Connector and guidewire connectable thereto

• US 20020161421A1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MRI Interventions, Inc. (Clearpoint Neuro, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SurgiVision Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Chris, Viohl, Ingmar, McNamara, Christine
• Granted Patent: US 6,714,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/285 Invasive instruments, e.g. catheters or biopsy needles, specially adapted for tracking, guiding or visualization by NMR
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/542 Adapters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0524 Connection to outer conductor by action of a clamping member, e.g. screw fastening means H01R9/0515 takes precedence

Abstract

Connector and guidewires connectable thereto are disclosed which enable for the connection of guidewires requiring electrical connection to an external electrical source. These guidewires may be used for MRI imaging and the external source could be an MRI scanner. An embodiment of a guidewire is provided with enables for easier connection through improved dimensions and mechanical strength at the proximal end. An embodiment of a connector is provided which can attach to any guidewire or coaxial cable. These connectors provide for desirable mechanical and electrical properties while still enabling catheters and other tools to be used in conjunction with guidewires and other cables.

Claims

1. A connector for receiving an MRI guidewire, comprising:

an orifice for receiving an end of said guidewire;

a channel communicating with said orifice and providing an insertion path for said end of said guidewire;

a first contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said first contact sized and shaped to couple with an inner conductor contact of said guidewire;

a second contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said second contact sized and shaped to couple with an outer conductor contact of said guidewire, said first and second contacts being sequentially disposed along said insertion path;

an output terminal electrically coupled to said first and second contacts; and

a fastener structured and positioned to hold said end of said guidewire within said channel.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact comprises a collet.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact comprises a tubular contact.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact comprises a formed metal contact.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein a portion of said formed metal contact is oriented tangentially with respect to said channel.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact comprises a wire.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact comprises a tubular mesh.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact comprises a metal ring.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact comprises a spring.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein said spring is deformed on its perimeter.

11. The connector of claim 9, wherein said spring is longitudinally deformed.

12. The connector of claim 1 structured for repeated removal from and reattachment to said guidewire.

13. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact extends axially to said output terminal to form said center pin.

14. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact comprises a spring piston.

15. The connector of claim 1, wherein said second contact comprises a collet.

16. The connector of claim 1, wherein said second contact comprises a tubular contact.

17. The connector of claim 1, wherein said second contact comprises a formed metal contact.

18. The connector of claim 17, wherein a portion of said formed metal contact is oriented tangentially with respect to said channel.

19. The connector of claim 1, wherein said second contact comprises a wire.

20. The connector of claim 1, wherein said second contact comprises a tubular mesh.

21. The connector of claim 1, wherein said second contact comprises a metal ring.

22. The connector of claim 1, wherein said second contact comprises a spring.

23. The connector of claim 22, wherein said spring is deformed on its perimeter.

24. The connector of claim 22, wherein said spring is longitudinally deformed.

25. The connector of claim 1, wherein said orifice is sized and shaped to permit insertion of a preselected type of said guidewire.

26. The connector of claim 1, wherein said second contact extends axially to said output terminal to form said center pin.

27. The connector of claim 1, wherein said second contact comprises a spring piston.

28. The connector of claim 1, wherein said inner conductor contact extends axially to said output terminal to form said center pin.

29. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a cap screwably attachable to said connector.

30. The connector of claim 29, further comprising a wiper disposed in said cap, said wiper shaped and positioned to contact said guidewire while said connector is receiving said guidewire.

31. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a wiper shaped and positioned to contact said guidewire while said connector is receiving said guidewire.

32. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a contact carrier surrounding said channel.

33. The connector of claim 32, wherein said carrier is rotatable with respect to said connector.

34. The connector of claim 32, wherein said guidewire is rotatably fixed with respect to said carrier.

35. The connector of claim 32, further comprising a wedge disposed between said orifice and said carrier.

36. The connector of claim 35, further comprising a spring disposed between said wedge and said carrier.

37. The connector of claim 32, wherein said fastener couples to said carrier.

38. The connector of claim 1, wherein said fastener includes at least one of a cap, a lever, a button, a cam, a return spring, a detent, a collet, a snap, a dial, or threads.

39. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact is positioned proximal to said second contact with respect to said output terminal, and said second contact is positioned distal to said first contact.

40. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact is positioned distal to said second contact with respect to said output terminal, and said second contact is positioned proximal to said first contact.

41. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact and said second contact are electrically insulated from each other by an insulator.

42. The connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact and said second contact are physically isolated from each other.

43. The connector of claim 1, further comprising an interface circuit electrically coupled to said first and second contacts.

44. The connector of claim 43, wherein said interface circuit comprises a tuning/matching circuit.

45. The connector of claim 43, wherein said interface circuit comprises a decoupling circuit.

46. The connector of claim 43, wherein said interface circuit comprises a balun trap circuit.

47. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a connection detector exposed to said channel.

