Apparatus and methods for measuring peripheral venous pressure and applications of same

Abstract

A method of measuring peripheral venous pressure includes providing a tubing operably connected between a fluid source and a vein, a fluid controlling device for occluding the tubing and configured to have an on position and an off position, and at least one pressure sensor in fluid communication with the tubing, placed between the fluid controlling device and the vein; selectively passing fluid from the fluid source to the vein, through the tubing, by the fluid controlling device; measuring both a fluid pressure from the fluid source and a distal venous pressure from the vein by the at least one pressure sensor when the fluid controlling device is in the on position; and measuring the distal venous pressure from the vein only by the at least one pressure sensor when the fluid controlling device is in the off position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of measuring peripheral venous pressure (PVP), comprising:
 providing a tubing operably connected between a fluid source and a vein, a fluid controlling device for occluding the tubing and configured to have an on position and an off position, such that when the fluid controlling device is in the on position, fluid in the tubing is allowed to pass the fluid controlling device, and when the fluid controlling device is in the off position, no fluid in the tubing is allowed to pass the fluid controlling device, and at least one pressure sensor in fluid communication with the tubing, placed between the fluid controlling device and the vein;   selectively passing fluid from the fluid source to the vein, through the tubing, by the fluid controlling device;   measuring both a fluid pressure from the fluid source and a distal venous pressure from the vein by the at least one pressure sensor when the fluid controlling device is in the on position; and   measuring the distal venous pressure from the vein only by the at least one pressure sensor when the fluid controlling device is in the off position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid controlling device is manually or automatically controllable. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid controlling device comprises a stopcock. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid controlling device comprises an intravascular line occlusion mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the intravascular line occlusion mechanism is manual, automatic, or timed with cuff occlusion and cuff release. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure sensor comprises a pressure transducer, a pressure transmitter, a pressure sensor, a pressure indicator, a piezometer, or a pressure sensing or detecting device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing the distal venous pressure, as measured by the at least one pressure sensor, to determine a hemodynamic parameter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the hemodynamic parameter includes at least one of a maximum value of the PVP, a rate of rise/slope of the PVP, and/or a rate of fall/slope of the PVP. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising displaying the hemodynamic parameter on a display. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein communication between the at least one pressure sensor and the display is remotely transmitted via Bluetooth® or radiofrequency mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . A system of measuring peripheral venous pressure (PVP), comprising:
 a fluid source;   a tube operably connected between the fluid source and a vein;   a fluid controlling device for occluding the tube, wherein the fluid controlling device includes an on position and an off position, such that when the fluid controlling device is in the on position, fluid in the tube is allowed to pass the fluid controlling device, and when the fluid controlling device is in the off position, no fluid in the tube is allowed to pass the fluid controlling device; and   a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the tube and disposed between the fluid controlling device and the vein,   wherein the fluid controlling device passes fluid from the fluid source to the vein, through the tube,   wherein the pressure sensor measures a fluid pressure from the fluid source and a distal venous pressure from the vein while the fluid controlling device is in the on position, and   wherein the pressure sensor only measures the distal venous pressure from the vein while the fluid controlling device is in the off position.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid controlling device is manually or automatically controllable. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid controlling device comprises a stopcock. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid controlling device comprises an intravascular line occlusion mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the intravascular line occlusion mechanism is manual, automatic, or timed with cuff occlusion and cuff release. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure sensor comprises a pressure transducer, a pressure transmitter, a pressure sensor, a pressure indicator, a piezometer, or a pressure sensing or detecting device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the distal venous pressure, as measured by the pressure sensor, is processed to determine a hemodynamic parameter. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the hemodynamic parameter includes at least one of a maximum value of the PVP, a rate of rise/slope of the PVP, and/or a rate of fall/slope of the PVP. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising displaying the hemodynamic parameter on a display. 
     
     
         20 . A device for measuring peripheral venous pressure (PVP), comprising:
 a pressure sensor in fluid communication with a tube, wherein a first end of the tube is in fluid communication with a fluid source and a second end of the tube is in fluid communication with a vein,   wherein the pressure sensor is disposed along the tube between a fluid controlling device capable of occluding the tube and the vein, wherein when the fluid controlling device is in an on position, the tube is not occluded, and when the fluid controlling device is in an off position, the tube is occluded,   such that the pressure sensor measures a fluid pressure from the fluid source and a distal venous pressure from the vein while the fluid controlling device is in the on position, and the pressure sensor only measures the distal venous pressure from the vein while the fluid controlling device is in the off position.