Method for measuring pressures deriving from leakage current

Abstract

A method for performing pressure measurements by means of pressure profile sensors technique comprises the following steps: a) introducing into the mammal a catheter having at least a portion of its wall which is sufficiently flexible to be deflected by external pressure; b) introducing progressively into the catheter lumen an electrically conductive liquid substance while applying to it simultaneously an alternative current and mechanical oscillations; c) detecting by means of an electrode placed at the external surface of the subject the leakage current induced by the liquid substance traveling in the catheter; d) transferring the leakage current thus recorded to a converter suitable to convert the leakage parameters provided thereto into pressure values; and e) displaying the pressure values as such or as a function of the measurement location or period to afford corresponding pressure profiles. This method is useful for performing pressure, respectively pressure profiles measurements in various mammal body tracts or cavities. The invention also relates to a device using said method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.