Importance

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Abstract

A gas-column pressure measuring catheter which is insertable into a mammalian body for purposes of transmitting pressure changes from a location within the mammalian body to a pressure sensor which is either incorporated into, or connected to, the catheter. In a preferred embodiment, the gas-column pressure measuring catheter comprises an elongate catheter body having a gas-filled lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, and a gas-filled membrane-walled chamber positioned on the catheter body in communication with the gas-filled lumen such that pressure changes exerted against the outer surface of the membrane-walled chamber will result in the transmission of pressure changes through the gas-filled catheter lumen. The gas-filled membrane-walled chamber may be located on the side wall of the catheter body, or may be located on the distal end of the catheter body. The invention includes methods for measuring various intracorporeal pressures using gas-column pressure measuring catheters, including methods for measuring blood pressure, intracranial pressure, intrauterine pressure, pulmonary artery pressures, and other intravascular or intracomparmental pressures. The invention also provides means and methods for replenishing gas lost by diffusion out of the membrane-walled chamber,

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First Claim