Temperature sensor adapter for Foley catheters

Abstract

A Foley catheter has redundant temperature sensors to enable use of the Foley catheter with a patient heating system, such as one relying on a vascular heat exchange catheter. The temperature sensors electronically couple with a control unit, which obtains a primary temperature reading from one of the temperature sensors and obtains a secondary temperature reading from the other temperature. The control unit compares the primary and secondary temperature reading to determine a sensor temperature difference. When the sensor temperature difference exceeds a predetermined value, then the control unit activates an alarm, shuts down the patient heating system, or both.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors, comprising: 
 a catheter body with a proximal end and a distal end;    an inflatable balloon disposed near the distal end;    an inflation lumen extending from the proximal end to the balloon for inflating and deflating the balloon;    a drainage lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;    at least one temperature sensor lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and    two temperature sensors, each temperature sensor having a sensor element disposed in the distal end of the catheter body and a wire extending from each sensor element to the proximal end of the catheter body via the temperature sensor lumen.    
     
     
         2 . A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit, the temperature sensors electronically couple with the control unit, the control unit obtains a primary temperature reading from one of the temperature sensors and obtains a secondary temperature reading from the other temperature.  
     
     
         3 . A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the control unit compares the primary and secondary temperature reading to determine a difference.  
     
     
         4 . A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the control unit includes an alarm and establishes a threshold, whereby when the sensor temperature exceeds the threshold, the control unit activates the alarm.  
     
     
         5 . A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the alarm is audible.  
     
     
         6 . A Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the alarm includes a video display and activation of the alarm provides a video signal to the video display.  
     
     
         7 . A method of using a Foley catheter with redundant temperature sensors, comprising: 
 introducing a Foley catheter into the bladder of a patient, the Foley catheter includes catheter body with a proximal end, a distal end a drainage lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end for draining urine from the bladder, and redundant temperature sensors;    draining urine from the bladder via the drainage lumen;    electronically coupling the temperature sensors to a control unit;    activating the control unit to obtain a primary temperature reading and a secondary temperature reading from the temperature sensors.    
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 comparing the primary temperature reading and the secondary temperature reading to determine whether both sensors are operational.    
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 comparing the primary temperature reading and the secondary temperature reading to determine a difference between the primary temperature reading and the second temperature reading.    
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 establishing a threshold; and    deactivating the control unit when the difference exceeds the threshold.    
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the threshold is within the range of 0.5-2 degrees Fahrenheit.  
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the threshold is about 1 degree Fahrenheit.  
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the Foley catheter includes a balloon positioned at the distal end and an inflation lumen, the method includes inflating the balloon via the inflation lumen to hold the catheter in the bladder.  
     
     
         14 . A method for measuring and regulating patient temperature comprising: 
 introducing a heat exchange catheter into the vasculature of a patient;    introducing a Foley catheter having redundant temperature sensors into the bladder of the patient;    draining urine from the bladder via the drainage lumen;    electronically connecting a control unit with the temperature sensors;    measuring patient core body temperature with the temperature sensors; and    determining if one of the temperature sensors has failed.    
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  further comprising obtaining a primary temperature reading and a secondary temperature reading from the temperature sensors.  
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 comparing the primary temperature reading and the secondary temperature reading to determine a difference between the primary temperature reading and the secondary temperature reading.    
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 establishing a threshold; and    activating an alarm when the difference between the primary temperature and the secondary temperature exceeds the threshold.    
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 establishing a threshold; and    deactivating the control unit when the difference between the primary temperature and the secondary temperature exceeds the threshold.    
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the threshold is within the range of 0.5-2 degrees Fahrenheit.  
     
     
         20 . A method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the threshold is about 1 degree Fahrenheit.