Abstract: A pressure catheter for monitoring changes in pressure within the body is comprised of an outer hollow tube containing a fluid channel and a closed air column having a pressure-compliant member which is deformable upon an increase in pressure. A change in pressure deforms the pressure-compliant member, which modifies the pressure in the air column, and is translated to a pressure sensor which converts the pressure change data to an electrical signal recognizable by a fetal monitor. The pressure catheter of the present invention is particularly suitable for intrauterine pressure monitoring during labor.

Abstract: A system and method for muliplexing two lumens of a catheter to a single pressure transducer and monitor setup such that the pressure found in either of the two lumens may be alternately monitored. Included in the present invention is a pressure mulitplexing valve provided with a four-port body and a rotor which may be selectively rotated to either of two monitoring positions. The rotor is privided with passageways that interconnect the ports. In one embodiment both catheter lumens are always connected to a medical infusion device regardless of which lumen is connected to the transducer. In another embodiment, one lumen is shut off when not connected to the transducer. The present invention provides a compact system removably mounted on a single carrier.