Aspiration monitoring system and method

Abstract

A system for real time monitoring of catheter aspiration includes a pressure sensor configured for placement in fluid communication with a lumen which at least partially includes an aspiration lumen of a catheter, the aspiration lumen configured to couple to a vacuum source, a measurement device coupled to the pressure sensor and configured for measuring deviations in fluid pressure, and a communication device coupled to the measurement device and configured to generate a continuous signal which is proportional to measured fluid pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for real time monitoring of catheter aspiration, comprising:
 a pressure sensor configured for placement in fluid communication with a lumen which at least partially includes an aspiration lumen of a catheter, the aspiration lumen configured to couple to a vacuum source;   a measurement device coupled to the pressure sensor and configured for measuring deviations in fluid pressure; and   a communication device coupled to the measurement device and configured to generate a continuous signal which is proportional to measured fluid pressure.   
     
     
         2 . A system for real time monitoring of catheter aspiration, comprising:
 a pressure sensor configured for placement in fluid communication with an aspiration lumen of a catheter, the aspiration lumen configured to couple to a vacuum source;   a measurement device coupled to the pressure sensor and configured for measuring variations in fluid pressure; and   a communication device coupled to the measurement device and configured to generate a continuous signal which varies proportionally as a result of variation in fluid pressure.   
     
     
         3 . A method for real time monitoring of catheter aspiration, comprising:
 measuring an aspiration pressure with a pressure sensor;   measuring variations in aspiration pressure based at least in part on output from the pressure sensor; and   generating a continuous signal which varies proportionally with the aspiration pressure.