Claims
- 1. A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors, comprising:
a catheter body with a proximal end and a distal end; an inflatable balloon disposed near the distal end; an inflation lumen extending from the proximal end to the balloon for inflating and deflating the balloon; a drainage lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; at least one temperature sensor lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and two temperature sensors, each temperature sensor having a sensor element disposed in the distal end of the catheter body and a wire extending from each sensor element to the proximal end of the catheter body via the temperature sensor lumen.
- 2. A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a control unit, the temperature sensors electronically couple with the control unit, the control unit obtains a primary temperature reading from one of the temperature sensors and obtains a secondary temperature reading from the other temperature.
- 3. A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors as set forth in claim 2, wherein the control unit compares the primary and secondary temperature reading to determine a difference.
- 4. A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors as set forth in claim 3, wherein the control unit includes an alarm and establishes a threshold, whereby when the sensor temperature exceeds the threshold, the control unit activates the alarm.
- 5. A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors as set forth in claim 4, wherein the alarm is audible.
- 6. A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors as set forth in claim 4, wherein the alarm includes a video display and activation of the alarm provides a video signal to the video display.
- 7. A method of using a Foley catheter with redundant temperature sensors, comprising:
introducing a Foley catheter into the bladder of a patient, the Foley catheter includes catheter body with a proximal end, a distal end a drainage lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end for draining urine from the bladder, and redundant temperature sensors; draining urine from the bladder via the drainage lumen; electronically coupling the temperature sensors to a control unit; activating the control unit to obtain a primary temperature reading and a secondary temperature reading from the temperature sensors.
- 8. A method as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:
comparing the primary temperature reading and the secondary temperature reading to determine whether both sensors are operational.
- 9. A method as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:
comparing the primary temperature reading and the secondary temperature reading to determine a difference between the primary temperature reading and the second temperature reading.
- 10. A method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:
establishing a threshold; and deactivating the control unit when the difference exceeds the threshold.
- 11. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the threshold is within the range of 0.5-2 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 12. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the threshold is about 1 degree Fahrenheit.
- 13. A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the Foley catheter includes a balloon positioned at the distal end and an inflation lumen, the method includes inflating the balloon via the inflation lumen to hold the catheter in the bladder.
- 14. A method for measuring and regulating patient temperature comprising:
introducing a heat exchange catheter into the vasculature of a patient; introducing a Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors into the bladder of the patient; draining urine from the bladder via the drainage lumen; electronically connecting a control unit with the temperature sensors; measuring patient core body temperature with the temperature sensors; and determining if one of the temperature sensors has failed.
- 15. A method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising obtaining a primary temperature reading and a secondary temperature reading from the temperature sensors.
- 16. A method as set forth in claim 15, further comprising:
comparing the primary temperature reading and the secondary temperature reading to determine a difference between the primary temperature reading and the secondary temperature reading.
- 17. A method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:
establishing a threshold; and activating an alarm when the difference between the primary temperature and the secondary temperature exceeds the threshold.
- 18. A method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising:
establishing a threshold; and deactivating the control unit when the difference between the primary temperature and the secondary temperature exceeds the threshold.
- 19. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the threshold is within the range of 0.5-2 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 20. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the threshold is about 1 degree Fahrenheit.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application serial No. 60/256,083, filed on Dec. 15, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60256083 |
Dec 2000 |
US |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09816288 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
Child |
10349972 |
Jan 2003 |
US |