Powering a Guide Wire Mounted Sensor for Intra-Vascular Measurements of Physiological Variables by Means of Inductive Coupling

• US 20070255144A1
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical Coordination Center BVBA (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Radi Medical Systems AB (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tenerz, Lars, Tulkki, Sauli
• Granted Patent: US 7,645,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/481
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6851 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0002 with a pressure sensor at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sensor assembly arranged to be disposed in a body for measuring a physiological variable. A basic idea of the present invention is to provide a sensor and guide wire assembly which communicates with an external unit by an inductive coupling between a first coil provided in the sensor assembly and a second, external coil which is disposed in or connected to the external unit. The external unit is preferably the same unit that is used to numerically or graphically display the physiological variables that are measured with the sensor and guide wire assembly. With the terminology introduced above, it should here be clear that both the signal transfer from the sensor as well as the energy feeding from the external unit to the sensor may be accomplished through the inductive coupling between the first and second coils.

Claims

1. A sensor assembly arranged to be disposed in a body for measuring a physiological variable, which sensor assembly comprises:

a sensor element mounted at a distal portion of a guide wire for measuring the physiological variable and to provide a signal representing the measured physiological variable; and

a first inductive element arranged to receive energy by means of inductive coupling with a second inductive element that is coupled to an energy supplying means, which second inductive element and energy supplying means are located outside the body, in order to form a power supply for the sensor element.

2. The sensor assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first inductive element comprises a coil.

3. The sensor assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first inductive element is a spiral portion available in a guide wire assembly at which the sensor assembly is arranged.

4. The sensor assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second inductive element is arranged around a core wire at a proximal portion of a guide wire assembly at which the sensor assembly is arranged.

5. The sensor assembly according to claim 4, wherein the second inductive element is detachable form the core wire.

6. The sensor assembly in accordance with claim 1, further being arranged to communicate the signal representing the measured physiological variable via the first inductive element.

7. The sensor assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna arranged to communicate the signal representing the measured physiological variable.

8. The sensor assembly in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

a modulator arranged to modulate a carrier signal with the signal representing the measured physiological variable before the modulated signal is communicated.

9. A system comprising the sensor assembly in accordance with claim 1 and a monitoring device, said monitoring device comprising said second inductive element and energy supplying means.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said monitoring device further comprises:

a demodulator arranged to demodulate the modulated signal representing the measured physiological variable, wherein the monitoring device is further arranged to provide a representation of said measured physiological variable.