Patent ID: 6210346
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: A61B,A61M,G01L

Abstract:
A method for inserting and maintaining an intracranial pressure monitoring catheter within a skull of a mammalian patient, the method comprising the steps of:providing an intracranial pressure monitoring catheter, including:i. a flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer side wall;ii. a stylet insertion aperture formed in the side wall of the catheter body at a specific distance from the distal end of the catheter body, a distal portion of the catheter body being defined between the stylet insertion aperture and the distal end of the catheter body;iii. a stylet lumen extending between the stylet insertion aperture and the distal end of the catheter body, the stylet lumen being closed at the distal end of the catheter body;iv. a pressure sensing/transmitting component at the distal end of the catheter body including means for transmitting a signal corresponding to a measure of intracranial pressure;v. a pressure monitoring connector formed on the proximal end of the catheter body to facilitate connection of an extracorporeal pressure monitoring device to the pressure sensing/transmitting component;vi. a pressure sensing lumen which extends through the catheter body between the pressure sensing/transmitting component and the pressure monitoring connector, the pressure sensing lumen containing the means for transmitting a signal corresponding to a measure of intracranial pressure; andvii. a drainage inlet aperture at the distal end of the catheter body, a drainage outlet aperture formed at the proximal end of the catheter body, and a drainage lumen extending between the drainage inlet aperture and the drainage outlet aperture;providing a stylet which is insertable through the stylet insertion aperture and into the stylet lumen to impart stiffness to the distal portion of the catheter body between the stylet insertion aperture and closed distal end of the stylet lumen;forming a first scalp incision;forming a bore hole through the patient's skull beneath the first scalp incision;forming a second scalp incision a spaced distance from the first scalp incision;inserting the distal end of the catheter body through the second scalp incision to the first scalp incision and advancing the catheter body until a stylet insertion aperture is external to the first scalp incision;inserting the stylet through the stylet insertion aperture and into the stylet lumen to the closed distal end thereof to impart stiffness to the portion of the catheter body distal to the stylet insertion aperture;inserting the stylet-containing portion of the catheter body, distal end first, through the bore hole formed in the skull and further advancing the distal end of the catheter body out of the first scalp incision such that its distal end and the pressure sensing/transmitting component and drainage inlet aperture are located intracranially;removing the stylet from the stylet lumen; andclosing the first scalp incision over the catheter body;wherein the catheter is thereby placed within the skull such that a measure of intracranial pressure received by the pressure sensing/transmitting component may be monitored by attaching the extracorporeal pressure monitoring device to the pressure monitoring connector.