Patent ID: 7572235

Claim:
A method of determining the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) in a patient having a naso-enteric tube, the method comprising the steps of: pumping a liquid feed solution from a supply of liquid feed solution into the patient through a supply conduit coupled to the naso-enteric tube positioning a sensing conduit in fluid communication with the naso-enteric tube; continuously flowing a sensing fluid from a supply of sensing fluid separate from the supply of liquid feed solution into the naso-enteric tube through the sensing conduit, wherein the sensing fluid flows into the gastro-intestinal tract of the patient through the naso-enteric tube; positioning a pressure transducer within the sensing conduit for continuously measuring the pressure of the sensing fluid within the sensing conduit; and continuously determining the intra-abdominal pressure of the patient based upon the measured pressure of the sensing fluid.