Patent ID: 8715195
Filing Date: 2014-05-06
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A system for accurate placement of a catheter tip in a patient, the system comprising: a catheter adapted for placement within a vein of a patient, the catheter having a tip at a distal end thereof and having a proximal end which is normally located outside of the patient; a pressure sensor adapted to sense pressure within the vein of said patient at said tip of said catheter, said pressure sensor being adapted to sense a venous pressure waveform including at least one of a V pressure wave, generated by filling of the right atrium, and an A pressure wave, generated by contraction of the right atrium; and catheter tip placement location indicating circuitry operative in response to at least an output of said pressure sensor and an ECG signal to provide an indication that said catheter tip is located in said patient at the junction of the superior vena cava (SVC) and the right atrium (RA), an R wave of said ECG signal being employed by said catheter tip placement location indicating circuitry as a fiducial point with respect to which a propagation delay of said venous pressure waveform is measured, said catheter tip placement location indicating circuitry employing said propagation delay to provide said indication that said catheter tip is located at the junction of the superior vena cava (SVC) and the right atrium (RA).