavity. The catheter body 100 also comprises a drainage opening 121 from which fluid 2 is allowed flowing from the body cavity to the catheter body 100. A temperature sensor comprises a sensing element 131 positioned at the tip 103 of the distal end 102. The sensing element 131 measures a temperature of a fluid 2 in the body cavity when the distal end 102 of the catheter body 100 is introduced in a body cavity. Optionally, the catheter body 100 further comprises an inflation balloon 4. The sensing element 131 is positioned closer to the drainage opening 121 than to the irrigation opening 111 in the catheter body 100. A thickness of the sidewall of the tip 103 is minimized at the distal end 102 where the sensing element 131 is positioned. The catheter body 100 is coupled at its proximal end 101 to a fluid circulation system 3 and the distal end 102 is to be inserted into a body cavity 10. For example, the catheter 1 further comprises a funnel at the proximal end 101 which serves as a drain port for the outflow lumen, wherein the funnel is connected to the outflow lumen on one end and to the fluid circulation system 3 on an opposite end. Such a funnel for example comprises clear 60 ShA silicon, such as for example Elastosil LR 3003/60 A/B LSR. For example, the catheter body 100 of the catheter 1 comprises clear 70 ShA silicone, such as for example Silbione HCRA 4170 A/B HC. The catheter 1 for example further comprises an irrigation funnel at the proximal end 101 which serves as an irrigation port for the inflow lumen, wherein the irrigation funnel is connected to the inflow lumen on one end and to the fluid circulation system 3 on an opposite end. The catheter 1 for example further comprises an inflation valve at the proximal end 101, wherein the inflation valve is connected to the catheter body 100 on one end and to an inflation system for inflating the inflation balloon 4 on an opposite end. For example, the inflation valve is a Luer inflation valve comprising for example a polypropylene body. The inflation valve for example comprises an inflation valve collar which comprises Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene or ABS, such as for example LUSTRAN ABS348. A pigment of a first colour can be added to the LUSTRAN ABS348 for example for the 16FR catheter 1 and a pigment of second colour different from the first colour can be added to the LUSTRAN ABS348 for example for the 18FR catheter 1 such as the catheters 1 can be distinguished from each other. The inflation balloon 4 is for example a 20 mL inflation balloon.
[0069] According to an alternative embodiment, the inflation balloon may have a different volume suitable for the specific application.
[0070] According to an embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a catheter 1 for measuring temperature of a fluid 2 in a body cavity 10 comprises a catheter body 100. The catheter body 100 extends along a longitudinal direction 6. The traverse direction 5 and the direction 7 traverse to the longitudinal direction 6 and to the traverse direction 5 are also indicated on FIG. 2. Components having identical reference numbers than on FIG. 1 perform the same function. The catheter body comprises a proximal end 101 and an opposite distal end 102. The distal end 102 comprises a tip 103. The catheter body 100 comprises an irrigation opening 111 from which fluid 2 is allowed flowing from the catheter body 100 to the body cavity 10. The catheter body 100 also comprises a drainage opening 121 from which fluid 2 is allowed flowing from the body cavity 10 to the catheter body 100. The body cavity is represented by the dash-dotted line on FIG. 2. The fluid 2 is allowed to flow freely in the body cavity of FIG. 2. A temperature sensor comprises a sensing element 131 positioned at the tip 103 of the distal end 102. The sensing element 131 measures a temperature of a fluid 2 in the body cavity 10 when the distal end 102 of the catheter body 100 is introduced in a body cavity 10. Optionally, the catheter body 100 further comprises an inflation balloon 4 which is inflated when the distal end 102 of the catheter body 100 is introduced into a body cavity 10. The sensing element 131 is positioned closer to the drainage opening 121 than to the irrigation opening 111 in the catheter body 100. A thickness of the sidewall of the tip 103 is minimized at the distal end 102 where the sensing element 131 is positioned. The catheter body 100 is coupled at its proximal end 101 to a fluid circulation system 3 and the distal end 102 is to be inserted into a body cavity 10.
