Abstract: A method and system for determining the residual volume within a patient having a naso-enteral feeding tube. A collection container is coupled to the naso-enteral feeding tube and a physical force is applied to the collection container to prevent stomach fluid from flowing into the collection container. The physical force is removed from the collection container and the stomach fluid is allowed to flow into the collection container. The volume of fluid within the collection container is determined, which represents the gastric residual volume of the patient. At least a portion of the collected volume of stomach fluid is returned to the patient from the collection container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) within a patient having a naso-enteric tube. The system senses the IAP of the patient by means of a sensing conduit that is filled with a sensing fluid. The sensing fluid in the sensing conduit may be saline, water or feeding solution. After the sensing conduit is filled with the sensing fluid, the sensing conduit is elevated and a portion of the sensing fluid enters the patient. The remaining portion of the sensing fluid is related to the IAP and the IAP may be determined from the height of the sensing fluid within the sensing conduit.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the residual volume within a patient having a naso-enteral feeding tube. A collection container is coupled to the naso-enteral feeding tube and a physical force is applied to the collection container to prevent stomach fluid from flowing into the collection container. The physical force is removed from the collection container and the stomach fluid is allowed to flow into the collection container. The volume of fluid within the collection container is determined, which represents the gastric residual volume of the patient. At least a portion of the collected volume of stomach fluid is returned to the patient from the collection container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) within a patient having a naso-enteric tube. The system senses the IAP of the patient by means of a sensing conduit that is filled with a sensing fluid. The sensing fluid in the sensing conduit may be saline, water or feeding solution. After the sensing conduit is filled with the sensing fluid, the sensing conduit is elevated and a portion of the sensing fluid enters the patient. The remaining portion of the sensing fluid is related to the IAP and the IAP may be determined from the height of the sensing fluid within the sensing conduit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) within a patient having a naso-enteric tube. The system senses the IAP of the patient by means of a fluid filled sensing conduit that transmits the pressure in the naso-enteric tube to a pressure measuring device such as a pressure transducer or a manometer tube. The sensing fluid in the sensing conduit may be saline, air, or feeding solution. When a pressure transducer is used, the IAP is determined and displayed on a patient monitor. Alternatively, the IAP may be determined from the height of the sensing fluid within the sensing conduit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the intra-abdominal pressure within a patient. The system receives a supply of discharged fluid from the patient in a drainage conduit and directs the fluid to a collection container. An air-filled sensing conduit is in fluid communication with the drainage conduit and includes a pressure transducer that detects the pressure of air within the sensing conduit. During the measurement of the intra-abdominal pressure of the patient, a measurement volume of drained fluid is returned to the patient. As the measurement volume of fluid is returned to the patient, the pressure transducer senses the pressure within the sensing conduit, which is directly related to the intra-abdominal pressure of the patient. The pressure signal from the pressure transducer is displayed either on a patient monitor or an intra-abdominal pressure monitor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) within a patient having a naso-enteric tube. The system senses the IAP of the patient by means of a fluid filled sensing conduit that transmits the pressure in the naso-enteric tube to a pressure measuring device such as a pressure transducer or a manometer tube. The sensing fluid in the sensing conduit may be saline, air, or feeding solution. When a pressure transducer is used, the IAP is determined and displayed on a patient monitor. Alternatively, the IAP may be determined from the height of the sensing fluid within the sensing conduit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the intra-abdominal pressure within a patient receiving enteral feeding through a feeding tube. The system senses the pressure at the vertical level of the tip of the feeding tube by utilizing a partially air-filled sensing conduit in fluid communication with the feeding set or feeding tube. The sensing conduit includes a pressure transducer that detects the pressure of the air within the sensing conduit and provides a pressure signal to a patient monitor that can display the intra-abdominal pressure on a continuous or intermittent basis.

Abstract: A method by which a health care facility pays for the acquisition and use of medical equipment, the medical equipment having one or more functions that are carried out by the equipment, comprises the steps of determining a price per unit of use time for each function of the medical equipment, recording the amount of time each function of the medical equipment is used by the health care facility, computing the usage billing amount from the usage time and the price per unit of use time, and rendering a bill to the health care facility for the usage billing amount. Amounts for disposable/consumable supplies and for maintenance can also be determined.

Abstract: A non-invasive method for determining the stroke volume of the heart, i.e. the volume of blood discharged per heart beat. A pressure transducer, is placed in a hollow organ, such as the lungs, stomach or bladder of a subject. During ventilation of, or breathing by, the subject, the incremental change in pressure in the hollow organ resulting from an incremental change in breathing gas volume in the subject's lungs is obtained and a ratio between the two is established. The pressure change in the hollow organ caused by volumetric changes resulting from the contraction of the subject's heart when discharging blood is also measured. The stroke volume of the subject's heart is determined by applying the volume/pressure ratio to the pressure change resulting from the contraction of the heart.

Abstract: An improved remote sensing tonometric catheter apparatus (20) and method for sampling of a fluid or gas property of interest in a hollow internal organ. The tonometric catheter (20) assists in early detection of the problems of stress ulceration and/or intestinal ischemia. The tonometric catheter (20) can be one or more sampling chambers (40) for introduction into an internal organ or area adjacent thereto. Preferably, the wall (36) of the sampling chamber (40) is freely permeable to the gas or fluid to be measured by the sensor (42), but is poorly permeable to other gases or fluids which may interfere with the sensor (42).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining the difference between a regional CO2 partial pressure of a selected body organ of a mammalian subject, such as the gut, and a systemic CO2 partial pressure of the subject. The regional CO2 partial pressure value is tonometrically obtained at body temperature using a gaseous sampling medium. A systemic CO2 partial pressure value is obtained from the blood. The systemic CO2 partial pressure value can be that for the body temperature or for a standard temperature. If the systemic CO2 partial pressure value is that for the body temperature, the regional CO2 partial pressure value is compared to the systemic CO2 partial pressure value and the difference therebetween is provided as a CO2 partial pressure gap measurement.

Abstract: The method is accomplished by introducing the catheter (20) into the organ such that the sampling chamber (40) is disposed at a portion of the wall of the organ. The sampling chamber (40) is left in position at the wall of the organ for a time sufficient to allow the fluid or gas of interest to diffuse into the sampling chamber (40). The concentration of the liquid fluid or gaseous fluid of interest is analyzed. The pH of the wall of the organ may be calculated based on the concentration of the fluid or gas property of interest.

Abstract: Patient monitoring equipment is disclosed comprising a base unit incorporating an oscilloscope and having connection means for a patient derived ECG signal source, and a plurality of monitoring modules each having means for connection with another signal source representative of other physiological parameters, the modules being adapted to be assembled with the base unit in vertically stacked relation.