48. The connector of claim 47, wherein said detector circuit is coupled to an indicator, said indicator indicating whether said guidewire is sufficiently inserted into said channel.

49. The connector of claim 47, wherein said detector comprises a mechanical switch deployed in said channel, wherein said switch is actuated by said guidewire when said guidewire is sufficiently inserted into said channel.

50. The connector of claim 47, wherein said detector comprises a pair of contacts, wherein a closed circuit is formed between said pair of contacts when said guidewire is sufficiently inserted into said channel.

51. The connector of claim 47, wherein said detector comprises a light source and a light detector disposed in said channel, and wherein insertion of said guidewire alters the path of light emitted from said light source when said guidewire is sufficiently inserted into said channel.

52. The connector of claim 51, wherein insertion of said guidewire reflects said light onto said light detector.

53. The connector of claim 51, wherein insertion of said guidewire reflects said light away from said light detector.

54. The connector of claim 51, wherein said source comprises a light emitting diode.

55. The connector of claim 51, wherein said source comprises an optical fiber.

56. The connector of claim 47, wherein said detector circuit sends a connect signal Then said guidewire is sufficiently inserted.

57. The connector of claim 47, wherein said detector circuit send a disconnect signal when said guidewire is insufficiently inserted.

58. The connector of claim 47, wherein said detector comprises at least one of an inductive sensor and a capacitive sensor, wherein said detector detects the presence of said guidewire in said channel.

59. The connector of claim 47, wherein said detector circuit causes an alarm to be tripped when said guidewire is insufficiently inserted into said connector.

60. The connector of claim 47, wherein said detector circuit causes an MRI scan to be terminated when said guidewire is insufficiently inserted into said connector.

61. The connector of claim 41, wherein said connector further comprises an identification system, and wherein said identification system recognizes a parameter of said guidewire.

62. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a DC blocking capacitor electrically coupled to at least one of said first and second contacts.

63. The connector of claim 62, further comprising an RF bypass capacitor electrically coupled to at least one of said first and second contacts.

64. The connector of claim 1, wherein said connector is formed of MR-compatible materials.

65. The connector of claim 1, wherein said connector is formed of biocompatible materials.

66. A connector for receiving an MRI guidewire, comprising:

an orifice for receiving an end of said guidewire;

a channel communicating with said orifice and providing an insertion path for said end of said guidewire;

a first contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said first contact sized and shaped to couple with an inner conductor contact of said guidewire;

a second contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said second contact sized and shaped to couple with an outer conductor contact of said guidewire, said first and second contacts being sequentially disposed along said insertion path;

an output terminal electrically coupled to said first and second contacts;

an interface circuit electrically coupled to said first and second contacts; and

a fastener structured and positioned to hold said end of said guidewire within said channel.

67. A connector for receiving an MRI guidewire, comprising:

an orifice for receiving an end of said guidewire;

a channel communicating with said orifice and providing an insertion path for said end of said guidewire;

a first contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said first contact sized and shaped to couple with an inner conductor contact of said guidewire;

a second contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said second contact sized and shaped to couple with an outer conductor contact of said guidewire, said first and second contacts being sequentially disposed along said insertion path;

an output terminal electrically coupled to said first and second contacts;

a connection detector exposed to said channel; and

a fastener structured and positioned to hold said end of said guidewire within said channel.

68. A connector for receiving an MRI guidewire, comprising:

an orifice for receiving an end of said guidewire;

a channel communicating with said orifice and providing an insertion path for said end of said guidewire;

a first contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said first contact sized and shaped to couple with an inner conductor contact of said guidewire;

a second contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said second contact sized and shaped to couple with an outer conductor contact of said guidewire, said first and second contacts being sequentially disposed along said insertion path;

an output terminal electrically coupled to said first and second contacts;

a DC blocking capacitor electrically coupled to at least one of said first and second contacts; and

a fastener structured and positioned to hold said end of said guidewire within said channel.

69. A connector for receiving an MRI guidewire, comprising:

an orifice for receiving an end of said guidewire;

a channel communicating with said orifice and providing an insertion path for said end of said guidewire;

a first contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said first contact sized and shaped to couple with an inner conductor contact of said guidewire;

a second contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said second contact sized and shaped to couple with an outer conductor contact of said guidewire, said first and second contacts being sequentially disposed along said insertion path;

an output terminal electrically coupled to said first and second contacts;

an interface circuit electrically coupled to said first and second contacts;

a connection detector exposed to said channel; and

a fastener structured and positioned to hold said end of said guidewire within said channel.

