Guidewire with chemical sensing capabilities
First Claim
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1. A guidewire for penetrating into a vessel, comprising:
- (a) an elongated wire assembly capable of being guided to a designated region of a vessel within a patient'"'"'s body, the elongated wire assembly comprisingan elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member, andan opening in the elongated member, the opening positioned so that the lumen is in fluid communication with the vessel; and
(b) a sensor positioned within the lumen of the elongated member so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel through the opening, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide molecules in the vessel of the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of a distal end of the elongated member for adjusting the position of the sensor relative to the distal end, and wherein the sensor comprises an electrically conductive substrate having an amperometric response that is substantially unaffected by the presence of nitric oxide or superoxide, and a coating capable of reacting with nitric oxide or superoxide so as to cause a change in the electrochemical potential of the nitric oxide or superoxide.
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Abstract
A guidewire with a sensor which can detect NO and/or superoxide levels is disclosed. This invention can be useful for in vivo analysis of vascular health.
88 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A guidewire for penetrating into a vessel, comprising:
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(a) an elongated wire assembly capable of being guided to a designated region of a vessel within a patient'"'"'s body, the elongated wire assembly comprising an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member, and an opening in the elongated member, the opening positioned so that the lumen is in fluid communication with the vessel; and (b) a sensor positioned within the lumen of the elongated member so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel through the opening, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide molecules in the vessel of the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of a distal end of the elongated member for adjusting the position of the sensor relative to the distal end, and wherein the sensor comprises an electrically conductive substrate having an amperometric response that is substantially unaffected by the presence of nitric oxide or superoxide, and a coating capable of reacting with nitric oxide or superoxide so as to cause a change in the electrochemical potential of the nitric oxide or superoxide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide in a vessel, comprising:
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(a) positioning an elongated wire assembly into a vessel, the wire assembly including an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member, an opening in the elongated member, the opening positioned so that the lumen is in fluid communication with the vessel, and a sensor positioned within the lumen of the elongated member so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel through the opening, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide in the vessel, wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of a distal end of the elongated member for adjusting the position of the sensor relative to the distal end, and wherein the sensor comprises an electrically conductive substrate having an amperometric response that is substantially unaffected by the presence of nitric oxide or superoxide and a coating capable of reacting with nitric oxide or superoxide so as to cause a change in the electrochemical potential of the nitric oxide or superoxide; (b) guiding the wire assembly to a designated region within the vessel; (c) allowing a body fluid to enter the lumen through the opening in the elongated member so that the body fluid is in contact with the sensor; and (d) measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide of the body fluid in contact with the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification