DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING INTRAVASCULAR PRESSURE

• US 20150157215A1
• Filed: 12/05/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Stigall, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 11,006,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• 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 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6886 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
• 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

Abstract

What is described is an apparatus for intravascular pressure measurement, comprising an elongate body, a first pressure sensor and a centering assembly disposed adjacent the sensor. In one aspect, the elongate body has a uniform diameter from the distal end to the proximal end. In another aspect, the uniform diameter is 0.035 inches or less. In still a further aspect, the elongated body is a catheter having a plurality of reinforcing filaments and the filaments are utilized to electrically connect the sensor to the proximal end.

Claims

1. An apparatus for intravascular pressure sensing, comprising:

an elongate body having an outer surface with an outer diameter of 0.035 inches or less including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the body defining a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the body, the lumen sized and shaped to allow the passage of a guidewire therethrough, the body including an annular wall extending from the lumen to the outer surface of the body; and

a first pressure sensor disposed within the wall of the distal portion of the body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a centering assembly disposed adjacent the sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a processing assembly disposed within the elongated body.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein lumen includes a diameter of 0.014 inches or greater and the pressure sensor is disposed within the wall between the lumen and the outer surface of the body.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a steering mechanism to deflect the distal tip of the elongate body.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further including a proximal centering actuator joined to the centering assembly and a proximal steering actuator joined to the steering mechanism.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate body has an outer diameter of 0.035 inches or less for an entire length of the elongate body.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the centering assembly has a first collapsed position and a second expanded position adapted to engage a vessel wall to center the pressure sensor within the vessel, the centering assembly is recessed within the outer surface in the first collapsed position.

9. An elongated vessel sensing system, comprising:

an elongate body having an outer surface including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the body defining a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the body, the lumen sized and shaped to allow the passage of a guidewire therethrough, the body including an annular wall extending from the lumen to the outer surface of the body;

a sensor disposed within the wall of the distal portion of the body; and

a centering assembly disposed adjacent the sensor, wherein the centering assembly has a first collapsed position and a second expanded position adapted to engage a vessel wall to center the pressure sensor within the vessel, the centering assembly is recessed within the outer surface in the first collapsed position.

10. The system of claim 9, further including a reinforcing fiber layer extending along the length of the elongate body, the reinforcing fiber layer electrically coupled to the sensor.

11. A method, comprising

advancing a guidewire through a vessel to an area of interest;

positioning a sensing catheter over the guidewire, the sensing catheter having a maximum outer diameter of less than 0.035 inches, and having a sensor position adjacent a distal end portion;

advancing the sensing catheter over the guidewire to position the sensor in the area of interest;

sensing characteristics of the vessel in the area of interest; and

advancing a treating catheter over the sensing catheter to the area of interest.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensing catheter includes a centering assembly disposed adjacent the sensor and further including the step of deploying the centering assembly to engage the vessel walls in the area of interest and maintain the position of the catheter in the vessel prior to the step of sensing.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensing characteristics includes sensing at least one of pressure, fluid flow or images.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein advancing the sensing catheter over the guidewire further includes positioning the catheter and guidewire in a first position within a vessel, activating a catheter steering mechanism to deflect the tip of the catheter and guidewire, advancing the guidewire to a second position within the vessel, and advancing the catheter over the guidewire to the second position within the vessel.