Urodynamic catheter and methods of fabrication and use

A catheter for use in detecting pressure changes within a body, comprising:

• an elongated outer tubing element comprising a bore defined within a circumferential side wall thereof;
• at least one elongated pressure lumen tubing element extending at least partially within the bore of the elongated outer tubing element, extending through the side wall thereof proximate a distal end thereof and defining a port opening onto the side wall exterior;
• a cured adhesive mass disposed within the bore where the at least one elongated pressure lumen tubing element extends through the side wall, securing the at least one elongated pressure lumen tubing element in place and sealing the bore from the side wall exterior;
• and
• a pressure-compliant balloon element circumferentially surrounding the elongated outer tubing element, extending over the port of the at least one elongated pressure lumen tubing element and sealingly bonded to the side wall proximally and distally of the port.

A method for conducting a urodynamic procedure, comprising:

• inserting an end of a catheter carrying a pressure responsive element into a patient's bladder through the patient's urethra;
• at least partially inflating the pressure responsive element with air such that the pressure responsive element is in substantially complete circumferential contact with an interior of the urethra;
• adding fluid to the patient's bladder through the catheter to elevate bladder pressure;
• and
• withdrawing the catheter from the patient's bladder through the urethra while measuring the bladder pressure and measuring urethral pressure using the pressure responsive element in substantially complete circumferential contact with the interior of the urethra during the withdrawal of the catheter.

A method of fabricating a catheter including at least one pressure

• lumen and an associated balloon element, the method comprising:
• forming an aperture in a side wall of an elongated tubing element proximate a distal end thereof;
• inserting an elongated pressure lumen tubing element of smaller diameter than the elongated tubing element through the side wall aperture into a bore of the elongated tubing element and threading the elongated pressure lumen tubing element proximally through the bore to a desired location;
• introducing an adhesive mass into the bore of the elongated tubing element to surround the aperture and the elongated pressure lumen tubing element;
• and
• curing the adhesive mass.