Combination sensor guidewire and methods of use
First Claim
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1. A method for measuring blood pressure and a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at a region of interest in a vessel without restricting flow in the vessel, comprising the steps of:
- providing a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer diameter of no greater than 0.018 inches, a pressure sensor secured to a distal region of the elongate member, and a sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure secured to the distal region of the elongate member, wherein the separation between the pressure sensor and the sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure is less than 3 cm;
advancing the distal end of the elongate member to the region of interest;
measuring blood pressure at the region of interest; and
measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at the region of interest simultaneous with the step of measuring blood pressure,wherein the region of interest comprises a vascular stenosis, andwherein the step of measuring blood pressure at the region of interest comprises measuring a first blood pressure distal the stenosis in a first flow state and measuring a second blood pressure in a second flow state;
wherein the step of measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at the region of interest comprises measuring a first blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure distal the stenosis in a first flow state and measuring a second blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure in a second flow state; and
wherein the method further comprises determining a severity of the stenosis by at least one of the following steps;
comparing the first blood pressure and the second blood pressure; and
comparing the first blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure and the second blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure.
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Abstract
The present invention provides for an improved combination sensor tip that includes a pressure sensor and a second sensor other than a pressure sensor, both disposed at or in close proximity to the distal end of the combination sensor tip. The present invention also provides for an improved connector to couple a guide wire to a physiology monitor that reduces torsional resistance when maneuvering the guide wire.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for measuring blood pressure and a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at a region of interest in a vessel without restricting flow in the vessel, comprising the steps of:
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providing a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer diameter of no greater than 0.018 inches, a pressure sensor secured to a distal region of the elongate member, and a sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure secured to the distal region of the elongate member, wherein the separation between the pressure sensor and the sensor for measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure is less than 3 cm; advancing the distal end of the elongate member to the region of interest; measuring blood pressure at the region of interest; and measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at the region of interest simultaneous with the step of measuring blood pressure, wherein the region of interest comprises a vascular stenosis, and wherein the step of measuring blood pressure at the region of interest comprises measuring a first blood pressure distal the stenosis in a first flow state and measuring a second blood pressure in a second flow state; wherein the step of measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at the region of interest comprises measuring a first blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure distal the stenosis in a first flow state and measuring a second blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure in a second flow state; and wherein the method further comprises determining a severity of the stenosis by at least one of the following steps; comparing the first blood pressure and the second blood pressure; and comparing the first blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure and the second blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for measuring blood pressure and a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at a region of interest in a vessel without restricting flow in the vessel, comprising the steps of:
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providing a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer diameter of no greater than 0.018 inches, a sensor secured to a distal region of the elongate member no more than 3 cm from the distal end; advancing the distal end of the elongate member to the region of interest, wherein the region of interest comprises a vascular stenosis; measuring blood pressure at the region of interest; and measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at the region of interest simultaneous with the step of measuring blood pressure, wherein the step of measuring blood pressure at the region of interest comprises measuring a first blood pressure distal the stenosis in a first flow state and measuring a second blood pressure in a second flow state, wherein the step of measuring a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at the region of interest comprises measuring a first blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure distal the stenosis in a first flow state and measuring a second blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure in a second flow state; and wherein the method further comprises determining a severity of the stenosis by at least one of the following steps; comparing the first blood pressure and the second blood pressure; and comparing the first blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure and the second blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for measuring blood pressure and blood flow velocity at a region of interest in a vessel without restricting flow in the vessel, comprising the steps of:
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providing a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer diameter of no greater than 0.018 inches, a pressure sensor secured to a distal region of the elongate member, and a sensor for measuring blood flow velocity secured to a more distal region of the elongate member relative to the position of the pressure sensor; advancing the distal end of the elongate member to the region of interest; measuring blood pressure at the region of interest; and measuring blood flow velocity at the region of interest simultaneous with the step of measuring blood pressure, wherein the step of measuring blood pressure at the region of interest comprises measuring a first blood pressure in a first flow state and measuring a second blood pressure in a second flow state, and wherein the region of interest comprises a vascular stenosis; wherein the step of measuring a blood flow velocity at the region of interest comprises measuring a first blood flow velocity in a first flow state and measuring a second blood flow velocity in a second flow state; and wherein the method further comprises determining a severity of the stenosis by at least one of the following steps; comparing the first blood pressure and the second blood pressure; and comparing the first blood flow velocity and the second blood flow velocity. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for measuring blood pressure and blood flow velocity at a region of interest in a vessel, comprising the steps of:
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simultaneously advancing a pressure sensor and a flow sensor to a region of a vessel adjacent a stenosis; simultaneously measuring blood pressure and blood flow velocity at the region during a first flow state of blood within the vessel; causing a second flow state of the blood within the vessel, the second flow state being different than the first flow state; and simultaneously measuring blood pressure and blood flow velocity at the region during the second flow state. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for measuring blood pressure and a blood flow characteristic other than blood pressure at a region of interest in a vessel without restricting flow in the vessel, comprising the steps of:
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providing a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer diameter of no greater than 0.018 inches, a pressure sensor secured to a distal region of the elongate member, and a device for obtaining data representative of a vessel characteristic other than blood pressure secured to the distal region of the elongate member, wherein the separation between the pressure sensor and the device for obtaining data representative of a vessel characteristic other than blood pressure is less than 3 cm; advancing the distal end of the elongate member to the region of interest; measuring blood pressure at the region of interest with the pressure sensor during a first flow state of blood within the vessel; obtaining data representative of a vessel characteristic other than blood pressure at the region of interest during the first flow state with the device for obtaining data representative of a vessel characteristic other than blood pressure; causing a second flow state of the blood within the vessel, the second flow state being different than the first flow state; and measuring blood pressure and obtaining data representative of a vessel characteristic other than blood pressure at the region of interest during the second flow state. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification