Pressure profile sensing system

In this study a sensor catheter prototype for recording pressure profiles in medical applications is presented employing a novel measurement technique. An external pressure influences the cross section of a hollow tube which is detected by continuous filling of the tube from one side. The filling length is measured by the resulting change of the electrical resistance between two conductive tracks in the tube wall opposite to each other with electrical contact to the catheter lumen. The main advantage for urological and proctological applications is that there is no need for mechanically withdrawing the sensing catheter during recording as with the present measurement systems. The theory of measurement is given together with sensor design and calibration curve.