[0071] According to an embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a cross-section of the distal end 102 of a catheter body 100 of the catheter 1 is depicted. The catheter body 100 extends along a longitudinal direction 6. The traverse direction 5 and the direction 7 traverse to the longitudinal direction 6 and to the traverse direction 5 are also indicated on FIG. 3. The cross-section is defined along the longitudinal direction 6 of the catheter body 100 and along the direction 7 traverse to the longitudinal direction 6 and the traverse direction 5. Components having identical reference numbers than on FIG. 1 or 2 perform the same function. The distal end 102 comprises a tip 103. The catheter body 100 comprises an outflow lumen 12 and a temperature sensor lumen 13. The temperature sensor lumen 13 is arranged closed to the outflow lumen 12 than to the inflow lumen 11 in the catheter body 100. The outflow lumen 11 comprises a drainage opening 121 from which fluid 2 is allowed flowing from the body cavity 10 to the catheter body 100. The temperature sensor lumen 13 comprises a temperature sensor 130. The temperature sensor 130 comprises a sensing element 131 positioned at the tip 103 of the distal end 102. The sensing element 131 measures a temperature of a fluid in the body cavity when the distal end 102 of the catheter body 100 is introduced in a body cavity. The sensing element 131 is positioned closer to the drainage opening 121 than to the irrigation opening in the catheter body 100. A thickness of the sidewall 110 of the tip 103 along the direction 7 is minimized at the distal end 102 where the sensing element 131 is positioned. A thickness of the sidewall 271 of the tip 103 along the longitudinal direction 6 is minimized at the distal end 102 where the sensing element 131 is positioned. The temperature sensor lumen 13 is separate in the catheter body 100 from the outflow lumen 12 and also from the inflow lumen. The temperature sensor 130 further comprises an electrical wire 132 extending in the temperature sensor lumen 13 and along the longitudinal direction 6 of the catheter body 100. The electrical wire 132 extends preferably between the sensing element 131 and the proximal end of the catheter body 100.
[0072] According to an embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a cross-section of the catheter body 100 of the catheter 1 is depicted. The catheter body 100 extends along a longitudinal direction 6. The traverse direction 5 and the direction 7 traverse to the longitudinal direction 6 and to the traverse direction 5 are also indicated on FIG. 4. The cross-section is defined along the direction 7 traverse to the longitudinal direction 6 and to the traverse direction 5 of the catheter body 100. Components having identical reference numbers than on FIG. 1 or 2 or 3 perform the same function. The catheter body 100 comprises an inflow lumen 11, an outflow lumen 12 and a temperature sensor lumen 13. Optionally, the catheter body 100 further comprises an inflation balloon 4 which is inflated when the distal end of the catheter 1 is introduced in a body cavity to keep the catheter 1 in the body cavity. The temperature sensor lumen 13 is arranged closer to the outflow lumen 12 than to the inflow lumen 11 in the catheter body 100. Preferably, the distance 141 between the temperature sensor lumen 13 in which the sensing element 131 is positioned and the outflow lumen 12 is twice the distance 142 between the temperature sensor lumen 13 and the inflow lumen 11. According to an alternative embodiment, the distance 141 between the temperature sensor lumen 13 in which the sensing element 131 is positioned and the outflow lumen 12 is more than twice the distance 142 between the temperature sensor lumen 13 and the inflow lumen 11, for example three, four, five, six, etc., times the distance 142 between the temperature sensor lumen 13 and the inflow lumen 11. A thickness of the sidewall 110 of the tip 103 is minimized at the distal end 102 where the sensing element 131 is positioned in the temperature sensor lumen 13. The inner diameter 143 of the outflow lumen 13 is larger than the inner diameter 144 of the inflow lumen 11. More particularly, a ratio of the inner diameter 144 of the inflow lumen 11 over the inner diameter 143 of the outflow lumen 13 is comprised between 0.6 and 1. This way, obstructions in the outflow lumen 13 due to body tissues being drained from the body cavity are prevented. The inner diameter 143 of the outflow lumen 13 is schematically depicted as extending along the direction 7 on FIG. 4. According to an alternative embodiment, the inner diameter 143 of the outflow lumen 13 could extend along any direction of the catheter body 100. The inner diameter 144 of the inflow lumen 11 is schematically depicted as extending along the direction 7 on FIG. 4. According to an alternative embodiment, the inner diameter 144 of the inflow lumen 11 could extend along any direction of the catheter body 100. For example, for a circular 16 French catheter having a diameter of 0.210 inches, the distance 141 between the temperature sensor lumen 13 and the outflow lumen 12 is for example 0.010 inches, which is the minimum internal wall thickness which can be manufactured; the distance 142 between the temperature sensor lumen 13 and the inflow lumen 11 is for example 0.025 inches; the distance 149 between the outflow lumen 12 and the inflow lumen 11 is for example 0.017 inches; the length 143 of the outflow lumen 12 along the direction 7 is for example 