Combination Sensor Guidewire and Methods of Use

• US 20130030300A1
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Walker, Blair D., Oliver, Edward Anthony, Ahmed, Masood, Ingman, Christopher Dee, Puleo, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,770,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/454
• 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 an ultrasound transducer and 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

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A system 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:

a flexible elongate member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an outer diameter less than or equal to 0.018 inches, a pressure sensor secured to the distal portion of the elongate member, and a sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure secured to the distal portion 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;

a control console in communication with the pressure sensor and the sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure, the control console configured to;

obtain from the pressure sensor a first blood pressure measurement at the region of interest within the vessel in a first flow state;

obtain from the pressure sensor a second blood pressure measurement at the region of interest within the vessel in a second flow state;

obtain from the sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure a first blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure in the first flow state;

obtain from the sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure a second blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure in the second flow state; and

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

determine a severity of a stenosis in the region of interest by performing at least one of the following steps;

comparing the first blood pressure measurement and the second blood pressure measurement; and

comparing the first blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure and the second blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure is a flow velocity sensor.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the flow velocity sensor is an ultrasound transducer.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the flow velocity sensor is a Doppler flow sensor.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein determining the severity of the stenosis includes forming a combined P-V curve based on the first blood pressure measurement, the second blood pressure measurement, the first blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure, and the second blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein determining the severity of the stenosis includes calculating a Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) based on the first blood pressure measurement and the second blood pressure measurement.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein determining the severity of the stenosis includes calculating a Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR) based on the first blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure and the second blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the second flow state has an increased flow relative to the first flow state.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the increased flow of the second flow state results from administering a drug to a patient.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein the first blood pressure measurement and the first blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure are obtained simultaneously.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the second blood pressure measurement and the second blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure are obtained simultaneously.

42. The system of claim 31, wherein the first blood pressure measurement, the second blood pressure measurement, the first blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure, and the second blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure are obtained distal of the stenosis.

43. A system 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:

a control console configured to communicate with a flexible elongate member having a pressure sensor and a sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure such that the control console;

obtains from the pressure sensor a first blood pressure measurement at the region of interest within the vessel in a first flow state;

obtains from the pressure sensor a second blood pressure measurement at the region of interest within the vessel in a second flow state;

obtains from the sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure a first blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure in the first flow state;

obtains from the sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure a second blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure in the second flow state; and

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

determines a severity of a stenosis in the region of interest by performing at least one of the following steps;

comparing the first blood pressure measurement and the second blood pressure measurement; and

comparing the first blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure and the second blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure.

44. The system of claim 43, further comprising the flexible elongate member.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein determining the severity of the stenosis includes forming a combined P-V curve based on the first blood pressure measurement, the second blood pressure measurement, the first blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure, and the second blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein determining the severity of the stenosis includes calculating a Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) based on the first blood pressure measurement and the second blood pressure measurement.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein determining the severity of the stenosis includes calculating a Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR) based on the first blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure and the second blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein the second flow state has an increased flow relative to the first flow state.

49. The system of claim 43, wherein the first blood pressure measurement and the first blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure are obtained simultaneously.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the second blood pressure measurement and the second blood flow characteristic measurement other than blood pressure are obtained simultaneously.