Abstract: This disclosure provides apparatus and methods for detecting pressure changes within a cavity of a patient. A pressure-sensing catheter comprises an elongate member and a monitor lumen. The pressure-sensing catheter may have a hollow pressure-compliant member in fluid communication with the monitor lumen and thereby define a fluid column. A connector apparatus can be in fluid communication with the monitor lumen, and can comprise a first complementary connector and a second complementary connector. One of the first complementary connector and the second complementary connector can have a pressurizing device that can displace a volume of fluid located within a bore of the other complementary connector into the fluid column, wherein the ratio of the volume of displaced fluid to the volume of the fluid column ranges from about 1:2 to about 1:4. The pressure catheter can comprise a radio-opaque band circumscribing the exterior of the elongate member.

Abstract: A charger for charging a plurality of pressure sensing catheters is provided. The charger has a plurality of charging ports of which a first charging port and a second charging port receives a first connector and a second connector respectively. The first and second connectors each have a first and second radiofrequency identification tags respectively, having information indicative of identifiable information of a first and second pressure sensing catheters respectively. The charger has a plurality of antennas, of which a first antenna and a second antenna can be positioned proximate to the first charging port, and second charging port respectively. When the first connector is inserted into the first charging port, the first radiofrequency identification tag is guided to a predetermined orientation with respect to the first antenna to minimize a spacing therebetween, and to maximize absorption of radiofrequency energy therebetween.

Abstract: A connector apparatus for a pressure sensing catheter having a pressure-compliant member is disclosed. A first complementary connector has an aligning portion and a charging portion, with the aligning portion having a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the charging portion. A second complementary connector has a proximal coupler with an alignment section and a charging section wherein, the alignment section having a cross-sectional area complementary to the cross-sectional area of the aligning portion to receive the alignment portion therein, the charging section having a cross-sectional area complementary to receive the charging portion and a resilient member therein. The first complementary connector can displace a volume of fluid from the proximal coupler into the pressure compliant member when the alignment section receives the aligning portion, the charging section receives the charging portion, and the resilient member forms the fluid tight seal within the charging section.

Abstract: A charger for charging a pressure sensing catheter is provided. The charger can include a plurality of charging ports for receiving a portion of the proximal section of the pressure sensing catheter. The charging port may include an engagement portion for engaging with the portion of the proximal section of the pressure sensing catheter such that when the engagement portion engages with the proximal section of the pressure sensing catheter, the engagement portion is fluidly coupled to the catheter lumen and the pressure transmission medium from the engagement portion is displaced from the engagement portion to charge the one or more balloons of the pressure sensing catheter. The charger can include a cover for covering the engagement portion. The charger can include flutes defined on a surface of each charging port to permit a predetermined volume of the pressure transmission medium to be displaced from each charging port.

Abstract: A connector for connecting a pressure sensing catheter to charger is provided. The connector can include a first engagement portion engageable with a charger engagement portion of the charger to displace a pressure transmission medium in the charger engagement portion to charge one or more balloons of the pressure sensing catheter. The connector can have a handle that includes a tab terminating in an end surface engageable with an engagement surface of the charger when the first engagement portion engages with the charger engagement portion. The connector includes a distal abutment portion that engages with a portion of the charger engagement portion to provide an audible or tactile feedback, so as to prevent inadvertent overcharging of the balloons.

Abstract: A method for identifying and analyzing physiopathological parameters that characterize the condition of the lower urinary tract in patients in which computer generated theoretical urodynamic flow curves are generated, manipulated and compared with curves based on measured flow data for the patient. The method provides a means to determine the physiological condition of a patient without resort to, or with only minor, invasive techniques.

Abstract: A method for identifying and analyzing physiopathological parameters that characterize the condition of the lower urinary tract in patients in which computer generated theoretical urodynamic flow curves are generated, manipulated and compared with curves based on measured flow data for the patient. The method provides a means to determine the physiological condition of a patient without resort to, or with only minor, invasive techniques.

Abstract: An everting tube structure comprises: a flexible collapsible tube having a first open end and a second open end, the flexible collapsible tube having a first portion proximate the first open end and a second portion, the first portion having a first part adjacent the first open end and a second part adjacent the second portion, the second portion having been folded at an angle to the first portion and wound around the second part of the first portion to form a hollow cylinder; and a tube member having an open end, the first open end of the tube being fluid-tightly, circumferentially attached to the open end of the tube member. Thus, the present invention provides an everting tube structure of simple construction, which can be easily produced, which allows easy and/or self-administration, and which has an enhanced self-guiding ability.