Combination sensor guidewire and methods of use

• US 20060074318A1
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Walker, Blair D., Oliver, Edward Anthony, Ahmed, Masood, Ingman, Christopher Dee, Puleo, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,277,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/465
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02158 provided with two or more sensor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction

Abstract

The present invention provides for an improved combination sensor tip that includes an ultrasound transducer and a pressure sensor both disposed at or in close proximity to the distal end of the combination sensor tip. The present invention also provides for an improved connector to couple a guide wire to a physiology monitor that reduces torsional resistance when maneuvering the guide wire.

Claims

1. A combination sensor tip, comprising:

a combination sensor housing further comprising an outer wall, and a distal end and a proximal end, having a lumen extending therebetween, the sensor housing adapted to be disposed near a distal end of a guide wire;

a coil disposed proximally from the sensor housing for securing to the guidewire;

a pressure sensor secured to the outer wall of the sensor housing; and

a flow sensor disposed within the lumen of the housing towards the distal end of the housing, and in close proximity to the pressure sensor.

2. The combination sensor tip of claim 1, wherein the sensor housing further comprises a cutout and the pressure sensor is mounted in the cutout such that an outer surface of the pressure sensor is substantially flush with the external wall of the sensor housing.

3. The combination sensor tip of claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor is mounted in a cantilevered position within the combination sensor housing.

4. The combination sensor tip of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor further comprises a diaphragm.

5. The combination sensor tip of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor further comprises a semiconductor crystal.

6. The combination sensor tip of claim 1, wherein the flow sensor is adapted to measure flow velocity at substantially the same location as the pressure sensor.

7. The combination sensor tip of claim 1, wherein the flow sensor is disposed at the distal tip of the combination sensor housing.

8. The combination sensor tip of claim 1, wherein the coil further comprises:

a radiopaque tip coil coupled to a proximal end of the combination sensor housing, and a proximal coil coupled to the radiopaque tip coil and configured for coupling to a guide wire.

9. A guide wire assembly, comprising:

a flexible elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, a lumen extending therebetween, and an outer wall;

a core wire coaxially positioned in at least a portion of the lumen of elongate tubular member;

a combination sensor housing coupled to the distal end of the flexible elongate tubular member, having an outer wall and a distal end and a proximal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;

a pressure sensor secured to the combination sensor housing;

a flow sensor disposed within the lumen of the combination sensor housing towards the distal end of the housing, wherein the pressure sensor and the flow sensor are located in close proximity to each other;

a plurality of electrical connectors extending longitudinally from the pressure sensor to substantially the proximal end of the flexible elongate member; and

a plurality of electrical connectors extending longitudinally from the flow sensor to substantially the proximal end of the flexible elongate member.

10. The guide wire assembly of claim 9, wherein the combination sensor housing further comprises a lumen and an inner wall, and the pressure sensor projects into the lumen of the combination sensor housing without contacting the walls of the combination sensor housing.

11. The guide wire assembly of claim 9, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a semiconductor crystal.

12. The guide wire assembly of claim 9, wherein the elongate tubular member further comprises a longitudinal recess disposed on the indoluminal surface of the tubular member and extending the length of the tubular member, and

wherein at least one of the plurality of electrical connectors from the flow sensor and the pressure sensor are positioned within the longitudinal recess.

13. The guide wire assembly of claim 12, wherein the elongate tubular member further comprises a plurality of longitudinal recesses disposed on the indoluminal surface of the tubular member and extending the length of the tubular member, and wherein the plurality of electrical connectors from the flow sensor and the pressure sensor are individually positioned within a separate longitudinal recess.

14. The guide wire assembly of claim 12, wherein an insulating material is disposed between the electrical conductors and the core wire.

15. The guide wire assembly of claim 14, wherein the outer diameter of the core wire is substantially the same size as the inner diameter of the flexible elongate member.

16. The guide wire assembly of claim 9, wherein the flexible elongate tubular member further comprises a plurality of coaxial polyimide layers, and wherein the plurality of electrical connectors for the pressure sensor and the ultrasound transducer are embedded between the polyimide layers of the flexible elongate tubular member.

17. The guide wire assembly of claim 16, wherein the outer diameter of the core wire is substantially the same size as the inner diameter of the flexible elongate member.

18. A guide wire assembly, comprising:

a flexible elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, a lumen extending therebetween, and an outer wall wherein the elongate tubular member further includes a longitudinal recess disposed on the indoluminal surface of the outer wall and extending the length of the tubular member for housing one or more electrical conductor wires coaxially positioned in the lumen of the elongate tubular member; and

a core wire coaxially positioned in at least a portion of the lumen of elongate tubular member.

19. The guide wire assembly of claim 18, wherein the elongate tubular member further comprises a plurality of longitudinal recesses disposed on the indoluminal surface of the tubular member and extending the length of the tubular member, for individually housing a plurality of electrical connectors coaxially positioned in the lumen of the elongate tubular member.

20. The guide wire assembly of claim 18, wherein the outer diameter of the core wire is substantially the same size as the inner diameter of the elongate tubular member.

21. A method for measuring the blood pressure and velocity at a target region within a patient'"'"'s vasculature, comprising the steps of:

introducing a combination sensor housing into the patient'"'"'s vasculature, wherein the combination sensor housing has a pressure sensor secured to the housing and an ultrasonic transducer disposed near the distal end of the housing, and wherein the pressure sensor and ultrasonic transducer are in close proximity;

advancing the combination sensor housing to the target region within the patient'"'"'s vasculature;

obtaining measurements from the pressure sensor;

simultaneously obtaining measurements from the ultrasonic transducer; and

analyzing the measurements from the pressure sensor and the measurements from the ultrasonic transducer to determine the pressure and flow velocity at the target region.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing a control console, wherein the obtaining measurements from the pressure sensor, obtaining measurements from the ultrasonic transducer and analyzing the measurements steps are performed with the control console.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the target region comprises a vascular stenosis.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

measuring the blood pressure and velocity on the distal side of the stenosis in a first flow state;

measuring the blood pressure and velocity on the distal side of the stenosis in a second flow state; and

comparing the measurements to determine a severity of the stenosis.

25. A guide wire connector, comprising:

a housing having a distal end, a proximal end, and an internal passage therebetween;

a nosepiece having an opening therein that communicates with the internal passage in the housing and has a thread to manipulate the housing for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the nosepiece is in the unlocked position the guide wire is insertable into the connector, and when the nosepiece is in the locked position the guide wire is securely engaged by the connector;

a collet/bearing assembly disposed within the internal passage of the housing, proximal to the nosepiece, the assembly being configured to engage the guide wire, wherein the collet/bearing assembly still permits rotation of the guide wire while the guide wire is coupled to the connector; and

a contact housing disposed within the internal passage of the housing, comprising one or more electrical contacts that communicate with one or more conductive bands on a guide wire.

26. The guide wire connector of claim 25, further comprising a retainer coupled to a nosepiece and to the housing, the retainer being configured to limit rotation of the nosepiece, wherein the nosepiece further comprises a stop tab that engages the retainer when in the locked position.

27. The guide wire connector of claim 25, wherein the contact housing is located at a proximal region of the internal passage of the housing.

28. The guide wire connector of claim 25, wherein in the unlocked position the guide wire is insertable into the collet/bearing assembly, and in the locked position the collet/bearing assembly fixedly engages the guide wire.

29. The guide wire connector of claim 25, wherein the collet/bearing assembly rotates relative to the internal passage of the housing as the guide wire rotates.

30. The guide wire connector of claim 25, wherein the contact housing is fixedly secured to the internal passage of the housing.