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Pressure channel design

Measurement

The water perfused catheter, when connected to the pressure sensor syringe, establishes a continuous column of water that effectively transmits pressure readings from either the bladder or abdomen. By recording these pressure sensor measurements, the bladder and abdominal pressures can be assessed throughout the investigation.

Design

An off the shelf 60ml syringe is retrofitted with a pressure sensor and connected to a dual lumen catheter. A pressure sensor mount is then connected to a stand to allow the pressure sensor height to be increased or decreased.

To establish a connection between the load cell and the control device, the leads extending from the load cell can be conveniently attached to a 4-core wire. It is important to ensure that the wire does not exceed a length of 1.5m to maintain optimal signal integrity. For seamless integration with the control device, a DIN connector can be securely affixed to the opposite end of the wire, facilitating a reliable and efficient connection between the load cell and the control device.

Manufacturing

  1. Solder the pressure sensors to the pcbs
    1. Order the PSENS PCBs
    2. Solder the pressure sensors to the PCBs
    3. Solder 4-core wire to the PCBs
  2. Fix the pressure sensor
    1. Remove the plunger
    2. Make a hole through the base of the plunger to pass the pressure sensor wires
    3. Pass the wires through the hole and sit the pressure sensor PCB facing upwards
    4. Use epoxy resin to fix the PCB to the plunger, ensuring not to get epoxy on the pressure sensor measurement interface
  3. Manufacture the pressure sensor mount
  4. Connect the pressure sensor cables to DIN connectors

Signal Processing

Two pressure measurement configurations will be required. One to measure bladder pressure and the other to measure abdominal pressure. The detrusor pressure can be calculated by subtracting the abdominal pressure from the bladder pressure.

Component selection and manufacturing tips

Validation testing

Validation testing can begin once the two pressure measurement syringes and system controller have been made.