Systems, methods, and devices for facilitating access to target anatomical sites or environments

A device for detecting pressure in a target anatomical environment including a tissue of a patient, the device comprising:

• a self-contained housing containing a power source and having a distal portion with a probe extending away from the distal portion at a probe access and having a distal end-most tip portion that is fixed relative to a probe portion adjacent the distal portion of the housing, the housing being untethered such that a proximal portion is closed and does not include a port opening that provides access to an interior of the housing such that the probe access is the only opening into the housing, the housing graspable with a hand of a user to advance the housing and the probe toward the tissue, wherein the probe is a non-hollow probe such that fluid does not flow from a distal tip of the probe to the housing;
• a tissue pressure sensing system at least partially carried by the housing and comprising a processing unit coupled with a pressure sensor, the processing unit configured to receive tissue pressure signals comprising a series of instantaneous tissue pressure values from the pressure sensor and determine from the received signals a mean tissue pressure value over a predetermined period of time with a moving average of the series, the mean tissue pressure value indicative of a tissue environment about the distal portion of the probe, the predetermined period of time selected such that the mean tissue pressure value is indicative of a pressure at the distal portion of the probe in tissue;
• and
• an output unit carried by the housing and comprising a visual display, the output unit coupled to the pressure sensing system so as to receive the mean tissue pressure value and output to the visual display a reporting signal indicating the determined mean tissue pressure value.

A method for detecting pressure at a probe in a target anatomical environment including a tissue of a patient, comprising:

• providing a device comprising a self-contained housing containing a power source and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the housing being untethered such that the proximal portion that is closed and does not include a port opening that provides access to an interior of the housing, the probe extending away from the distal portion at a probe access and having a distal end-most tip portion that is fixed relative to a probe portion adjacent the distal portion of the housing, the probe access the only opening into the housing, the probe being a non-hollow probe such that fluid does not flow from a distal tip of the probe to the housing, the device further comprising:
• a tissue pressure sensing system at least partially carried by the housing and comprising a processing unit coupled with a pressure sensor, the processing unit configured to receive tissue pressure signals comprising a series of instantaneous tissue pressure values from the pressure sensor and determine a mean tissue pressure value over a predetermined period of time with a moving average of the series, the mean tissue pressure value indicative of a tissue environment about a distal portion of the probe;
• and
• an output unit carried by the housing and comprising a visual display, the output unit coupled to the pressure sensing system so as to receive the mean tissue pressure value signal and output to the visual display the determined mean tissue pressure value;
• advancing the output unit and the probe distally such that the distal end-most tip portion of the probe advances through the tissue of the patient with the mean tissue pressure shown on the visual display;
• and
• detecting a change in the mean tissue pressure value about the distal portion of the probe.

A method for compartment pressure monitoring at a target anatomical environment, the method comprising:

• providing a device including:
• a self-contained housing containing a power source and having a distal portion with a probe extending therefrom at a probe access and having a distal end-most tip portion that is fixed relative to a probe portion adjacent the distal portion of the housing, the housing being untethered such that a proximal portion is closed and does not include a port opening that provides access to an interior of the housing such that the probe access is the only opening into the housing, the housing graspable by a user to manipulate the housing and the probe, the probe being a non-hollow probe such that fluid does not flow from a distal tip of the probe to the housing;
• a pressure sensing system including a pressure sensor and a processing unit coupled with the pressure sensor, the pressure sensor configured to be carried by the probe external the housing, the processing unit carried by the housing and configured to receive input signals from the pressure sensor;
• and
• an output unit coupled to the processing unit and carried by the housing, the output unit configured to output a reporting signal to a display, the reporting signal indicative of a pressure at the pressure sensor;
• advancing the housing and the probe distally such that the distal end-most tip portion of the probe advances through tissue of a patient;
• removing the probe from the tissue;
• and
• detecting a change in the pressure sensor within the tissue.