EP0363117A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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A position-monitoring flow-directed catheter and method
Assignee: Baxter International Inc
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Filing: 1989-10-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A balloon-tipped, flow-directed catheter (25) with a position-monitoring port (29) is adapted to be positioned in the outflow tract of the right ventricle (13) proximal to the pulmonic valve (18) of the heart (H), which in most adult patients would be approximately 8 cm from the distal tip (26) of the catheter. By measuring the pressure at the position-monitoring port (29), the position of the catheter tip (26) and the balloon (27) in the pulmonary artery (17) can be monitored, and checked before inflating the balloon to measure pulmonary wedge pressure at the distal port. A right ventricular pressure reading indicates that the balloon is in a proper position in the pulmonary artery for measuring wedge pressure. A pulmonary artery pressure reading indicates that the position-monitoring port has crossed the pulmonic valve and that the balloon has migrated distally to a position that may not be safe for inflating the balloon to measure wedge pressure. In such a case, the catheter should be gradually withdrawn until a right ventricular pressure is obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 William Ganz
- 👤 Harold J. Swan
- 👤 Randel Woodgrift
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/02; A61B5/026; A61B5/0275; A61B5/028; A61B5/021; A61B5/0215; A61B5/02158; G; G01; G01L; G01L19/00; G01L19/0007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A position-monitoring, flow-directed catheter, comprising: a) a catheter having a distal artery portion and a distal tip, a ventricular portion proximal to the distal portion, and an atrial portion proximal to the ventricular portion; b) an inflatable balloon located at the distal tip of the distal portion of the tube, adapted to float with the bloodstream and carry the tube through the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart into the pulmonary artery and into a wedge position when the balloon is inflated; c) an inflation lumen in the catheter with a port opening communicating with the balloon's interior; d) a through lumen in the catheter with a port opening at the distal end of the catheter; and e) a position-monitoring lumen in the catheter adapted to be connected to pressure measurement apparatus, said lumen having a port opening between the distal portion and the ventricular portion of the catheter adapted to be positioned in the outflow tract of the right ventricle proximal to the pulmonic valve of the heart, wherein the position of the balloon in the pulmonary artery can be monitored by measuring the pressure at the position-monitoring port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A position-monitoring, flow-directed catheter, comprising: a) a catheter having a distal artery portion and a distal tip, a ventricular portion proximal to the distal portion, and an atrial portion proximal to the ventricular portion; b) an inflatable balloon located at the distal tip of the distal portion of the tube, adapted to float with the bloodstream and carry the tube through the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart into the pulmonary artery and into a wedge position when the balloon is inflated; c) an inflation lumen in the catheter with a port opening communicating with the balloon's interior; d) a through lumen in the catheter with a port opening at the distal end of the catheter; and e) a position-monitoring lumen in the catheter adapted to be connected to pressure measurement apparatus, said lumen having a port opening between the distal portion and the ventricular portion of the catheter adapted to be positioned in the outflow tract of the right ventricle proximal to the pulmonic valve of the heart, wherein the position of the balloon in the pulmonary artery can be monitored by measuring the pressure at the position-monitoring port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A catheter according to Claim 1, wherein the through lumen adapted to be connected to a pressure measurement apparatus for measuring pressure at the distal tip of the catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A catheter according to Claim 2, wherein the through lumen and the position-monitoring lumen are adapted to be connected to a single pressure measurement apparatus with port selection means so that pressure readings can be taken selectively at either the distal tip port or the position-monitoring port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A catheter according to Claim 1, wherein the catheter has an additional lumen and port suitable for infusion or injection of liquids into the bloodstream, for blood sampling, for pressure monitoring, or for insertion of an electrode probe for cardiac pacing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A catheter according to Claim 1, wherein the catheter has temperature measuring means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A catheter according to Claim 1, wherein the catheter has temperature measuring means in the distal portion of the catheter proximal to the balloon and an additional lumen having a port opening proximal to the temperature measuring means for injecting liquid into the bloodstream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A catheter according to Claim 6, wherein the additional lumen port opening is in the atrial portion of the catheter adapted to be positioned in the right atrium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A catheter according to Claim 6, wherein lead wires from the temperature measuring means are fed through the inflation lumen to a proximal end connector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A catheter according to Claim 1, wherein the catheter has temperature measuring means in the distal portion of the catheter proximal to the balloon and two additional lumens having port openings, one for injecting liquids and one for infusing liquids.