Guidewire with chemical sensing capabilities

• US 20060129041A1
• Filed: 02/03/2006
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alex Q. Tilson, Bridget A. Hurley, Deborah L. Kilpatrick, Jeffrey T. Ellis, Robert D. Ainsworth
• Original Assignee: Alex Q. Tilson, Bridget A. Hurley, Deborah L. Kilpatrick, Jeffrey T. Ellis, Robert D. Ainsworth
• Inventors: Ellis, Jeffrey T., Tilson, Alex Q., Ainsworth, Robert D., Hurley, Bridget A., Kilpatrick, Deborah L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,842,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/341
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6851 Guide wires

Abstract

A guidewire with a sensor which can detect NO and/or superoxide levels is disclosed. This invention can be useful for in vivo analysis of vascular health.

Claims

1. A guidewire for penetrating into a vessel, comprising:

(a) an elongated guidewire assembly capable of being guided to a designated region of a vessel within a patient'"'"'s body, the elongated guidewire assembly comprising

an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member, and

an opening in the elongated member, the opening positioned so that the lumen is in fluid communication with the vessel; and

(b) a sensor positioned within the lumen of the elongated member so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel through the opening, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide molecules in the vessel of the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of a distal end of the elongated member for adjusting the position of the sensor relative to the distal end.

2. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the elongated guidewire assembly is configured to allow a catheter assembly to be slidably disposed over at least a portion thereof.

3. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the elongated guidewire assembly comprises a proximal section and a distal section, wherein the distal section is more flexible than the proximal section.

4. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises:

(a) a compound which can react with nitric oxide or superoxide such that subsequent to the reaction of the compound with nitric oxide or superoxide, the optical properties of the compound change; and

(b) an optical system capable of measuring the optical properties of the compound.

5. The guidewire of claim 4, wherein the optical system includes a first fiber optic line capable of illuminating a light on the compound and a second fiber optic line to receive the light from the compound and to relay the received light to a detector.

6. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises:

(a) an electrically conductive substrate having an amperometric response that is substantially unaffected by the presence of nitric oxide or superoxide; and

(b) a coating capable of reacting with nitric oxide or superoxide so as to cause a change in the electrochemical potential of the nitric oxide or superoxide.

7. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a catalytic material capable of oxidizing nitric oxide or superoxide.

17. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a sensor tip capable of independently bending away from a central longitudinal axis of the distal end of the elongated member.

20. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the sensor is slideable along the distal end of the elongated member.

21. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to be rotated by a user.

8. A method for measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide in a vessel, comprising:

(a) positioning an elongated guidewire assembly into a vessel, the wire assembly including

an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member,

an opening in the elongated member, the opening positioned so that the lumen is in fluid communication with the vessel, and

a sensor positioned within the lumen of the elongated member so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel through the opening, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide in the vessel, wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of a distal end of the elongated member for adjusting the position of the sensor relative to the distal end;

(b) guiding the guidewire assembly to a designated region within the vessel;

(c) allowing a body fluid to enter the lumen through the opening in the elongated member so that the body fluid is in contact with the sensor; and

(d) measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide of the body fluid in contact with the sensor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the vessel is a blood vessel.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising inserting a catheter over the guidewire assembly to treat the region of the vessel.

11. The method of claim 8, additionally including delivering a stimulant to increase the production of nitric oxide or superoxide.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the stimulant comprises acetylcholine.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises:

(a) a compound which can react with nitric oxide or superoxide such that subsequent to the reaction of the compound with nitric oxide or superoxide, the optical properties of the compound change; and

(b) an optical system capable of measuring the optical properties of the compound.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises:

(a) an electrically conductive substrate having an amperometric response that is substantially unaffected by the presence of nitric oxide or superoxide; and

(b) a coating capable of reacting with nitric oxide or superoxide so as to cause a change in the electrochemical potential of the nitric oxide or superoxide.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a catalytic material capable of oxidizing nitric oxide or superoxide.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the designated region within the vessel is affected by thrombosis or restenosis.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor includes a sensor tip capable of independently bending away from a central longitudinal axis of the distal end of the elongated member.

22. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor is slideable along the distal end of the elongated member.

23. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor is configured to be rotated by a user.

19. A guidewire for penetrating into a vessel, comprising:

(a) an elongated guidewire assembly capable of being guided to a region of a vessel within a patient'"'"'s body for guidance of a balloon catheter, the elongated guidewire assembly comprising an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member; and

(b) a sensor positioned within the lumen of the elongated member so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide molecules in the vessel of the patient'"'"'s body.

26. The guidewire of claim 19, wherein the sensor includes a sensor tip capable of independently bending away from a central longitudinal axis of the distal end of the elongated member.

27. The guidewire of claim 19, wherein the sensor is slideable along the distal end of the elongated member.

28. The guidewire of claim 19, wherein the sensor is rotatable about an axis.

24. A guidewire for measuring chemicals in a vessel, comprising:

(a) an elongated guidewire assembly capable of being guided to a region of a vessel within a patient'"'"'s body, the elongated guidewire assembly comprising an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member, wherein the elongated member is configured to allow a body fluid from the vessel into the lumen; and

(b) a sensor positioned within the lumen of the elongated member so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide molecules in the body fluid, wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of a distal end of the elongated member for adjusting the position of the sensor relative to the distal end.

25. A method for measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide in a vessel, comprising:

(a) positioning an elongated guidewire assembly into a vessel, the guidewire assembly including

an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member, and

a sensor positioned within the lumen of the elongated member so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide in the body fluid, wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of a distal end of the elongated member for adjusting the position of the sensor relative to the distal end;

(b) guiding the guidewire assembly to a designated region within the vessel;

(c) allowing body fluid to contact the sensor; and

(d) measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide of the body fluid in contact with the sensor.