0.113 inches; the length 145 of the outflow lumen 12 along the traverse direction 5 is for example 0.064 inches; the length 144 of the inflow lumen 11 along the direction 7 is for example 0.084 inches; the length 146 of the inflow lumen 11 along the traverse direction 5 is for example 0.056 inches; the length 147 of the temperature sensor lumen 13 along the direction 7 is for example 0.047 inches; the length 148 of the temperature sensor lumen 13 along the traverse direction 5 is for example 0.070 inches; the inflation balloon 4 has for example a diameter of 0.033 inches; and the thickness of the sidewall 110 of the catheter 1 is, where the sensing element 131 is, for example 0.012 inches. For example, for a circular 18 French catheter having a diameter of 0.236 inches, the distance 141 between the temperature sensor lumen 13 and the outflow lumen 12 is for example 0.014 inches; the distance 142 between the temperature sensor lumen 13 and the inflow lumen 11 is for example 0.034 inches; the distance 149 between the outflow lumen 12 and the inflow lumen 11 is for example 0.018 inches; the length 143 of the outflow lumen 12 along the direction 7 is for example 0.132 inches; the length 145 of the outflow lumen 12 along the traverse direction 5 is for example 0.083 inches; the length 144 of the inflow lumen 11 along the direction 7 is for example 0.080 inches; the length 146 of the inflow lumen 11 along the traverse direction 5 is for example 0.051 inches; the length 147 of the temperature sensor lumen 13 along the direction 7 is for example 0.055 inches; the length 148 of the temperature sensor lumen 13 along the traverse direction 5 is for example 0.080 inches; the inflation balloon 4 has for example a diameter of 0.035 inches; and the thickness of the sidewall 110 of the catheter 1, where the sensing element 131 is, is for example 0.016 inches. According to an alternative embodiment, the inflow lumen 11 and the outflow lumen 12 have a circular cross-section along a plane comprising the longitudinal direction 6 and to the traverse direction 5 of the catheter body 100 and the diameter of the outflow lumen 12 defined along this cross-section is preferably larger than the diameter of the inflow lumen 11 defined along this cross-section. For example, the diameter of the outflow lumen 12 is 1.1 times larger than the diameter of the inflow lumen 11. According to alternative embodiments, the diameter of the outflow lumen 12 is for example 1.2 times larger than the diameter of the inflow lumen 11, or 1.3 times, or 1.4 times, or 1.5 times, or 1.6 times, etc.
[0073] The steps of a method according to the present invention for manufacturing a catheter 1 for measuring a temperature of a fluid 2 in a body cavity 10 are depicted on FIG. 5. In step 501, the method comprises providing a catheter body 10 comprising a proximal end 101 and an opposite distal end 102 comprising a tip 103. In step 502, an irrigation opening 111 is then formed in the sidewall 110 of the tip 103. In step 503, an inflow lumen 11 is formed and is extended from the irrigation opening 111 to the proximal end 102. In step 504, a drainage opening 121 is then formed in the sidewall 110 of the tip 103. In step 505, an outflow lumen 12 is formed and is extending from the drainage opening 121 to the proximal end 102. In step 506, a temperature sensor lumen 13 is formed. The temperature sensor lumen 13 is provided with a temperature sensor 130, wherein the temperature sensor 130 comprises a sensing element 131. In step 507, the temperature sensor lumen 13 is arranged closer to the outflow lumen 12 than to the inflow lumen 11 in the catheter body 100. Finally, in step 508, the sensing element 131 is positioned in the temperature sensor lumen 13 at the tip 103 of the distal end 102 such that the sensing element 131 measures a temperature of a fluid 2 inside a body cavity 10 when the distal end 102 of the catheter body 100 is inserted into a body cavity 10.
[0074] Although the present invention has been illustrated by reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments, and that the present invention may be embodied with various changes and modifications without departing from the scope thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. In other words, it is contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the basic underlying principles and whose essential attributes are claimed in this patent application. It will furthermore be understood by the reader of this patent application that the words “comprising” or “comprise” do not exclude other elements or steps, that the words “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality, and that a single element, such as a computer system, a processor, or another integrated unit may fulfil the functions of several means recited in the claims. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the respective claims concerned. The terms “first”, “second”, third”, “a”, “b”, “c”, and the like, when used in the description or in the claims are introduced to distinguish between similar elements or steps and are not necessarily describing a sequential or chronological order. Similarly, the terms “top”, “bottom”, “over”, “under”, and the like are introduced for descriptive purposes and not necessarily to denote relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and embodiments of the invention are capable of operating according to the present invention in other sequences, or in orientations different from the one(s) described or illustrated above.
