CATHETER STATUS INDICATOR AND METHODS OF USE
A device for collecting a biological sample in a patient, the device includes an expandable member sized for placement within the patient, the expandable member designed to transition between a plurality of states including a collapsed state and a sampling state; a handle in fluid communication with the expandable member; and an indicator configured to identify a status of the expandable member in response to the expandable member transitioning from one state to another.
1 . A device for collecting a biological sample in a patient, the device comprising:
an expandable member sized for placement within the patient, the expandable member designed to transition between a plurality of states including a collapsed state and a sampling state;
a handle in fluid communication with the expandable member; and
an indicator configured to identify a status of the expandable member in response to the expandable member transitioning from one state to another.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is an immovable indicator.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the indicator is a visual indicator that includes a plurality of icons, each of the plurality of icons corresponding to one of the plurality of states.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the indicator further includes a processor configured and arranged to activate one of the plurality of icons based on a pressure within the device.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the indicator further includes a memory to record at least one of pressure data and volumetric data during a procedure.
6 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured and arranged to differentiate between inflation and deflation of the expandable member.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured and arranged to activate an icon associated with the sampling state only when the expandable member reaches a predetermined volumetric or pressure range as the expandable member is being deflated.
8 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to activate an icon associated with the sampling state only when the expandable member reaches a predetermined volumetric or pressure range and stays within a range for a duration of more than 3 seconds.
9 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the immovable indicator includes three icons.
10 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the immovable indicator includes four icons.
11 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the immovable indicator includes a plurality of icons arranged in a circle.
12 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising an audible indicator corresponding to the immovable indicator.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the expandable member has a first volume in the sampling state.
14 . The device of claim 13 , further including an indexing condition that corresponds to inflating the expandable member to a second volume, the second volume being greater than the first volume.
15 . A system for collecting a biological sample in a patient, the system comprising:
an expandable member, sized for placement within the patient, the expandable member having a plurality of sizes in a plurality of states, and a tube extending from the expandable member;
a pressure source fluidly connected to the tube and configured to provide a pressure to the expandable member to actuate the expandable member to the plurality of sizes;
a handle coupled to the tube; and
an indicator to identify a size of the plurality of sizes of the expandable member.
16 . The system of claim 15 ,
the plurality of sizes include a collapsed state, a sampling state, and an indexing state, and
the expandable member having a different size and shape in each of the plurality of sizes.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the indicator is an electronic visual indicator that includes a collapsed indicator, a sampling indicator, and an indexing indicator.
18 . A method for operating a catheter device, the method comprising:
providing a catheter device for insertion into a lumen, the catheter device including an expandable member having a plurality of states including a collapsed state and a sampling state, a handle fluidly coupled to the catheter device, and an indicator, the indicator being independent from the handle;
performing a procedure by pressurizing or depressurizing the expandable member; and
identifying a status of one of the plurality of states via the indicator.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of differentiating between inflation and deflation of the expandable member, and activating an icon associated with the sampling state only when the expandable member reaches a predetermined volumetric or pressure range as the expandable member is being deflated.
20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of recording at least one of volumetric data or pressure data during the procedure.