Automatic Air Management System

Abstract

A powered or automatic air management system for measuring pressure from an air pressure catheter located within a patient. Powered pumps are included in a remote pump assembly to automatically adjust the air volume to a desired level. A pressure transducer assembly is located at the bed of the patient and is connected to an air catheter, and a separate pump assembly is fixed to an IV pole away from the patient and connected to a pressure monitor to display the pressure readings. By locating the pressure transducer to a location relatively close to the connection point of the catheter, more accurate pressure readings can be achieve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic air pressure management system for monitoring pressure within a patient with an air catheter, comprising:
 a pump assembly enclosure comprising an air pump mechanism; a control assembly; and a pressure monitor connector;   a pressure transducer assembly enclosure comprising a pressure transducer and an air catheter connection mechanism that releasably connects to an air catheter; and,   a pressure transducer assembly cable connecting said pump assembly enclosure with said pressure transducer assembly enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first valve located within said pressure transducer assembly enclosure; said first valve selectively blocking pneumatic communication with said pump assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first valve located in said pump assembly enclosure; said first valve selectively blocking pneumatic communication with the atmosphere. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a check valve located in said pressure transducer assembly enclosure and allowing air to enter an air catheter above a predetermined negative pressure within said air catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a clamp mechanism locate on said pump assembly enclosure and configured to clamp onto an I.V. pole. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 1 , wherein air pump mechanism comprises two separately activated pumps. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 1 , wherein said control assembly includes software configured to cause said pump assembly enclosure to:
 vent to the atmosphere;   evacuate an air passage of said automatic air pressure management system;   recharge an air passage of said automatic air pressure management system; and,   perform a single pump injection of said automatic air pressure management system.   
     
     
         8 . An automatic air pressure management system for monitoring pressure within a patient with an air catheter, comprising:
 a pump assembly enclosure comprising an air pump mechanism; and a control assembly;   a pressure transducer assembly enclosure comprising a pressure transducer and an air catheter connection mechanism that releasably connects to an air catheter; and,   a pressure transducer assembly cable connecting said pump assembly enclosure with said pressure transducer assembly enclosure;   wherein an air passage is created between said pump assembly enclosure, said pressure transducer assembly cable, and said pressure transducer assembly enclosure.   
     
     
         9 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 8 , further comprising a first valve located within said pressure transducer assembly enclosure that selectively closes said air passage. 
     
     
         10 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 9 , further comprising a second valve located in said pump assembly enclosure; said second valve selectively blocking pneumatic communication with the atmosphere. 
     
     
         11 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 10 , further comprising a check valve located in said pressure transducer assembly enclosure and allowing air to enter said air passage above a predetermined negative pressure within said air passage. 
     
     
         12 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 11 , wherein said air pump mechanism is in communication with said air passage and wherein said air pump mechanism are two separately activated pumps. 
     
     
         13 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 12 , wherein said control assembly includes software configured to cause said pump assembly enclosure to:
 vent to the atmosphere;   evacuate an air passage of said automatic air pressure management system;   recharge an air passage of said automatic air pressure management system; and,   perform a single pump injection of said automatic air pressure management system.   
     
     
         14 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 13 , further comprising a clamp mechanism locate on said pump assembly enclosure and configured to clamp onto an I.V. pole. 
     
     
         15 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 14 , further comprises an air intake passage extending between said pump assembly enclosure, through said pressure transducer assembly cable, to said pressure transducer assembly enclosure, and in communication with said check valve. 
     
     
         16 . An automatic air pressure management system for monitoring pressure within a patient with an air catheter, comprising:
 a pump assembly enclosure comprising an air pump mechanism; and a control assembly;   a pressure transducer assembly enclosure comprising a pressure transducer and an air catheter connection mechanism that releasably connects to an air catheter;   a pressure transducer assembly cable connecting said pump assembly enclosure with said pressure transducer assembly enclosure;   an air passage extending between said pump assembly enclosure, said pressure transducer assembly cable, and said pressure transducer assembly enclosure, so as to allow selective pneumatic communication between said air pump mechanism and an air catheter when attached to said air catheter connection mechanism.   
     
     
         17 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 16 , further comprising a first valve located within said pressure transducer assembly enclosure; said first valve selectively blocking pneumatic communication through said air passage with said pump assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 16 , further comprising a first valve located in said pump assembly enclosure; said first valve selectively blocking pneumatic communication with the atmosphere. 
     
     
         19 . The automatic air pressure management system of  claim 16 , further comprising a check valve located in said pressure transducer assembly enclosure and allowing air to enter said air passage when a pressure within said air passage is greater than a crack pressure of said check valve.