US Patent 7381190 Intra-abdominal pressure monitoring urinary catheter

A urinary catheter and method of its use for measuring the internal pressure of a human or other mammal. The catheter includes three lumens, or channels. The first lumen is dedicated to draining urine, the second lumen is dedicated to a retention balloon, and the third lumen is available for connection to a pressure transducer. In use, the catheter is installed in a patient, the third lumen is filled with a pressure transmitting medium, connected to a pressure sensor, and the patient's intra-abdominal pressure is monitored without interruption of the urine flow.