Patents by Inventor Ulrich J. Pfeiffer
Ulrich J. Pfeiffer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 8257273Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining cardiopulmonary volumes and flows of a living being. According to the invention, the evaluation unit (14) of a transpulmonary measurement arrangement, preferably having a central-vein catheter and an arterial catheter (11, 12), is set up, in terms of program technology, for the purpose of taking a possible short-circuit current from the right to the left half of the heart (RL shunt) and/or from the left to the right half of the heart (LR shunt) of the living being into consideration, without the use of a right-heart catheter being required in this connection, or any recourse to pulmonary artery measurement values having to take place at all. In this connection, a model is used as the basis, which contains the function y (system response) corresponding to a dilution curve as the convolution of a disruption function I with several terms that contain characteristic times as model parameters.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2006Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems SEInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Reinhold Knoll, Frédéric Michard
-
Patent number: 7803122Abstract: Determining the transition between systole and diastole is important for pulse contour-analytical determination of hemodynamic, first of all cardiac output. During the temporal progression of arterial pressure P(t) on which pulse contour analysis is based, the transition between systole and diastole appears as a local minimum. This local slump of the pressure curve downward is very short and is often little recognizable in the actually measured curves due to inaccuracies conditioned by measuring techniques. It was also found that the transition between systole and diastole can be more reliably and accurately determined as the site of maximum curvature of function P(t). Consequently, the invention relates to a device having a calculation unit that comprises evaluation means for detecting the site of maximum curvature of function P(t) in a detection area between the maximum and minimum functional value of the pulse cycle as the site of transition between systole and diastole.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2005Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Reinhold Knoll, Stephan Regh
-
Patent number: 7666146Abstract: Apparatus, computer system, computer program and storage medium for determining intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV) and other cardio-vascular parameters of a patient by thermodilution measurements. The apparatus includes: temperature influencing means for introducing a traveling temperature deviation to a patient's blood stream, a temperature sensor device for measuring the local temperature of the patient's blood downstream of the temperature influencing means, a computer system adapted to: record local blood temperature measured as a function of time to determine a thermodilution curve, determine global enddiastolic blood volume (GEDV) and intrathoracic thermovolume (ITTV) from the thermodilution curve, determine intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV) as a function of GEDV, ITTV and the airway pressure inside the patient's lungs (P).Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2005Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Reinhard Knoll, Frederic Michard
-
Patent number: 7588542Abstract: An arterially measured pressure signal is continuously read in and temporarily stored in the working memory (RAM). The function p(t) is processed by the central processing unit (CPU), to calculate the heart/time volume PCCO and other hemodynamic parameters. The calculation comprises the following steps: The systemic vascular resistance SVRk is calculated for the current pulse period. The stroke volume SVk is numerically determined from the pressure values of a pulse period, according to the following equation: SV k ? ? ( p i ? ( t ) SVR k + C k ? ( p i ) ? ? p i ? t ) with the compliance C(p)=(MAP?CVP)k/[SVR·<dp/dt>k]·ƒ(p). The difference between the mean arterial pressure MAP and the central venous pressure CVP, and the mean incline of the pressure curve in the diastole <dp/dt>, are re-determined for the current pulse period. The heart/time volume calculated in the current pulse period results from PCCOk=SVk·HR.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2005Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Reinhold Knoll, Stephan Regh
-
Publication number: 20080167562Abstract: Determining the transition between systole and diastole is important for pulse contour-analytical determination of hemodynamic, first of all cardiac output. During the temporal progression of arterial pressure P(t) on which pulse contour analysis is based, the transition between systole and diastole appears as a local minimum. This local slump of the pressure curve downward is very short and is often little recognizable in the actually measured curves due to inaccuracies conditioned by measuring techniques. It was also found that the transition between systole and diastole can be more reliably and accurately determined as the site of maximum curvature of function P(t). Consequently, the invention relates to a device having a calculation unit that comprises evaluation means for detecting the site of maximum curvature of function P(t) in a detection area between the maximum and minimum functional value of the pulse cycle as the site of transition between systole and diastole.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2005Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Reinhard Knoll, Stephan Regh
-
Publication number: 20080146945Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining cardiopulmonary volumes and flows of a living being. According to the invention, the evaluation unit (14) of a transpulmonary measurement arrangement, preferably having a central-vein catheter and an arterial catheter (11, 12), is set up, in terms of program technology, for the purpose of taking a possible short-circuit current from the right to the left half of the heart (RL shunt) and/or from the left to the right half of the heart (LR shunt) of the living being into consideration, without the use of a right-heart catheter being required in this connection, or any recourse to pulmonary artery measurement values having to take place at all. In this connection, a model is used as the basis, which contains the function y (system response) corresponding to a dilution curve as the convolution of a disruption function I with several terms that contain characteristic times as model parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Reinhold Knoll, Frederic Michard
