Reusable invasive fluid pressure monitoring apparatus and method

1. A monitoring system for measuring a pressure level at a plurality of selected locations within a living body, comprising:

a first support structure and a second support structure physically connected to each other, wherein each support structure comprises:

a) a recess, wherein said recess is defined by a floor and opposing sidewalls, each of said sidewalls having a retainer, wherein each retainer is spaced apart from said floor by a tapered space, and wherein the depth of the tapered space of the first support structure is different than the depth of the tapered space of the second support structure;

b) at least one reusable transducer having a sensing face disposed on an exterior portion of the support structure, the sensing face positioned within the recess, and

a first disposable pressure plenum and a second disposable pressure plenum, wherein each disposable pressure plenum comprises:

a) an inlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with one of said plurality of selected locations,

b) opposing sides, each of said opposing sides including a lug, wherein each lug has a tapered depth, wherein the tapered depth of the first disposable pressure plenum fits the tapered space of the first support structure, wherein the tapered depth of the second disposable pressure plenum fits the tapered space of the second support structure, and wherein each of said plenums removably engages the first or second support structures by sliding the lug into the tapered space defined by the retainer and floor of said first or second support structures; and

c) a pressure compliant surface positioned in a corresponding relationship with the sensing face when the support structure and the disposable pressure plenum are in engagement.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein each of the disposable plenums comprises a relatively rigid polymeric structure having a compliant membrane that confronts the sensing face when the plenum and the support structure are in engagement.

3. The monitoring system of claim 2 , further comprising a catheter having an apical portion configured to be positioned at least one of the selected locations that is operable to communicate a pressure from the selected location to the disposable plenum.

4. The monitoring system of claim 3 , further comprising a pressure tube fluidly coupled to a distal portion of the catheter and fluidly coupled to the disposable plenum.

5. The monitoring system of claim 4 , further comprising a saline source fluidly coupled to the disposable plenum and operable to supply a saline solution to the catheter and the pressure tube.

6. The monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising a processor coupled to at least one of the support structures, the processor operable to receive input signals from the at least one reusable transducer and to generate visual image signals therefrom for display on a visual display device coupled to the processor.

7. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support structures is adjustably positionable at a selected elevation relative to the living body.

8. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reusable transducer comprises a pressure transducer.

9. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reusable transducer comprises a force transducer.

10. An apparatus for monitoring a plurality of fluid pressures in a patient, comprising:

a first reusable support including a first engagement location physically connected to a second reusable support including a second engagement location, wherein each of said first and second engagement locations comprises a slot defined by a floor, opposing sidewalls, and retainers on each of the opposing sidewalls, wherein each retainer is spaced apart from said floor by a tapered space, and wherein the depth of the tapered space of the first reusable support is different than the depth of the tapered space of the second reusable support;

a transducer disposed in each of said engagement locations and configured to produce electrical signals proportional to at least one of the fluid pressures;

a first disposable plenum operable to be coupled to at least one of the fluid pressures and forming at least a portion of a fluid path extending from the patient to the first disposable plenum, the first disposable plenum being removably securable to the first engagement location and fluidly isolating the fluid path from the first engagement location when the first disposable plenum is secured to the first engagement location, wherein the first disposable plenum has opposing sides, each of said opposing sides including a lug, wherein each lug has a tapered depth, wherein the tapered depth of the first disposable plenum fits the tapered space of the first reusable support; and

a second disposable plenum operable to be coupled to at least one of the fluid pressures and forming at least a portion of a fluid path extending from the patient to the second disposable plenum, the second disposable plenum being removably securable to the second engagement location and fluidly isolating the fluid path from the second engagement location when the second disposable plenum is secured to the second engagement location, wherein the second disposable plenum has opposing sides, each of said opposing sides including a lug, wherein each lug has a tapered depth, wherein the tapered depth of the second disposable plenum fits the tapered space of the second reusable support.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the disposable plenums further comprises a flow valve coupled to a pressure tube configured to be coupled to a catheter extending into the patient.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the disposable plenums further comprises a saline tube that is configured to be coupled to a source of a saline solution.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the disposable plenums further comprises a pressure compliant membrane disposed in a wall of the plenum, and the plenum is further configured to position the pressure compliant membrane adjacent to the transducer when the plenum is secured to the engagement location.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the supports further comprises an electronics package positioned within an interior portion of the support, the electronics package receiving signals from the transducer and transferring the signals to an external processor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the electronics package and the external processor are coupled by a conductive line extending from the package to the processor.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the electronics package and the external processor are wirelessly coupled.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a visual display device coupled to the processor.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the supports further comprises an electronics package positioned with an interior portion of the support, the electronics package receiving signals from the transducer and processing the signals to produce data suitable for transmission to a visual display.

19. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the transducer further comprises at least one of a resistive bridge-type pressure transducer, a capacitive-type pressure transducer and piezoelectric-type pressure transducer.

20. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the transducer further comprises a force transducer coupled to a diaphragm by a connecting member.