# US 8,784,365 B2 · System and method for controlling fluid flow rate and monitoring and recording fluid pressure during a medical infusion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,365 B2 - Document ID: US8784365B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/561,209 - Filed: 2009-09-16 - Published: 2010-04-22 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-09-16 - Assignees: Engineering Resources Group, Inc. - Applicants: Christopher D. Ross - Inventors: Christopher D. Ross - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784365B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0082: {Catheter tip comprising a tool} - A61M 25/0009: {Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes} - A61M 25/0068: {Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure} - A61M 25/0069: {Tip not integral with tube} - A61M 25/0075: {Valve means} - A61M 2025/0018: {having a plug, e.g. an inflatable plug for closing catheter lumens} - A61M 2025/0079: {Separate user-activated means, e.g. guidewires, guide tubes, balloon catheters or sheaths, for sealing off an orifice, e.g. a lumen or side holes, of a catheter} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A system for controlling an infusion of fluid into living tissue includes a catheter shaped to be introduced within living tissue and operable to deliver a fluid to a location within the living tissue, a fluid infusion pump mechanically coupled to the catheter and operable to pump fluid through the catheter and, thereby, into the location, the fluid infusion pump having at least two fluid pumping states, a fluid pressure monitor fluidically coupled to the catheter and operable to measure a pressure of the fluid within the catheter, and a processor communicatively coupled to the fluid infusion pump and the fluid pressure monitor, the processor operable to select between the at least two fluid pumping states based upon the measured pressure of the fluid within the catheter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for controlling an infusion of fluid into brain tissue, the system comprising: a tubular fluid passageway including a neural catheter portion shaped to be introduced within brain tissue and operable to deliver a fluid to a location within the living brain tissue; a fluid infusion pump mechanically and fluidically coupled to the fluid passageway and operable to pump fluid through the neural catheter portion into the location, the fluid infusion pump having at least two fluid pumping states; a fluid pressure sensor physically independent of the fluid infusion pump and mechanically and fluidically coupled to the fluid passageway and operable to measure a pressure of the fluid within the fluid passageway, the fluid pressure sensor operably configured to measure a pressure drop of approximately 100 millimeters of mercury (2 psi) or less across a portion of the fluid passageway; a processor communicatively coupled to the fluid infusion pump and the fluid pressure sensor, the processor operable to select between the at least two fluid pumping states based upon the measured pressure of the fluid within the fluid passageway; and a display coupled to the processor and operable to indicate a numerical value of the measured pressure of the fluid and to display a graphical representation of the pressure of the fluid as measured over a period of time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the fluid infusion pump comprises an electrical, automatic, pumping device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein: the fluid pressure sensor is a pressure transducer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two fluid pumping states includes: halting a fluid pumping process; and pulsing a fluid pumping process. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises: a medically-therapeutic substance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein: the display is operable to indicate a pressure profile of the pressure within the fluid passageway. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the tubular fluid passageway comprises: a proximal infusion tube portion coupled to the fluid pressure sensor; and a delivery tube portion coupled between the proximal infusion tube portion and the catheter portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the fluid pressure sensor is operable to connect to an electrical, automatic pumping. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two fluid pumping states include: a steady fluid flow mode; and a pulsed fluid flow mode, wherein the fluid infusion pump cycles on and off according to a predetermined time stored and communicated by the processor. ### Claim 10 A system for controlling an infusion of fluid into brain tissue, the system comprising: a tubular fluid passageway including a neural catheter portion shaped to be introduced within brain tissue and operable to deliver a fluid to a location within the brain tissue, the tubular fluid passageway encapsulating a stylet operable translate within the tubular passageway to seal off a stepped tip to prevent an occlusion of tissue in the catheter during a catheter insertion; a fluid infusion pump mechanically and fluidically coupled to the fluid passageway and operable to pump fluid through the neural catheter portion into the location, the fluid infusion pump having at least two fluid pumping states and including: an electrical, automatic, pumping device; a fluid pressure sensor mechanically and fluidically coupled to the fluid passageway and operable to: measure a pressure of the fluid within the fluid passageway; and connect to the electrical, automatic pumping device; and a processor communicatively coupled to the fluid infusion pump and the fluid pressure sensor, the processor operable to select between the at least two fluid pumping states based upon the measured pressure of the fluid within the fluid passageway; and a display coupled to the processor and operable to indicate a numerical value of the measured pressure of the fluid and to display a graphical representation of the pressure of the fluid as measured over a period of time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the at least two fluid pumping states include: a steady fluid flow mode; and a pulsed fluid flow mode, wherein the fluid infusion pump cycles on and off according to a predetermined time stored and communicated by the processor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the tubular fluid passageway comprises: a proximal infusion tube portion coupled to the fluid pressure sensor; and a delivery tube portion coupled between the proximal infusion tube portion and the catheter portion.