Insertion and withdrawal force measurement system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11248973-B2
Application number	US-201715434900-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 16, 2017
Priority date	Feb 16, 2017
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A force measuring system for devices comprising: (a) a tortuous conduit operatively coupled to a transducer; and, (b) a computer communicatively coupled to the transducer, the computer programmed to utilize signals output from the transducer to calculate forces acting on the transducer, the computer programmed to support a graphical user interface for displaying the calculated forces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A force measuring system comprising:
a tortuous conduit having a predetermined path operatively coupled to a transducer; and,
a computer communicatively coupled to the transducer, the computer programmed to utilize signals output from the transducer to calculate forces acting on the transducer, the computer programmed to support a graphical user interface for displaying the calculated forces.

2. The measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the transducer comprises a load cell.

3. The measuring system of claim 1 , wherein:
a first portion of the transducer is mounted to a base comprising a stationary support; and,
a second portion of the transducer is mounted to a sled repositionably mounted to the base.

4. The measuring system of claim 3 , wherein:
the tortuous conduit is removably mounted to the sled; and,
the sled includes a pair of upstanding arms that cooperatively engage a retention cap to selectively mount the tortuous conduit to the sled.

5. The measuring system of claim 3 , wherein the sled is at least one of pivotally repositionable and slidably repositionable with respect to the base.

6. The measuring system of claim 5 , wherein:
the sled is pivotally repositionable with respect to the base; and,
a lever operatively couples the sled and the base and provides for the sled to pivot with respect to the base.

7. The measuring system of claim 6 , wherein the lever comprises a plurality of levers.

8. The measuring system of claim 6 , wherein:
at least one of the sled and the base includes a cavity into which the lever is at least partially inserted;
the lever includes a pair of hollowed areas configured to receive cylindrical pins;
the sled includes a sled opening sized to receive a first one of the cylindrical pins; and,
the base includes a base opening sized to receive a second one of the cylindrical pins.

9. The measuring system of claim 5 , wherein:
the sled is slidably repositionable with respect to the base; and,
a slide operatively couples the sled and the base and provides for the sled to slide with respect to the base.

10. The measuring system of claim 1 , wherein:
the transducer interposes the tortuous conduit and a stationary support; and,
the transducer is mounted to the stationary support.

11. A process for comparing at least one of insertion and withdrawal forces associated with at least two devices, the process comprising:
inserting a first device into a tortuous conduit having a predetermined path;
recording insertion data indicative of insertion forces applied by the first device traveling in a first direction in the tortuous conduit;
withdrawing the first device from the tortuous conduit;
recording withdrawal data indicative of withdrawal forces applied by the first device traveling in a second direction in the tortuous conduit, where the second direction is generally opposite the first direction;
repeating the foregoing steps by replacing the first device with a second device; and,
comparing the insertion data and withdrawal data between at least the first and second devices.

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein:
the tortuous conduit is rigidly mounted to a load cell;
the load cell is configured to output signals having a magnitude proportional to a force applied to the tortuous conduit; and,
the load cell is communicatively coupled to a programmed computer utilizing the signals and calculating the insertion forces and calculating the withdrawal forces.

13. The process of claim 12 , wherein:
the programmed computer supports a graphical user interface; and,
the graphical user interface displays the insertion forces and the withdrawal forces.

14. The process of claim 13 , wherein:
the insertion forces include a maximum insertion force;
the withdrawal forces include a maximum withdrawal force;
the graphical user interface displays the maximum insertion force and the maximum insertion force as part of a graph depicting force as a function of time; and,
the graphical user interface displays a separate graph for the first device and the second device.

15. The process of claim 14 , wherein:
the graphical user interface also displays the maximum insertion force separate from the graph;
the graphical user interface also displays the maximum withdrawal force separate from the graph; and,
the graphical user interface displays a separate reading for the maximum withdrawal force and the maximum insertion force for the first device and the second device.

16. The process of claim 14 , wherein:
the insertion forces are displayed on the graphical user interface in real-time; and,
the withdrawal forces are displayed on the graphical user interface in real-time.

17. The process of claim 13 , wherein:
the graphical user interface includes a button to be clicked for initiating recordation of the insertion data; and,
the graphical user interface includes a button to be clicked for concluding recordation of the withdrawal data.

18. The process of claim 17 , wherein the button initiating recordation of the insertion data is the same as the button concluding recordation of the withdrawal data.

19. The process of claim 17 , wherein graphical user interface includes a separate button initiating recordation of the insertion data for the first device and a separate button for concluding recordation of the withdrawal data for the second device.

20. The process of claim 11 , wherein the tortuous conduit is representative of a bodily conduit the first and second devices would traverse when used during a medical procedure.

21. The process of claim 11 , wherein the first and second devices comprise a first catheter and a second catheter.

22. The process of claim 11 , wherein the tortuous conduit is linked to a transducer mounted to a stationary support.

Assignees

• Bard Inc C R

Inventors

• Hine Robert M
• Sangiorgio John David

Classifications

• G01L5/0033 Primary

  applying a pulling force · CPC title

• G01L5/0038

  applying a pushing force · CPC title

• A61B90/06

  Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A61B2090/064

  for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension · CPC title

• G01N3/06

  Special adaptations of indicating or recording means · CPC title