System and method for locating a catheter tip
A system for locating the tip of a catheter inside a human body is provided. The system includes a sound sensor for sensing the magnitude wave form generated by sound pressure as a PICC is progressed toward a heart of a patient. The systems also includes a monitor operably coupled to the sensor for measuring the magnitude of wave form generated by the sound sensor.
1. A system comprising:
a catheter comprising a catheter tip;
at least one acoustic emitter to be positioned on a body of a patient, the at least one acoustic emitter to generate at least one acoustic beacon signal;
a sound sensor operably coupled to the catheter, the sound sensor to detect a sound generated by a heart of the patient as the catheter tip is advanced toward the heart of the patient and to detect the at least one acoustic beacon signal; and
a display unit operably coupled to the sound sensor; wherein the display unit is configured to graphically display a change in the sound generated by the heart and sensed by the sound sensor.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a housing for housing the sound sensor.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said housing contains saline for propagating the sound generated by the heart.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein the catheter further comprises a saline column and the sound sensor is positioned on the saline column.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said housing is positioned on the saline column of the catheter.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the display unit further comprises a visual indicator to indicate a status of the catheter tip progression.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the visual indicator comprises any of the following: an alphabetic character, an X, a downward arrow, a forward arrow, or a null-symbol.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the sound sensor is positioned on the catheter tip.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the sound sensor comprises a microphone.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the display unit is configured to graphically display a change in the at least one acoustic beacon signal detected by the sound sensor.
11. A system comprising:
a catheter comprising a tip;
at least one acoustic emitter to be positioned on a body of a patient, the at least one acoustic emitter to generates at least one acoustic beacon signal;
a sensor operably connected to the catheter and configured to sense a change in a magnitude of the wave form as the catheter tip is advanced toward a heart of the patient and to sense the at least one acoustic beacon signal; and
a display unit operably connected to the sensor; wherein the display unit is configured to graphically display the change of the magnitude of a wave form sensed by the sensor.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one acoustic emitter comprises at least three acoustic emitters.
14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a housing for housing the sensor; and wherein the catheter further comprises a saline column; and the housing is located on the saline column.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the sensor is located on the catheter.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is located on the catheter tip.
17. A system comprising:
at least one acoustic emitter configured to be positioned over a heart on a body of a patient, the at least one acoustic emitter configured to generate at least one acoustic beacon signal;
a sensor capable of being operably coupled to a catheter and configured to detect a change in a sound pressure as the catheter is advanced toward the heart and detect the at least one acoustic beacon signal; and
a monitoring means operably coupled to the sensor; wherein the monitoring means is configured to graphically display a change in the sound pressure detected by the sensor and graphically display a change in the at least one acoustic beacon signal detected by the sensor.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the sound pressure generates in part a magnitude of a wave form.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the monitoring means further comprises a visual indicator configured to indicate a change in the magnitude of the wave form.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the visual indicator is configured to depict an increase in the magnitude of the wave form that indicates to a user the catheter is advancing toward the heart; or wherein the visual indicator is configured to depict a decrease in the magnitude of the wave form that indicates to a user the catheter is advancing toward a non-target area or is obstructed.