Sensor and guide wire assembly

• US 20080132806A1
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical Coordination Center BVBA (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Radi Medical Systems AB (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Smith, Leif
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• 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 25/09033 with fixed mandrils, e.g. mandrils fixed to tip; Tensionable wires

Abstract

A sensor and guide wire assembly (21; 41; 61; 81) for intravascular measurements of a physiological variable in a living body includes a sensor element (22; 42; 62; 82) mounted at a distal sensor portion (23; 43; 63; 83) of a guide wire (24; 44; 64; 84), wherein the sensor portion exhibits a maximal cross-sectional dimension which is larger than a maximal cross-sectional dimension of guide wire portions (28, 30; 48, 50; 68, 70) located proximally of the sensor portion.

Claims

1. A sensor and guide wire assembly for intravascular measurement of a physiological variable in a living body, comprising a sensor element mounted at a distal sensor portion of a guide wire, the sensor portion having an external contour, wherein the external contour of said sensor portion exhibits a cross-section which is enlarged compared to a cross-section of an external contour of the sensor and guide wire assembly proximal the sensor portion to encompass said sensor element.

2. A sensor and guide wire assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sensor portion has a maximal cross-sectional dimension which is at least 10% larger than a maximal cross-sectional dimension of the guide wire assembly proximal of said sensor portion.

3. A sensor and guide wire assembly according to claim 2, wherein a guide wire portion located distally of said sensor portion exhibits a maximal cross-sectional dimension which is smaller than said maximal cross-sectional dimension of said sensor portion.

4. A sensor and guide wire assembly according to claim 2, wherein a guide wire portion located distally of said sensor portion exhibits a maximal cross-sectional dimension which is essentially equal to said maximal cross-sectional dimension of said sensor portion.

5. A sensor and guide wire assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sensor portion has a circular cross-section.

6. A sensor and guide wire assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sensor portion has a non-circular cross-section.

7. A sensor and guide wire assembly according to claim 2, wherein said maximal cross-sectional dimension of said guide wire assembly located proximally of said sensor portion is 0.35 mm (0.014 inches).

8. A sensor and guide wire assembly according to claim 2, wherein said maximal cross-sectional dimension of said sensor portion is less than 2.0 mm.

9. A sensor and guide wire assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sensor element comprises circuitry for wireless communication of said measurement.