Intravascular flow measurement system

• US 5,617,870 A
• Filed: 09/12/1994
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Feld, Paul, Hastings, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US08/304,565
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 128/691, 128/692, 128/713, 607/99, 606/27-31, 604/96
• US Class Current: 600/505
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/028 by thermo-dilution
• 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 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/68 by using thermal effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/69 of resistive type
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/698 Feedback or rebalancing circuits, e.g. self heated constant temperature flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/12 using variation of resistance of a heated conductor

Abstract

A sensor coil is located on guidewire or perfusion catheter and introduced into the body. First the sensor coil is isolated from blood flow and used to make a set of static measurements. Next the sensor coil is heated in the presence of blood flow and a set of dynamic measurements are made which reflect the blood flow past the sensor coil.

Claims

1. An intravascular flow measurement device comprising:

an elongate perfusion body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a main lumen, said main lumen having an interior wall;

a sensor coil located on the interior wall of said main lumen;

an inlet aperture proximal to said sensor coil, communicating with said main lumen; and

an outlet aperture distal to said sensor coil, communicating with said main lumen.

2. The intravascular flow measurement device of claim 1 further comprising:

a balloon located distal to said inlet aperture and coupled to the said perfusion body.

3. The intravascular flow measurement device of claim 2 further comprising:

a balloon inflation lumen located in said perfusion body, for coupling inflation fluid to said balloon.