Scott D Gentry

US Patent:

50096621, Apr 23, 1991

Filed:

Mar 23, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/328119

Inventors:

William D. Wallace - Salt Lake City UT
Christopher A. Cutler - Centerville UT
Scott D. Gentry - Sandy UT

International Classification:

A61M 2902

US Classification:

606192

Abstract:

A fluid pressure monitoring system for a balloon catheter includes a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the interior of the balloon. The pressure transducer includes elements for providing an electrical signal which is a function of the pressure in the interior of the balloon. An electronic digital display is responsive to the electrical signal from the pressure transducer to display the balloon pressure measured by the pressure transducer. The system is especially suited for coronary angioplasty in which a catheter is inserted through blood vessels in the human body to the vicinity of a stenosis. The catheter carries an inflatable balloon to the vicinity of the stenosis, where it is inflated, and the fluid pressure monitoring system of the present invention detects and digitally displays to the cardiologist the pressure inside the inflated balloon. The pressure transducer is interchangeable with standard pressure transducers such as those used for monitoring substantially lower pressure such as a person's blood pressure and the digital display is also used to display a person's blood pressure. Alternatively, the balloon pressure transducer may be used with standard blood pressure monitors.