Patent ID: 7112177

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring hydraulic pressure in the bladder of a medical patient whereby to infer intra-abdominal pressure, comprising: a catheter adapted for draining urine from said medical patient; a container of fluid; a first fluid path comprising conduit disposed between said container and a drain portion of said catheter; a fluid pump disposed to urge fluid to flow through said first fluid path; a pressure transducer arranged to measure a pressure of fluid in said first fluid path; and an automatic flow-control device actuated, by fluid pressure effected by said fluid pump, said automatic flow-control device being disposed in said first fluid path and comprising a valve element having a first surface and a second surface, and with said valve element being arranged such that the first surface may be displaced by suction action of said fluid pump to permit flow of fluid from said container toward said fluid pump while the second surface resists flow of fluid from said catheter toward said fluid pump, and the second surface may be displaced by expulsion action of said fluid pump to permit flow of fluid from said fluid pump toward said catheter while the first surface resists flow of fluid toward said container.