Abstract: A device for measuring bladder pressure and/or for measuring intra-abdominal pressure within the body of a living being comprises a pressure measuring unit including a pressure sensor, and a urethral catheter comprising a balloon lumen, which connects a distal balloon for measuring internal pressure thereof to the pressure measuring unit, and a bladder lumen having a distal opening. The bladder lumen is, without detaching connectors, alternately connectable to a proximal urine outlet and separable therefrom, and the pressure sensor of the pressure measuring unit is connected to or is alternately connectable, without detaching connectors, to the bladder lumen.

Abstract: A urinary catheter for measuring the pressure in the bladder of a living being comprises a gas-filled measurement balloon for sensing bladder pressure which is arranged on the catheter body distally from a blocking balloon. The catheter body is locally reinforced in the region of the measurement balloon by a reinforcement ring in order to avoid effects of a local deformation of the catheter body on the measurement result. Similarly to conventional Foley catheters, the blocking balloon primarily prevents the urinary catheter from being withdrawn too far from the bladder, which is undesirable. Owing to a suitably selected distance d, which is preferably 3 cm or less, between the measurement balloon and the blocking balloon, the latter is protected from becoming trapped between a fold in the bladder.

Abstract: From the global end-diastolic volume GEDV and the global ejection fraction GEF the patient monitor (4) determines a corrected global end-diastolic volume cGEDV according to cGEDV=GEDV/ƒ(GEF) which is used as a novel parameter for volume responsiveness of the patient (3). In the above formula, f(GEF) is a correction function depending on global ejection fraction GEF. Further, from the right ventricular end-diastolic volume RVEDV and the right ventricular ejection fraction RVEF the patient monitor (4) determines a corrected right ventricular end-diastolic volume cRVEDV according to cRVEDV=RVEDV1f(RVEF) which is used as another novel parameter for volume responsiveness of the patient (3). In the above formula, f(RVEF) is a correction function depending on right ventricular ejection fraction RVEF.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enteral feeding catheter (1) for channelling flowable nutrient into a patient's digestive tract, such as into patients stomach, duodenum or jejunum, said catheter having a first lumen (2), having an opening (3) for connecting it to a supply for of nutrient and channelling said nutrient from the proximal end (P) to the distal end (D), the distal end (D) of the first lumen (2) being provided with several radial outlets (4) for the exit of said nutrient into patient's digestive tract, the catheter (1) further comprising a second lumen (7), for being connected to a source/sink of gas (26) and a gas pressure gauge (24) at its proximal end and being connected to an inflatable and deflatable distal balloon (6) provided on the catheter (1) near the distal end (D). The invention refers also to a computer system and computer program to operate said feeding catheter.

Abstract: The catheter has a proximal port with an opening of a feeding lumen. There are two further openings in another proximal port with a connector, to which a source/sink of gas pressure and a pressure gauge can be connected. The interior of a distal balloon communicates with the opening and can hence be inflated and deflated through that opening in order to measure intra-abdominal pressure using the pressure gauge. A reflux filter is integrated into the connector. In the upper connector piece or lower connector piece a recess surrounding the measurement lumen is provided at the contact surface between the connector pieces. The gas-permeable filter membrane is disposed in the recess for preventing liquids in the lumen from entering from the lower connector piece into the upper connector piece and thus from passing through the opening in case of rupture or leakage of the distal balloon.

Abstract: From the global enddiastolic volume GEDV and the global ejection fraction GEF the patient monitor (4) determines a corrected global enddiastolic volume cGEDV according to cGEDV=GEDV/f(GEF) which is used as a novel paramater for volume responsiveness of the patient (3). In the above formula, f(GEF) is a correction function depending on global ejection fraction GEF. Further, from the right ventricular enddiastolic volume RVEDV and the right ventricular ejection fraction RVEF the patient monitor (4) determines a corrected right ventricular enddiastolic volume cRVEDV according to cRVEDV=RVEDV/f(RVEF) which is used as another novel paramater for volume responsiveness of the patient (3). In the above formula, f(RVEF) is a correction function depending on right ventricular ejection fraction RVEF.