Disposable intracompartmental pressure transducer

A transducer apparatus for measuring intracompartmental fluidic pressures, said apparatus comprising:

• a pressure transducer means for converting pressure into a proportional electrical signal, said pressure transducer means comprising a diaphragm with first and second sides;
• a protective cushion means for enclosing said pressure transducer means therein, said protective cushion means comprising a resilient material;
• means formed in said cushion means for hydraulically coupling said transducer diaphragm through said cushion means to intracompartmental fluids so as to apply said intracompartmental fluidic pressures to said first side of said diaphragm;
• cable means for electrically connecting said pressure transducer means to an output monitor, said cable means comprising leading and trailing ends, and vent means for introducing atmospheric pressure to said second side of said diaphragm, said cable means being joined to said pressure transducer means and to said cushion means at said leading end for insertion into a body compartment, and said cable means further comprising stiffener means encased therein for imparting a desired degree of rigidity to said cable means to facilitate intracompartmental insertion of said pressure transducer means using said cable means.

A disposable intracompartmental pressure transducer apparatus, comprising:

• a dielectric substrate, said substrate having a hole formed therethrough;
• a semiconductor pressure transducer having a pressure diaphragm with first and second sides, the pressure transducer being mounted on said substrate such that the first side of the pressure diaphragm is positioned over said hole in the substrate;
• a cap positioned over the pressure transducer and secured to the substrate so as to enclose the second side of the pressure diaphragm, the cap having a vent hole formed through a side thereof;
• a flexible boot encapsulating said substrate, said transducer and said cap therewithin, said booth having a hole formed therein in alignment with said hole of said substrate;
• a dielectric material used to fill the holes in said boot and substrate so as to be in contact with said first side of the pressure diaphragm, said dielectric material communicating pressure pulses to the first side of the pressure diaphragm;
• a stylet having a vent space formed therethrough, one end of the stylet being bonded to the cap such that the vent space through the stylet communicates with the vent hole through the side of the cap;
• a cable enclosing the stylet and having a plurality of wires electrically connected to the pressure transducer, said boot and said transducer being mounted at an end of said cable to permit insertion thereof into a body compartment;
• and
• a plug connected to the cable at the other end thereof, the plug having a channel formed therethrough in communication with the vent space formed through the stylet, said channel of the plug terminating at one end in a hole formed in a side of the plug.