Involuntary contraction induced pressure as a medical diagnostic tool using involuntary reflex cough test

Abstract

A system and method allows diagnosis of a patient for physiological abnormality such as a neurological deficiency. An involuntary reflex cough event is induced within the patient that activates the nucleus ambiguus and medial motor cell column of the patient and stimulates involuntary cough activated paraspinal muscles in the pelvis of the patient. An electromyogram (EMG) is obtained from the involuntary cough activated paraspinal muscles while inducing involuntary reflex cough and determining its duration. The intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is determined and the IAP is correlated with the EMG duration of the involuntary cough event within a processing device to diagnose a physiological abnormality such as a neurological deficiency within the patient.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A catheter, comprising:
 a catheter body having an outer surface and dimensioned for insertion within a urethra and into a bladder and having a first lumen configured to monitor bladder activity and a second lumen configured to fill the bladder with fluid; and   at least one indicator positioned along the surface of the catheter that is configured to change color when exposed in combination to two separate urine characteristics to indicate urine leakage.   
     
     
         26 . The catheter according to  claim 25  wherein said two separate urine characteristics comprise a temperature of fluid above a predetermined value and a presence of urea. 
     
     
         27 . The catheter according to  claim 25  wherein said at least one indicator is responsive to fluid that is a temperature above about 30 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         28 . The catheter according to  claim 25  wherein said catheter body includes a distal end and a sensor positioned thereat. 
     
     
         29 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The catheter according to  claim 25 , wherein said catheter includes a distal end and said at least one indicator is positioned from 11 to 14 centimeters from the distal end along the surface for female use and from 16 to 19 centimeters from the distal end for male use. 
     
     
         40 . The catheter according to  claim 25 , and further comprising a sensor extending through the first lumen configured to monitor pressure. 
     
     
         41 . The catheter according to  claim 40 , wherein said sensor comprises a stylet sensor. 
     
     
         42 . The catheter according to  claim 40 , wherein said sensor comprises an air-charged sensor. 
     
     
         43 . The catheter according to  claim 42 , wherein said air-charged sensor comprises a T-doc sensor. 
     
     
         44 . The catheter according to  claim 25 , wherein one of said two separate urine characteristics comprises pH. 
     
     
         45 . The catheter according to  claim 25 , wherein said at least one indicator is sensitive to pH ranging from 4.6 to 8.0 to change color. 
     
     
         46 . The catheter according to  claim 25 , wherein said catheter body is three to ten French diameter. 
     
     
         47 . A catheter, comprising:
 a catheter body having an outer surface and dimensioned for insertion within a urethra and into a bladder; and   a support member supported on the outer surface of the catheter body and movable therewith into a desired position for leakage testing when the catheter body is inserted within a urethra and into the bladder, said support member carrying a urine leakage indicator that detects urine leakage.   
     
     
         48 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , wherein said support member comprises a support ring supported by the catheter body and slidably movable on the outer surface of the catheter body. 
     
     
         49 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , wherein said urine leakage indicator comprises a moisture indicating dye to indicate urine leakage. 
     
     
         50 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , wherein said urine leakage indicator comprises an enzymatic moisture detector. 
     
     
         51 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , wherein said urine leakage indicator is configured to change color when exposed in combination to two separate urine characteristics to indicate urine leakage. 
     
     
         52 . The catheter according to  claim 51 , wherein said two separate urine characteristics comprise a temperature of fluid above a predetermined value and a presence of urea. 
     
     
         53 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , wherein said urine leakage indicator is responsive to fluid that is a temperature above about 30 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         54 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , wherein said catheter body includes a distal end and a sensor positioned thereat. 
     
     
         55 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , wherein said catheter includes a distal end and said urine leakage indicator is positioned from 11 to 14 centimeters from the distal end along the surface for female use and from 16 to 19 centimeters from the distal end for male use. 
     
     
         56 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , and further comprising a first lumen and a sensor extending through the first lumen configured to monitor bladder pressure. 
     
     
         57 . The catheter according to  claim 56 , wherein said sensor comprises a stylet sensor. 
     
     
         58 . The catheter according to  claim 56 , wherein said sensor comprises an air-charged sensor. 
     
     
         59 . The catheter according to  claim 58 , wherein said air-charged sensor comprises a T-doc sensor. 
     
     
         60 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , wherein said urine leakage indicator is sensitive to pH ranging from 4.6 to 8.0 to change color. 
     
     
         61 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , wherein said catheter body is three to ten French diameter. 
     
     
         62 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , further comprising a first lumen configured to monitor bladder activity and a second lumen configured to fill the bladder with fluid. 
     
     
         63 . The catheter according to  claim 47 , wherein said support member comprises a color changing urinary pad and a medial section having a hole therein through which the catheter body is received.