-
Patent number: 7385176Abstract: A tube-like reflector insert for a sensor is located in a rigid, light-absorbing sleeve that is closed on one side, and forms a two-part reflector body with the sleeve. A nut is glued onto the open side of the sleeve to enclose the reflector insert. The intravasal part of the sensor is guided in a protective tube having connector threads glued on on both sides. This protective tube is screwed onto the Y connector piece and the reflector sleeve with the nuts. The tip of the sensor is inserted with slight play into the sensor cavity of the reflector insert. The play ensures that sterilization gas can reach all of the intravasal surfaces. The reflector is attached to the sensor via a screw connection outside of the intravasal region, which ensures that the intravasal sensor part is not exposed to clamping stress. Free access for sterilization gas is possible at all intravasal surfaces of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2005Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Daniel Moulas
-
Patent number: 7314449Abstract: An apparatus that continuously monitors the arterial pressure measured by a pressure sensor in an artery, which pressure is regarded as the reading Pao that approximately corresponds to the aortal pressure. In principle, the arterial pressure can be measured in the aorta, near the aorta, or in the arterial tree. To provide a second reading, the apparatus, via the input channel, continuously monitors the central venous pressure (CVP), which is regarded as the reading PIT that approximately corresponds to the intrathoracic pressure (ITP). The third reading is provided via the input channel as a reading Z which expresses the thoracic compliance.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: January 1, 2008Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Thorsten Burger
-
Patent number: 7248356Abstract: A calibration aid may be assembled as follows. First, the standard reference substance is prepared by dissolving ICG dye and albumin protein in water. Then, the carrier sheet of fleece material is soaked therein and dried. After drying the carrier sheet, a thin well defined layer of protein bound dye is present at the surface of the fleece material. The carrier sheet and the backing sheet are laminated into a plastic card. For this, the plastic layers may be laminated tightly together in the framing region for example by welding or by use of adhesive. The plastic card is then sterilized and packed into a sealed package.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2004Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventor: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer
-
Patent number: 7209780Abstract: A system for the determination of quantifies relating to the circulatory system of a patient including a device for the non-invasive measurement of the qualitative variation over time of the local concentration of an indicator injected into the blood circulation system at a first position, the measurement taking place at a second position of the blood circulation system. An evaluating unit is provided, in which there is implemented an evaluating algorithm which transforms the qualitative variation into a quantitative variation over time of the local concentration of the indicator injected into the blood circulation system. For the purposes of the transformation, the condition is fulfilled that the cardiac output COdye calculable from the quantitative variation over time of the local concentration in accordance with a predetermined relationship is equal to an input value of the cardiac output COe, which has been determined by thermodilution measurement.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2002Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Fulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Thorsten Burger
-
Patent number: 6954665Abstract: A catheter system is suitable for the simultaneous, continuous, mutually unaffected measurement of the centrovenous oxygen saturation and the local concentration of injected indocyanine green. It has a centrovenous catheter with a fiber-optic lumen and a fiber-optic probe that can be inserted into the fiber-optic lumen for taking reflecto-oximetric measurements at a first wavelength of 660 nm, a second measuring wavelength of 805 nm and a reference wavelength of 880 nm. To prevent a longitudinal shift of the fiber-optic probe relative to the fiber-optic lumen, a connecting piece, securely connected to the fiber-optic probe, and a counterpart, securely connected to the catheter, are provided which can be joined together. The fiber-optic lumen which continues in the interior of the connecting piece can be cleaned when the connecting piece is attached to the counterpart. For this purpose, the connecting piece has a cleansing attachment for connecting a cleansing device.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2003Date of Patent: October 11, 2005Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventor: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer
-
Patent number: 6853857Abstract: In a method, a device and a computer program for determining the blood flow in a tissue or organ region, the fluorescence intensity of an exogenous chromophore is measured as a function of time in the tissue region to be examined and from this the permeation rate of the chromophore is calculated, from which the blood flow can be derived.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Thorsten Burger, Andreas Becker
-
Publication number: 20040249297Abstract: An apparatus that continuously monitors the arterial pressure measured by a pressure sensor in an artery, which pressure is regarded as the reading Pao that approximately corresponds to the aortal pressure. In principle, the arterial pressure can be measured in the aorta, near the aorta, or in the arterial tree. To provide a second reading, the apparatus, via the input channel, continuously monitors the central venous pressure (CVP), which is regarded as the reading PIT that approximately corresponds to the intrathoracic pressure (ITP). The third reading is provided via the input channel as a reading Z which expresses the thoracic compliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2003Publication date: December 9, 2004Inventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Thorsten Burger
