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A new “transducer‐tipped” fiber optic catheter for measuring intramuscular pressures
Author(s) -
Crenshaw Albert G.,
Styf Jorma R.,
Mubarak Scott J.,
Hargens Alan R.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.1100080318
Subject(s) - optical fiber , transducer , pressure measurement , pressure sensor , catheter , biomedical engineering , materials science , hydrostatic pressure , venous stasis , fiber optic sensor , hydrostatic equilibrium , fiber , optics , acoustics , surgery , medicine , composite material , mechanical engineering , physics , thermodynamics , engineering , quantum mechanics
Laboratory and clinical tests were used to determine the efficacy of a new fiber optic “transducer‐tipped” catheter for measuring intramuscular pressures. When pressures ranging from 0 to 250 mm Hg were applied by a mercury manometer, the fiber optic system accurtely recorded the pressures. In addition, the fiber optic system showed long‐term stability by accurately recording the manometer pressure over a 3 day period. The Slit system showed a higher magnitude of hydrostatic pressure artifacts with catheter tip movement as compared to the fiber optic system. The two catheters showed no difference when measuring pressures in pig muscle at rest or when being compressed throughout a range of 0 to 250 mm Hg. In human volunteers, both catheters measured essentially equal pressures at rest, during venous stasis, and during a combination of venous stasis and compression. For long‐term assessment, the Slit system required as many as three saline flushes, whereas the fiber optic system measured pressures continuously without manipulation. We conclude that the fiber optic system is as accurate as the Slit catheter for measuring tissue fluid pressures at rest. In addition, the fiber optic system offers distinct advantages over conventional fluid‐filled systems for measuring intramuscular pressures due to a lack of hydrostatic pressure artifacts caused by limb position and to the lack of flushing for long‐term measurements.