Smart Interface Cable for Coupling a Diagnostic Medical Device With a Medical Measurement System

• US 20140276143A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Corl, Paul Douglas
• Application Number:
  US14/212,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20140276143A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/225 Connectors or couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6851 Guide wires

Abstract

The present disclosure involves a medical device. The medical device includes an elongate cable assembly having a distal connector, a proximal connector, and a cable body coupling the proximal and distal connectors. The distal connector is configured for coupling with a diagnostic medical device. The proximal connector is configured for coupling with a medical measurement system. An electronic component is located inside the distal connector or the associated cable housing. The electronic component includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a microprocessor. The ADC is configured to receive medical data gathered by the diagnostic medical device and convert the medical data into digital signals. The microprocessor is coupled to an output of the ADC and configured to process the digital signals into a format that is readable by the medical measurement system.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

a cable having a distal connector configured for coupling with a diagnostic medical device, a proximal connector configured for coupling with a medical measurement system, and a elongate cable body coupling the distal and proximal connectors; and

an electronic component located inside a housing associated with the distal connector, the electronic component including;

an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive biological data gathered by the diagnostic medical device and convert the biological data into digital signals; and

a microprocessor coupled to an output of the ADC and configured to process the digital signals into a format that is readable by the medical measurement system.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein:

the diagnostic medical device includes a pressure guidewire;

the medical measurement system includes a hemodynamic monitoring system; and

the biological data includes blood pressure data.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the distal and proximal connectors are each permanently joined with the elongate cable body.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein:

one of the distal and proximal connectors is detachably coupled with the elongate cable body; and

the other one of the distal and proximal connectors is permanently joined with the elongate cable body.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electronic component has a volume less than about 10 cm³.

6. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:

a status indication mechanism disposed on an exterior of the elongate cable body, the status indication mechanism being configured to visually display at least the following status of the medical device;

an unplugged status, an initializing status, and a ready-to-use status.

7. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the status indication mechanism includes a multi-colored light-emitting diode (LED) device, and wherein each status of the medical device corresponds to a different light color emitted by the LED device.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the ADC is configured to digitize analog signals down to microvolt resolution.

9. A medical device, comprising:

a diagnostic medical device configured to sense biological data of a patient;

a rotary cable assembly coupled to the diagnostic medical device, the rotary cable assembly including an elongate cable coupled to the diagnostic medical device and a connector coupled to the elongate cable, wherein the connector is configured for coupling with a medical measurement system; and

an electronic component located inside the connector, the electronic component including;

an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive the biological data gathered by the diagnostic medical device and convert the biological data into digital signals; and

a microprocessor coupled to an output of the ADC and configured to process the digital signals into a format that is readable by the medical measurement system.

10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein:

the diagnostic medical device includes a pressure guidewire;

the medical measurement system includes a hemodynamic monitoring system; and

the biological data includes blood pressure data.

11. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the electronic component has a volume less than about 10 cm³.

12. The medical device of claim 9, further comprising:

a status indication mechanism disposed on an exterior surface of the rotary cable assembly, the status indication mechanism being configured to visually display at least the following statuses of the medical device;

an unplugged status, an initializing status, and a ready-to-use status.

13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the status indication mechanism includes a multi-colored light-emitting diode (LED) device, and wherein each status of the medical device corresponds to a different light color emitted by the LED device.

14. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the ADC is configured to digitize analog signals down to microvolt resolution.

15. The medical device of claim 9, further comprising a dumb extension cable attached to the medical measurement system, and wherein the connector of the rotary cable assembly is configured for coupling with the dumb extension cable.

16. A medical device, comprising:

a diagnostic device configured to obtain biological data from a patient;

an elongated cable body having a distal connector configured for coupling with the diagnostic medical device, a proximal connector configured for coupling with a medical measurement system, and a elongate cable body coupling the distal and proximal connectors; and

electronic circuitry located inside the distal connector or inside a portion of the elongate cable body near the distal connector, the electronic component including;

an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive the biological data gathered by the diagnostic medical device and convert the biological data into digital signals; and

a microprocessor coupled to an output of the ADC and configured to process the digital signals into a format that is readable by the medical measurement system.

17. The medical device of claim 16, wherein:

the diagnostic medical device includes a pressure guidewire;

the biological data includes blood pressure data; and

the medical measurement system includes a hemodynamic monitoring system.

18. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the distal and proximal connectors are each permanently joined with the elongate cable body.

19. The medical device of claim 16, wherein:

one of the distal and proximal connectors is detachably coupled with the elongate cable body; and

the other one of the distal and proximal connectors is permanently joined with the elongate cable body.

20. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the electronic component has a volume less than about 10 cm³.

21. The medical device of claim 16, further comprising:

a status indication mechanism disposed on an exterior of the elongate cable body, the status indication mechanism being configured to visually display at least the following statuses of the medical device;

an unplugged status, an initializing status, and a ready-to-use status.

22. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the status indication mechanism includes a multi-colored light-emitting diode (LED) device, and wherein each status of the medical device corresponds to a different light color emitted by the LED device.

23. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the ADC is configured to digitize analog signals down to microvolt resolution.

24. A method, comprising:

coupling a distal end of an elongate cable to a diagnostic medical device through a distal connector of the cable, the diagnostic medical device being configured to sense biological data of a patient; and

coupling a proximal end of the elongate cable to a medical measurement system through a proximal connector of the cable, the distal and proximal distal ends being opposite one another and being coupled together through a flexible elongate cable body; and

causing the biological data to be processed by an electronic component located inside a connector housing associated with the distal connector, the electronic component including;

an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive the biological data and convert the biological data into digital signals; and

a microprocessor coupled to an output of the ADC and configured to process the digital signals into a format that is readable by the medical measurement system.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

causing the digital signals processed by the microprocessor to be sent to, and analyzed by, the medical measurement system.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the diagnostic medical device includes a pressure guidewire;

the medical measurement system includes a hemodynamic monitoring system; and

the biological data includes blood pressure data.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the distal and proximal connectors are each permanently joined with the elongate cable body.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein:

one of the distal and proximal connectors is detachably coupled with the elongate cable body; and

the other one of the distal and proximal connectors is permanently joined with the elongate cable body.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the electronic component has a volume less than less than about 10 cm³.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

monitoring a status of the elongate cable through a status indication mechanism located on an exterior of the connector housing associated with the distal connector, the status indication mechanism being configured to visually display at least the following statuses of the medical device;

an unplugged status, an initializing status, and a ready-to-use status.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the status indication mechanism includes a multi-colored light-emitting diode (LED) device, and wherein each status of the medical device corresponds to a different light color emitted by the LED device.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the ADC is configured to digitize analog signals down to microvolt resolution.