-
Patent number: 6746431Abstract: An intro-aortic balloon catheter system and method for determining cardiac output with the system including a distal end for insertion into an aorta and a proximal end opposed to the distal end, a balloon portion in proximity to the distal end which repeatedly expands and contracts so as to assist the pumping action of the heart, a catheter tube connected to the balloon portion with the catheter tube having a lumen introducing a pressurized gas into the balloon portion and leading the pressurized gas out from the balloon portion and a temperature sensor attached to the catheter tube and being electrically coupled to a connector at the proximal end of the catheter tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Steve Allen, Ulf Borg
-
Patent number: 6736782Abstract: A central venous cather (1) is placed in the vena cava superior (2) and equipped with a heating coil (3) for emitting heat pulses in the immediate proximity of the distal end (5) of the catheter (1) in order to introduce travelling temperature deviations to the patient's circulation. The power transferred to the blood stream during emission of each heat pulse represents an input signal for modified thermodilution measurements. Each travelling temperature deviation is detected as a system response corresponding to an input signal, when it reaches an arterial catheter (14) which additionally comprises a pressure sensor (17) for measuring the local blood pressure in the arteria femoralis (16) as a function of time.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Thorsten Burger
-
Publication number: 20040064021Abstract: A catheter system is suitable for the simultaneous, continuous, mutually unaffected measurement of the centrovenous oxygen saturation and the local concentration of injected indocyanine green. It has a centrovenous catheter with a fiber-optic lumen and a fiber-optic probe that can be inserted into the fiber-optic lumen for taking reflecto-oximetric measurements at a first wavelength of 660 nm, a second measuring wavelength of 805 nm and a reference wavelength of 880 nm. To prevent a longitudinal shift of the fiber-optic probe relative to the fiber-optic lumen, a connecting piece, securely connected to the fiber-optic probe, and a counterpart, securely connected to the catheter, are provided which can be joined together. The fiber-optic lumen which continues in the interior of the connecting piece can be cleaned when the connecting piece is attached to the counterpart. For this purpose, the connecting piece has a cleansing attachment for connecting a cleansing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Applicant: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventor: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer
-
Patent number: 6631286Abstract: A safety housing, into which an infrared laser light source is integrated together with the CCD camera, forms a compact unit for the determination of tissue perfusion. Rays from the infrared laser light source radiate the area of operation and indocyanin green, previously injected intravenously into the patient, is excited to fluorescence by the radiation, which is detected by the CCD camera.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2001Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Andreas Becker, Norbert Eder, Thorsten Burger, Christian Töns
-
Publication number: 20030125760Abstract: The outer diameter of a hollow needle, comprising a ground surface at its tip, expands continuously from a region near the tip but behind the ground surface such that the outer diameter in the region located further from the tip is approximately double. The rotationally symmetrical transition region is conical and rounded off at each end.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2002Publication date: July 3, 2003Applicant: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Thomas Thalmeier
-
Publication number: 20030060722Abstract: A system for the determination of quantities relating to the circulatory system of a patient comprises a device for the non-invasive measurement of the qualitative variation over time of the local concentration of an indicator injected into the blood circulation system at a first position, the measurement taking place at a second position of the blood circulation system. Furthermore, an evaluating unit is provided which comprises an input interface for reading in an input value of the cardiac output COe of the patient, and in which there is implemented an evaluating algorithm which transforms the qualitative variation over time of the local concentration of the indicator injected into the blood circulation system into a quantitative variation over time of the local concentration of the indicator injected into the blood circulation system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2002Publication date: March 27, 2003Applicant: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Thorsten Burger
-
Patent number: 6537230Abstract: A computer system (104) is connected to an injection means (107) to inject at a first place (101 ) a bolus warmer or colder than patient's blood. The travelling temperature deviation thus introduced to the patient's vascular system (103) passes the pulmonary circulation (111), where an extravascular thermovolume (112) may be present. When the temperature deviation reaches the second place (102), where blood temperature is measured by a sensor device (117) connected to the computer system (104), it is recorded as Thermodilution Curve (15), from which the computer system (104) determines an extravascular thermovolume estimate. Depending on that result the computer system (104) calculates a new amount of bolus to be injected by the injection means (107). The higher the extravascular thermovolume estimate, the higher the new amount of bolus.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2001Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Pulsion Medical Systems AGInventors: Ulrich J. Pfeiffer, Thorsten Burger