70. A connector for receiving an MRI guidewire, comprising:

an orifice for receiving an end of said guidewire;

a channel communicating with said orifice and providing an insertion path for said end of said guidewire;

a first contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said first contact sized and shaped to couple with an inner conductor contact of said guidewire;

a second contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said second contact sized and shaped to couple with an outer conductor contact of said guidewire, said first and second contacts being sequentially disposed along said insertion path;

an output terminal electrically coupled to said first and second contacts;

an interface circuit electrically coupled to said first and second contacts;

a connection detector exposed to said channel;

a DC blocking capacitor electrically coupled to at least one of said first and second contacts; and

a fastener structured and positioned to hold said end of said guidewire within said channel.

71. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidewire, comprising:

an inner conductor;

an outer conductor coaxially disposed about said inner conductor;

a distal end sized and shaped for insertion into a subject to receive MRI signals; and

a proximal end sized and shaped for insertion into a connector, said proximal end having;

an outer conductor contact coupled electrically to said outer conductor; and

an extended section of said inner conductor that extends axially beyond said outer conductor contact, said extended section including;

an inner conductor contact having an electrically conductive material disposed at least partially around said inner conductor; and

an insulated area interposed between said outer conductive contact and said inner conductive contact, and having an electrically insulating material disposed at least partially around said inner conductor.

72. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein the diameter of said guidewire is sized for insertion into the lumen of an anatomic structure of a subject.

73. The guidewire of claim 72, wherein said anatomic structure is a blood vessel.

74. The guidewire of claim 72, wherein said subject is a human.

75. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein said diameter is less than about 0.040 inches.

76. The guidewire of claim 75, wherein said diameter is between about 0.012 inches and 0.038 inches.

77. The guidewire of claim 76, wherein said diameter is about 0.014 inches.

78. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein a diameter of said inner conductor is between about 0.004 inches and about 0.012 inches.

79. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein said guidewire has a stiffness sufficient for insertion into a lumen of an anatomic structure of a subject.

80. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein said guidewire is biocompatible.

81. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein said guidewire comprises a conductive material.

82. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein said guidewire is composed of nonmagnetic materials.

83. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein said guidewire comprises a superelastic material.

84. The guidewire of claim 83, wherein said superelastic material comprises titanium.

85. The guidewire of claim 83, wherein said superelastic material comprises Nitinol.

86. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein said guidewire is sterilizable.

87. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein said outer conductor contact and said inner conductor contact are each annular in shape.

88. The guidewire of claim 87, wherein said outer conductor contact and said inner conductor contact have approximately equal diameters.

89. The guidewire of claim 87, wherein said inner conductor contact is disposed radially about a portion of said extended section of said inner conductor.

90. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein said insulated area is annular in shape.

91. The guidewire of claim 71, wherein said outer conductor contact is axially distal to said inner conductor contact.

92. The guidewire of claim 71, further comprising an extension attachment coupled to said proximal end of said guidewire.

93. The guidewire of claim 71, further comprising an identification parameter.

94. The guidewire of claim 93, wherein said identification parameter comprises at least one of a resistor value, a digital signature, or a unique serial number.

95. A coaxial cable, comprising:

an inner conductor;

an outer conductor coaxially disposed about said inner conductor; and

a proximal end sized and shaped for insertion into a connector, said proximal end having;

an outer conductor contact coupled electrically to said outer conductor; and

an extended section of said inner conductor that extends axially beyond said outer conductor contact, said extended section including;

an inner conductor contact having an electrically conductive material disposed at least partially around said inner conductor; and

an insulated area positioned to isolate electrically said outer conductive contact from said inner conductive contact, and having an electrically insulating material disposed at least partially around said inner conductor.

96. A medical device, comprising:

a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidewire, comprising;

an inner conductor;

an outer conductor coaxially disposed about said inner conductor;

a distal end sized and shaped for insertion into a subject to receive MRI signals; and

a proximal end sized and shaped for insertion into a connector, said proximal end having

an outer conductor contact coupled electrically to said outer conductor, and an extended section of said inner conductor that extends axially beyond said outer conductor contact, said extended section including;

an inner conductor contact having an electrically conductive material disposed at least partially around said inner conductor; and

an insulated area interposed between said outer conductive contact and said inner conductive contact, and having an electrically insulating material disposed at least partially around said inner conductor; and

a connector for receiving said MRI guidewire, comprising;

an orifice for receiving said proximal end of said guidewire;

a channel communicating with said orifice and providing an insertion path for said proximal end of said guidewire;

a first contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said first contact sized and shaped to couple with said inner conductor contact of said guidewire;

a second contact at least partly exposed to said channel, said second contact sized and shaped to couple with said outer conductor contact of said guidewire, said first and second contacts being sequentially disposed along said insertion path;

an output terminal electrically coupled to said first and second contacts; and

a fastener structured and positioned to hold said proximal end of said guidewire within said channel.