SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INTEGRATING ELECTROMAGNETIC MICROSENSORS IN GUIDEWIRES

• US 20080255446A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Akins, Samuel Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6851 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A system and method of integrating electromagnetic microsensors into interventional endovascular devices such as guidewires for tracking guidewires within vessels of the body with the use of a surgical navigation system.

Claims

1. A guidewire assembly comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a solid core wire;

a plurality of electromagnetic microsensors spaced-apart from each other and positioned on the solid core wire;

an outer member forming an outer covering of the guidewire; and

a flexible tip positioned at the distal end of the guidewire.

2. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the outer member may be an outer sleeve made from a flexible polymer material, a coiled spring, or a coiled wire wrapped around the solid core wire and plurality of electromagnetic microsensors.

3. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the solid core wire extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the guidewire through the plurality of electromagnetic microsensors.

4. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic microsensors each include a hollow core with a plurality of wire windings wound around the hollow core.

5. The guidewire of claim 4, wherein the hollow core fits over the solid core wire.

6. The guidewire of claim 5, wherein an inner surface of the hollow core is bonded to an outer surface of the solid core wire.

7. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein each electromagnetic microsensor is bonded to an inner surface of the outer member.

8. The guidewire of claim 4, wherein each electromagnetic microsensor includes a lead wire and a return wire extending from the plurality of wire windings wound around the hollow core.

9. The guidewire of claim 8, wherein each return wire from the plurality of electromagnetic microsensors is connected to a common return.

10. A guidewire assembly comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end with a flexible tip;

a core member extending between the proximal end and the flexible tip;

a plurality of electromagnetic microsensors spaced-apart from each other and embedded within the flexible tip; and

an outer member forming an outer covering of the guidewire.

11. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the outer member may be an outer sleeve made from a flexible polymer material, a coiled spring, or a coiled wire wrapped around the core member and plurality of electromagnetic microsensors.

12. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the core member includes a keying feature to better retain the flexible tip on the core member.

13. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic microsensors each include a core with a plurality of wire windings wound around the core.

14. The guidewire of claim 13, wherein each electromagnetic microsensor includes a lead wire and a return wire extending from the plurality of wire windings wound around the core.

15. The guidewire of claim 14, wherein each return wire from the plurality of electromagnetic microsensors is connected to a common return.

16. The guidewire of claim 14, wherein the core member includes an opening extending therethrough to allow each lead and return wire from the plurality of electromagnetic microsensors to pass through the opening to the proximal end of guidewire for connection to connectors at the proximal end thereof.

17. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the flexible tip includes a plurality of tubular members spaced-apart from each other and spaced between sections of the outer member.

18. The guidewire of claim 17, wherein the plurality of tubular members are bonded to sections of the outer member.

19. The guidewire of claim 18, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic microsensors are mounted within the plurality of tubular members.

20. The guidewire of claim 19, wherein an outer surface of each electromagnetic microsensor is bonded to an inner surface of each tubular member.

21. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the core member is a wire core member.

22. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the core member is a tubular core member.

23. The guidewire of claim 22, wherein the tubular core member includes grooves formed therein.

24. A guidewire assembly comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end with a flexible tip;

a tubular core member;

a plurality of electromagnetic microsensors spaced-apart from each other and mounted within the tubular core member; and

an outer member forming an outer covering of the guidewire.

25. The guidewire of claim 24, wherein the tubular core member includes grooves formed therein.

26. The guidewire of claim 24, wherein the tubular core member is electrically insulated from the outer member with an insulating layer positioned therebetween.

27. The guidewire of claim 24, wherein each electromagnetic microsensor includes a lead wire and a return wire extending from a plurality of wire windings wound around a core.

28. The guidewire of claim 27, wherein each return wire from the plurality of electromagnetic microsensors is connected to the tubular core member.