Method and apparatus for measuring the vascular diameter of a vessel

• US 5,919,147 A
• Filed: 11/01/1996
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Krishna M. Jain
• Original Assignee: Krishna M. Jain
• Inventors: Jain, Krishna M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US08/742,649
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 128/774, 128/897, 128/890, 600/481
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence

Abstract

A device for measuring the intravascular diameter of an anatomical duct has a sheath encasing a catheter. One end of the catheter within the sheath has a sensor with a portion being biased radially outwardly relative to the sheath. Graduated visual indicia are disposed on the catheter near the other end of the sheath. When the sheath is inserted into an anatomical duct, the catheter is urged inwardly so that the sensor extends axially from the sheath and biased radially outwardly until it contacts the interior wall of the duct. At this point, the intravascular diameter can be read directly from the graduated visual indicia on the catheter.

Claims

1. A device for measuring the intravascular diameter of a vessel comprising:

an elongated, flexible sheath having an open proximal end and an open distal end, and having an outer diameter less than the intravascular diameter;

a rod longer than the sheath, and received within the sheath, said rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the rod proximal end extending outwardly from the open proximal end of the sheath and having graduated visual indicia thereon; and

a sensor extending from the rod distal end, wherein the sensor comprises three or more filaments, each filament biased radially outwardly with respect to the distal end of the sheath, at least one of the at least three filaments not being diametrically opposed to any one of the remaining filaments, and the graduated visual indicia being directly proportional to the distance the filaments move radially;

whereby when the sheath is inserted into the vessel, and the rod moved inwardly relative to the sheath until the filaments extend axially from the distal end of the sheath and radially into contact with the interior wall of the vessel, the intravascular diameter of the vessel can be read directly from the graduated visual indicia.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising an injection port located adjacent to the open proximal end of the sheath and communicating with the open distal end of the sheath, whereby a liquid can be injected through the injection port to the open distal end of the sheath.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of confirming the measurement by:

providing an injection port located adjacent to the open proximal end of the sheath and communicating with the open distal end of the sheath; and

injecting a liquid through the injection port to the open distal end of the sheath.

3. A method of measuring the intravascular diameter of a vessel comprising the steps of:

inserting into the vessel an elongated, flexible sheath having an open proximal end and an open distal end, and having an outer diameter less than the intravascular diameter;

providing a rod having a distal end, the rod being longer than the sheath and having graduated visual indicia thereon and a sensor extending from the rod distal end, the sensor comprising three or more filaments, each filament biased radially outwardly with respect to the distal end of the sheath, at least one of the at least three filaments not being diametrically opposed to any one of the remaining filaments, the graduated visual indicia being directly proportional to the distance the filaments move radially;

urging the rod through the proximal end of the sheath until the filaments extend axially from the distal end of the sheath and radially into contact with the interior wall of the vessel; and

reading the intravascular diameter directly from the graduated visual indicia.

5. A device for measuring the intravascular diameter of a vessel comprising:

an elongated, flexible sheath having an open proximal end and an open distal end, and having an outer diameter less than the intravascular diameter;

a rod longer than the sheath, and received within the sheath, said rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the rod proximal end extending outwardly from the open proximal end of the sheath and having graduated visual indicia thereon;

a sensor extending from the rod distal end and having a portion thereof which is biased radially outwardly, the graduated visual indicia being directly proportional to the distance the sensor portion moves radially; and

a protruding injection port located adjacent to the open proximal end of the sheath and communicating with the open distal end of the sheath;

whereby when the sheath is inserted into the vessel, and the rod moved inwardly relative to the sheath until the sensor portion extends axially from the distal end of the sheath and radially into contact with the interior wall of the vessel, the intravascular diameter of the vessel can be read directly from the graduated visual indicia, and a liquid can be injected through the injection port to the open distal end of the sheath.

6. A device for measuring the intravascular diameter of a vessel comprising:

an elongated, flexible sheath having an open proximal end and an open distal end, and having an outer diameter less than the intravascular diameter;

a rod longer than the sheath, and received within the sheath, said rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the rod proximal end extending outwardly from the open proximal end of the sheath and having graduated visual indicia thereon; and

a sensor extending from the rod distal end, wherein the sensor comprises outwardly biased spring arms joined at an outer end to each other and at an inner end to the distal end of the rod and to each other, and the graduated visual indicia being directly proportional to the distance the spring arms move radially;

whereby when the sheath is inserted into the vessel, and the rod moved inwardly relative to the sheath until the spring arms extend axially from the distal end of the sheath and radially into contact with the interior wall of the vessel, the intravascular diameter of the vessel can be read directly from the graduated visual indicia.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising an injection port located adjacent to the open proximal end of the sheath and communicating with the open distal end of the sheath, whereby a liquid can be injected through the injection port to the open distal end of the sheath.

8. A method of measuring the intravascular diameter of a vessel comprising the steps of:

inserting into the vessel an elongated, flexible sheath having an open proximal end, an open distal end, a protruding injection port located adjacent to the open proximal end and communicating with the open distal end, and an outer diameter less than the intravascular diameter;

providing a rod having a distal end, the rod being longer than the sheath and having graduated visual indicia thereon and a sensor extending from the rod distal end and having a portion thereof which is biased radially outwardly, the graduated visual indicia being directly proportional to the distance the sensor portion moves radially;

urging the rod through the proximal end of the sheath until the sensor portion extends axially from the distal end of the sheath and radially into contact with the interior wall of the vessel; and

reading the intravascular diameter directly from the graduated visual indicia.

9. A method of measuring the intravascular diameter of a vessel comprising the steps of:

inserting into the vessel an elongated, flexible sheath having an open proximal end and an open distal end, and having an outer diameter less than the intravascular diameter;

providing a rod having a distal end, the rod being longer than the sheath and having graduated visual indicia thereon and a sensor extending from the rod distal end, the sensor having outwardly biased spring arms joined at an outer end to each other and at an inner end to the distal end of the rod and to each other, and the graduated visual indicia being directly proportional to the distance the spring arms move radially;

urging the rod through the proximal end of the sheath until the spring arms extend axially from the distal end of the sheath and radially into contact with the interior wall of the vessel; and

reading the intravascular diameter directly from the graduated visual indicia.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of confirming the measurement by:

providing an injection port located adjacent to the open proximal end of the sheath and communicating with the open distal end of the sheath; and

injecting a liquid through the injection port to the open distal end of the sheath.