Apparatus for measuring body fluid pressure

Claim 1

Apparatus for measuring the pressure of a body fluid comprising: a body member including first, second and third conduit arms; a three-way valve positioned in said body member and being positionable to interconnect any two of said first, second and third conduit arms; means connected to said first arm and being in communication with said body fluid for directing tHe pressure of the body fluid to said valve; a chamber disposed in communication with aid second conduit arm; sealable passage means connected to said third arm for introducing saline solution into said connecting means when said valve connects said first and third arms and into said chamber when said valve connects said second and third arms and for connecting atmospheric pressure to said chamber when said valve connects said second and third arms; a pressure-sensitive transducer located in said chamber for providing output signals indicative of the pressure of the body fluid when said valve connects said first and second arms; circuit means connected to said pressure-sensitive transducer for producing an indication of the magnitude of the output signal received from said pressure-sensitive transducer; and a self-resealable plug for selectively sealing said passage means and permitting injection of an anticoagulant therethrough.