Catheter for monitoring intra-abdominal pressure

Abstract

A multi-lumen catheter for monitoring intra-abdominal pressure, the catheter including an expandable outer balloon and an expandable inner balloon positioned within the outer balloon. A first lumen communicates with the inner balloon and the inner balloon and first lumen are filled with gas to form a gas filled chamber to monitor pressure within the bladder to thereby monitor pressure within an abdomen of the patient. A second lumen communicates with the bladder to remove fluid from the bladder. The catheter is configured for attachment of an external pressure transducer communicating with the gas filled chamber for measuring bladder pressure based on gas compression caused by deformation of the expanded inner balloon deformed by the expanded outer balloon.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A multi-lumen catheter for monitoring intra-abdominal pressure,
 the catheter comprising an elongated body configured and dimensioned for insertion into a bladder of a patient, the catheter having a first lumen, a second lumen, a third lumen, a first balloon at a distal portion and a second balloon proximal of the first balloon, the first lumen communicating with the first balloon, the second lumen communicating with the bladder to remove fluid from the bladder, and the third lumen communicating with the second balloon to inflate the second balloon to stabilize the catheter, the first balloon filled with a gas to form a gas filled chamber to monitor pressure within the bladder to thereby monitor pressure within an abdomen of the patient, wherein pressure is measured within the bladder as the first balloon changes shape in response to changes in pressure in the bladder.   
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 11 , further comprising a pressure sensor positioned within the first lumen adjacent the first balloon. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 12 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned within the first lumen spaced axially from the sensor for measuring pressure. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 11 , further comprising a pressure sensor external and connectable to the catheter to communicate with the gas filled chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter of  claim 12 , wherein a side opening in the second lumen is between the first and second balloons. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 12 , wherein bladder pressure is measured continuously and communicates with an external monitor to visually display pressure readings, and a pressure sensor provides continuous pressure measurements throughout its duration of insertion without requiring infusion of water into the bladder. 
     
     
         17 . A method for measuring pressure comprising the steps of:
 providing a catheter having first and second lumens and a balloon;   inserting the catheter into a bladder of a patient;   injecting gas into the first lumen of the catheter to expand the balloon from a deflated condition to a partially inflated condition, an internal space of the balloon and the first lumen forming a closed air chamber;   obtaining a first pressure reading of the bladder based on deformation of the balloon without injecting fluid into the bladder;   transmitting the first pressure reading to an external monitor connected to the catheter;   obtaining a second pressure reading of the bladder based on deformation of the balloon without injecting fluid into the bladder;   transmitting the second pressure reading to the external monitor connected to the catheter; and   obtaining consecutive continuous pressure readings of the bladder without injecting fluid into the bladder.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of draining the bladder through the second lumen of the catheter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the balloon is surrounded by an outer balloon and deformation of the outer balloon effects the deformation of the inner balloon. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein after initial advancement of gas into the first lumen by connection of a pressure transducer, additional air does not need to be inserted during the duration of insertion of the catheter in a body of a patient. 
     
     
         21 . A method for measuring pressure comprising the steps of:
 providing a catheter having first and second lumens, an expandable first balloon and a temperature sensor;   inserting the catheter through the urethra into a bladder of a patient;   connecting a hub containing a pressure transducer to the first lumen to automatically advance gas through the first lumen of the catheter to expand the first balloon from a deflated condition to a more expanded condition and to automatically connect the temperature sensor to a connector within the hub;   obtaining a first pressure reading of the bladder based on deformation of the first balloon without injecting fluid into the bladder;   transmitting the first pressure reading to an external monitor connected to the hub;   obtaining a second pressure reading of the bladder based on deformation of the first balloon without injecting fluid into the bladder;   transmitting the second pressure reading to the external monitor connected to the hub; and   obtaining consecutive continuous pressure readings of the bladder without injecting fluid into the bladder.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the catheter includes an outer balloon positioned over the first balloon, the outer balloon expandable through a separate lumen of the catheter and deformable based on bladder pressure to deform the first balloon to provide finer measurements of bladder pressure. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the step of connecting a pressure transducer advances an elongated member extending from the hub into the first lumen to advance air into the first balloon. 
     
     
         24 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the second lumen is independent of the first and third lumens. 
     
     
         25 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the catheter has a fourth lumen and a temperature sensor positioned within the fourth lumen to measure core body temperature. 
     
     
         26 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising a pressure sensor connectable to the catheter, wherein connection of the pressure sensor automatically advances air into the first balloon to expand the first balloon. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein connection of a hub to advance air into the first balloon provides a closed air system of the first lumen and first balloon. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein connection of a hub to advance air into the first balloon only partially fills the first balloon. 
     
     
         29 . The method of claim  1 , wherein an indicator indicates if measured pressure exceeds a threshold value. 
     
     
         30 . The method of claim  1 , wherein pressure is measured without requiring infusion of water into the bladder.