US 4,557,269 AGranted

Disposable transducer apparatus for an electromanometry system

AssigneeAbbott Laboratories

InventorsGordon S. Reynolds, Robert J. Todd, Edward J. Russell

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Abstract

The disposable transducer includes a small housing constructed of lightweight plastic material. The housing is shaped so as to form a transparent chamber within which is situated a very small piezoresistive strain gauge in the form of a resistive bridge network diffused onto a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is electrically isolated by means of a nonconductive gel which partially fills the transparent chamber in which the semiconductor substrate is positioned. The resistive bridge network of the semiconductor substrate is also electrically connected to a plurality of calibration resistors which are separately formed on the semiconductor substrate, making the entire apparatus economically disposable after a single use.

Claims9

Dependent claims

In an electromanometry system for monitoring and recording hemodynamic pressures, a disposable transducer apparatus, said electromanometry system including a catheter coupled through tubing to a source of sterile liquid which is used to fill the tubing and cathether and through which said hemodynamic pressures are mechanically transmitted, said apparatus comprising:

a disposable housing constructed of light weight plastic material, said housing having a transparent chamber with an inlet and outlet, said chamber being connected at said inlet to said tubing;
valve means connected to the outlet of said chamber for selectively venting the interior of said chamber to the ambient atmosphere;
a pressure sensing element mounted at one end of said chamber;
said pressure sensing element comprising a thin-diaphragm piezoresistive strain gauge in the form of a resistive bridge network diffused onto a semiconductor substrate;
a nonconductive gel-like substance contained within said chamber, said nonconductive gel-like substance completely covering said pressure sensing element and transmitting said hemodynamic pressures from said sterile liquid to said pressure sensing element;
and
a plurality of disposable calibration resistors electrically connected to said resistive bridge network, said resistors being formed on a semiconductor substrate.

4 more elements

In an electromanometry system for monitoring and recording hemodynamic pressures, a disposable transducer apparatus, said electromanometry system including a catheter coupled through tubing to a source of sterile liquid which is used to fill the tubing and catheter and through which said hemodynamic pressures are mechanically transmitted, said apparatus comprising:

a housing, said housing having a chamber and in inlet to said chamber placing the interior of the chamber in fluid communication with the tubing;
a pressure sensing element operatively positioned in said chamber, said pressure sensing element comprising means for converting the said mechanically transmitted hemodynamic pressures to an electronic signal;
means for calibrating said pressure sensing element comprising a plurality of resistors diffused onto a semiconductor substrate;
means for electrically connecting said pressure sensing element to said means for calibrating the pressure sensing element;
and
electrical isolation means disposed in said chamber for electrically isolating said pressure sensing element from said sterile liquid without inhibiting the mechanical transmission of said hemodynamic pressures through said sterile liquid and through said electrical isolation means to said pressure sensing element.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.