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter according to Claim 9, wherein the lumen for injecting liquids has a port opening proximal to the temperature measuring means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A catheter according to Claim 1, wherein the catheter has a pacing lumen with a port opening in the atrial or ventricular portion of the catheter adapted to be positioned in the right artrium or right ventricle for insertion of a pacing electrode through the pacing lumen into the right atrium or right ventricle for cardiac pacing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
99 words
A catheter according to Claim 1, wherein the catheter has a pacing lumen with a port opening in the ventricular portion of the catheter adapted to be positioned in the right ventricle for insertion of a pacing electrode into the right ventricle for cardiac pacing and a lumen with a port opening in the atrial portion of the catheter adapted to be positioned in the right atrium suitable for injecting or infusing liquid into the right atrium, for blood sampling, for right atrial pressure monitoring, or for insertion of a pacing electrode into the right atrium for cardiac pacing.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
317 words
A method of monitoring the position of a flow-directed catheter, said catheter having a distal artery portion and a distal tip, a ventricular portion proximal to the distal portion and an atrial portion proximal to the ventricular portion, an inflatable balloon located at the distal tip of the distal portion, adapted to float with the bloodstream and carry the catheter through the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart into the pulmonary artery and into a wedge position when the balloon is inflated, an inflation lumen in the catheter with a port opening communicating with the balloon's interior, a through lumen in the catheter adapted to be connected to pressure measurement apparatus and having a port opening at the distal tip of the catheter for measuring pressure, and a position-monitoring lumen in the catheter adapted to be connected to pressure measurement apparatus and having a port opening between the distal portion and the ventricular portion of the catheter, adapted to be positioned in the outflow tract of the right ventricle, proximal to the pulmonic valve of the heart; the method comprising a) positioning the inflated balloon in a pulmonary wedge position and then deflating the balloon; b) before inflating the balloon to measure pulmonary wedge pressure at the distal port, monitoring the position of the balloon by measuring the pressure at the position-monitoring port, a right ventricular pressure reading indicating that the balloon is in a safe position in the pulmonary artery for measuring pulmonary wedge pressure, a pulmonary artery pressure reading indicating that the position-monitoring port has crossed the pulmonic valve and that the balloon has migrated distally to a potentially unsafe position for measuring wedge pressure; c) if a pulmonary artery pressure reading is obtained, withdrawing the catheter until a right ventricular pressure reading is obtained; and d) then, inflating the balloon to obtain a safe pulmonary wedge pressure reading at the distal port.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
317 words
A method of monitoring the position of a flow-directed catheter, said catheter having a distal artery portion and a distal tip, a ventricular portion proximal to the distal portion and an atrial portion proximal to the ventricular portion, an inflatable balloon located at the distal tip of the distal portion, adapted to float with the bloodstream and carry the catheter through the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart into the pulmonary artery and into a wedge position when the balloon is inflated, an inflation lumen in the catheter with a port opening communicating with the balloon's interior, a through lumen in the catheter adapted to be connected to pressure measurement apparatus and having a port opening at the distal tip of the catheter for measuring pressure, and a position-monitoring lumen in the catheter adapted to be connected to pressure measurement apparatus and having a port opening between the distal portion and the ventricular portion of the catheter, adapted to be positioned in the outflow tract of the right ventricle, proximal to the pulmonic valve of the heart; the method comprising a) positioning the inflated balloon in a pulmonary wedge position and then deflating the balloon; b) before inflating the balloon to measure pulmonary wedge pressure at the distal port, monitoring the position of the balloon by measuring the pressure at the position-monitoring port, a right ventricular pressure reading indicating that the balloon is in a safe position in the pulmonary artery for measuring pulmonary wedge pressure, a pulmonary artery pressure reading indicating that the position-monitoring port has crossed the pulmonic valve and that the balloon has migrated distally to a potentially unsafe position for measuring wedge pressure; c) if a pulmonary artery pressure reading is obtained, withdrawing the catheter until a right ventricular pressure reading is obtained; and d) then, inflating the balloon to obtain a safe pulmonary wedge pressure reading at the distal port.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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