Body fluid pressure measuring apparatus

Claim 2

Body fluid pressure measuring apparatus, comprising: a catheter, one end of which is received within a region of the body at which fluid pressure is to be measured; a chamber connected to the free end of the catheter, the interior of which chamber is in open communication with the catheter interior; pressure transducing means mounted within the chamber and having portions extending outwardly therefrom; and conduiting means carried by the pressure transducing means in continuous open communication between a pressurized source of a fluid medium and the chamber interior, in which the the pressure transducing means is mounted through an opening in walls defining the chamber, said transducing means including portions for engaging the chamber walls and sealing the chamber opening through which the transducing means is mounted; said conduiting means terminating at the chamber interior in an orifice and communicating groove formed by the cooperative action of the transducing means and chamber wall.

Claim 3

Body fluid pressure measuring apparatus as in claim 1, in which the orifice is covered by the walls defining the chamber opening and the rate of fluid medium flow into the chamber interior is dependent upon the groove cross-sectional dimensions.

Claim 4

Body fluid pressure measuring apparatus as in claim 1, in which pressure responsive portions of the transducing means are remotely located from and at such an angle to the orifice and communicating groove that the incoming fluid medium impinges on parts of the transducing means other than the pressure responsive portions.

Claim 5

In fluid pressure measuring apparatus having a catheter, one end of which is disposed in the fluid being measured, a pressure transducer, a chamber including pressure responsive parts of the transducer therewithin and connected to the other end of the catheter in fluid passing relation, means supporting the transducer to a chamber wall, a supply of physiological saline completely filling the chamber and catheter, the improvement comprising: a conduit passing through the supporting means providing continuous communication between the chamber interior and a supply of pressurized physiological saline; and walls defining an opening means at the inner end of the conduit of reduced flow rate capacity relative to that of the conduit whereby physiological saline is added to the filled chamber at a rate and in a manner producing negligible effect on the pressure responsive parts of the transducer.

Claim 6

In fluid pressure measuring apparatus having a catheter, one end of which is disposed in the fluid being measured, a pressure transducer, a chamber including pressure responsive parts of the transducer therewithin and connected to the other end of the catheter in fluid passing relation, means supporting the transducer to a chamber wall, a supply of physiological saline completely filling the chamber and catheter, the improvement comprising: a conduit passing through the supporting means providing continuous communication between the chamber interior and a supply of pressurized physiological saline; and walls defining an opening means at the inner end of the conduit of reduced flow rate capacity relative to that of the conduit whereby physiological saline is added to the filled chamber at a rate and in a manner producing negligible effect on the pressure responsive parts of the transducer.

Claim 7

In fluid pressure measuring apparatus as in claim 4, in which the opening means is so located relative to the transducer that fluid emitted from said opening means moves over and past other parts of said transducer before reaching the pressure responsive parts thereof.

Claim 8

In fluid pressure measuring apparatus as in claim 4, in which there are further provided releasable means for securing the transducer supporting means to a wall of said chamber, a portion of said wall against which the supporting means is secured covering a part of said opening means thereby deflecting flow of the saline to the chamber interior.

Claim 9

Body fluid pressure measuring apparatus, comprising: a catheter, one end of which is received within a region of the body at which fluid pressure is to be measured; a chamber connected to the free end of the catheter, the interior of which chamber is in open communication with the catheter interior; pressure transducing means mounted within the chamber and having portions extending outwardly therefrom, said transducing means including a generally cylindrical enclosure extending into the chamber and a shoulder of enlarged diametral measurements, said shoulder abutting against the chamber walls in such manner as to maintain a spaced condition of the cylindrical enclosure from the opposed chamber walls; and conduiting means carried by the pressure transducing means for conducting a fluid medium to the chamber interior, said conduiting means passing completely through the shoulder from the outside to terminate at an orifice opening into the space between the chamber wall and the cylindrical enclosure.

Claim 10

Body fluid pressure measuring apparatus, comprising: a catheter, one end of which is received within a region of the body at which fluid pressure is to be measured; a chamber connected to the free end of the catheter, the interior of which chamber is in open communication with the catheter interior; pressure transducing means mounted within the chamber and having portions extending outwardly therefrom, said transducing means including a generally cylindrical enclosure extending into the chamber and a shoulder of enlarged diametral measurements, said shoulder abutting against the chamber walls in such manner as to maintain a spaced condition of the cylindrical enclosure from the opposed chamber walls; and conduiting means carried by the pressure transducing means for conducting a fluid medium to the chamber interior, said conduiting means passing completely through the shoulder from the outside to terminate at an orifice opening into the space between the chamber wall and the cylindrical enclosure.