Combination sensor guidewire and methods of use

• US 20060241505A1
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blair D. Walker, Christopher Dee Ingman, Edward Anthony Oliver, Joseph Puleo, Masood Ahmed
• Original Assignee: Blair D. Walker, Christopher Dee Ingman, Edward Anthony Oliver, Joseph Puleo, Masood Ahmed
• Inventors: Walker, Blair D., Oliver, Edward Anthony, Ahmed, Masood, Ingman, Christopher Dee, Puleo, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/486
• 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 a pressure sensor and a second sensor other than 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 device for measuring blood pressure and blood flow in a vessel without restricting flow in the vessel, comprising:

a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer diameter of no greater than 0.018 inches;

a pressure sensor secured to a distal region of the elongate member; and

a flow sensor secured to the distal region of the elongate member,

wherein the separation between the pressure sensor and the flow sensor is less than 3 cm.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor housing comprising an outer wall, a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, the sensor housing secured to the distal region of the elongate member.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a coil that is secured to and extends proximally from the sensor housing.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the sensor housing further comprises a cutout and wherein 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.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the pressure sensor is mounted in a cantilevered position within the sensor housing.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor further comprises a diaphragm.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor further comprises a semiconductor crystal.

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

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the flow sensor is disposed at the distal tip of the elongate member.

10. The device of claim 3, wherein the coil further comprises:

a radiopaque coil coupled to the proximal end of the sensor housing, and

a proximal coil coupled to the radiopaque coil.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

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

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

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the elongate member comprises an elongate tubular member, and wherein the elongate tubular member further comprises a longitudinal recess disposed on an endoluminal surface of the elongate tubular member and extending the length of the elongate tubular member, and

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

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the elongate tubular member further comprises a plurality of longitudinal recesses disposed on the endoluminal surface of the elongate tubular member and extending the length of the elongate tubular member, and

wherein the plurality of electrical conductors from the flow sensor and the pressure sensor are positioned within separate longitudinal recesses.

14. The device of claim 12, further comprising a core wire coaxially positioned within the lumen of the elongate tubular member, and wherein an insulating material is disposed between the electrical conductors and the core wire.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein an outer diameter of the core wire is substantially the same size as an inner diameter of the elongate tubular member.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the elongate member comprises an elongate tubular member, and wherein the elongate tubular member further comprises a plurality of coaxial polyimide layers, and

wherein the plurality of electrical conductors for the pressure sensor and the flow sensor are embedded between the polyimide layers of the flexible elongate tubular member.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the flow sensor is a flow velocity sensor.

18. A method for measuring blood pressure and a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at a region of interest in a vessel without restricting flow in the vessel, comprising the steps of:

providing a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer diameter of no greater than 0.018 inches, a pressure sensor secured to a distal region of the elongate member, and a sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure secured to the distal region of the elongate member, wherein the separation between the pressure sensor and the sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure is less than 3 cm;

advancing the distal end of the elongate member to the region of interest;

measuring blood pressure at the region of interest; and

measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at the region of interest simultaneous with the step of measuring blood pressure.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing a control console, wherein the steps of obtaining measurements from the pressure sensor, obtaining measurements of the blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure, and analyzing the measurements are performed using the control console.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the region of interest comprises a vascular stenosis.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

measuring a first blood pressure and a first blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure distal the stenosis in a first flow state;

measuring a second blood pressure and a second blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure distal the stenosis in a second flow state; and

comparing at least one of the first blood pressure and the second blood pressure or the first blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure and the second blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure to determine a severity of the stenosis.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure is a flow velocity sensor.

23. A method for measuring blood pressure and a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at a region of interest in a vessel without restricting flow in the vessel, comprising the steps of:

providing a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer diameter of no greater than 0.018 inches, a sensor secured to a distal region of the elongate member no more than 3 cm from the distal end;

advancing the distal end of the elongate member to the region of interest;

measuring blood pressure at the region of interest; and

measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at the region of interest simultaneous with the step of measuring blood pressure.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of providing a control console, wherein the steps of obtaining measurements from the pressure sensor, obtaining measurements of a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure, and analyzing the measurements are performed using the control console.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the region of interest comprises a vascular stenosis.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

measuring a first blood pressure and a first blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure distal the stenosis in a first flow state;

measuring a second blood pressure and a second blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure distal the stenosis in a second flow state; and

comparing at least one of the first blood pressure and the second blood pressure or the first blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure and the second blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure to determine a severity of the stenosis.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the elongate member further comprises a second sensor.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the second sensor is a flow velocity sensor.

29. A device for measuring blood pressure comprising:

a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer diameter of no greater than 0.018 inches;

a sensor housing comprising an outer wall, a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, the sensor housing secured to a distal region of the elongate member, wherein the sensor housing comprises a first section having a first internal diameter and a second section having a second internal diameter, and wherein the first internal diameter is less than the second internal diameter; and

a pressure sensor having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion comprises a pressure sensitive region, wherein the first portion of the pressure sensor is secured to the sensor housing at the first internal diameter and the second portion of the pressure sensor is contained within second internal diameter, but does not contact the second internal diameter.