System and method for integrating electromagnetic microsensors in guidewires

• US 9,002,435 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Zaslavsky, Ella, Akins, Samuel Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Gupta, Vani
• Application Number:
  US12/165,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20090326368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,472 Days
• Field of Search: 600422-424, 600/585
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22042 Details of the tip of the guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09091 where a sheath surrounds the coil at the distal part
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09108 Methods for making a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A system and method of integrating electromagnetic microsensors into interventional endovascular devices such as guidewires for tracking guidewires within vessels of a body with the use of a surgical navigation system.

Claims

1. A guidewire assembly, comprising:

a substantially flexible flat member having been wound into coils to form a spring-like flexible tip member having a side and an end;

a plurality of projections separated and bent away from the side of the flat member so that they extend in a direction different from the direction in which the coils are wound; and

at least one electromagnetic microsensor attached to each of the plurality of projections, wherein the at least one electromagnetic microsensor comprises an electromagnetic microcoil with a ferrite core and wire wound around the ferrite core.

2. The guidewire assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections extend along one side of the substantially flexible flat member.

3. The guidewire assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of projections extend at an angle from one side of the substantially flexible flat member.

4. The guidewire assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrically conductive trace extending from each of the plurality of projections at an electrically conductive feedthrough contact along the length of the substantially flexible flat member for coupling to the at least one electromagnetic microsensor.

5. The guidewire assembly of claim 1, further comprising a strengthening member attached to a proximal end of the spring-like flexible tip member.

6. The guidewire assembly of claim 5, wherein the strengthening member includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces coupled to electrically conductive traces extending from each of the plurality of projections along the length of the substantially flexible flat member.

7. The guidewire assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of projections is bent so as to run substantially parallel to a horizontal plane of the spring-like flexible tip member.

8. The guidewire assembly of claim 1, further comprising an outer member forming an outer covering around the guidewire.

9. The guidewire assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections extend within the center of the coils.

10. The guidewire assembly of claim 1, wherein the substantially flexible flat member tapers to an end thereof.

11. The guidewire assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of projections extending from the substantially flexible flat member terminates at its own separate end.

12. The guidewire assembly of claim 1, wherein the substantially flexible flat member and each of the plurality of projections are formed from a single piece of material.

13. The guidewire assembly of claim 1, wherein a mandrel is left inside of the spring-like tip member.

14. The guidewire assembly of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic microsensor is attached around each of the plurality of projections.

15. A guidewire assembly, comprising:

a substantially flexible flat member having been wound into coils to form a spring-like flexible tip member having a side and an end, the spring-like tip member containing a mandrel therein;

a plurality of projections separated and bent away from the side of the flat member so that they extend in a direction different from the direction in which the coils are wound; and

at least one electromagnetic microsensor attached to each of the plurality of projections.

16. The guidewire assembly of claim 15, wherein the plurality of projections extend along one side of the substantially flexible flat member.

17. The guidewire assembly of claim 16, wherein the plurality of projections extend at an angle from one side of the substantially flexible flat member.

18. The guidewire assembly of claim 15, further comprising at least one electrically conductive trace extending from each of the plurality of projections at an electrically conductive feedthrough contact along the length of the substantially flexible flat member for coupling to the at least one electromagnetic microsensor.

19. The guidewire assembly of claim 15, further comprising a strengthening member attached to a proximal end of the spring-like flexible tip member.

20. The guidewire assembly of claim 19, wherein the strengthening member includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces coupled to electrically conductive traces extending from each of the plurality of projections along the length of the substantially flexible flat member.

21. The guidewire assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of projections is bent so as to run substantially parallel to a horizontal plane of the spring-like flexible tip member.

22. The guidewire assembly of claim 15, further comprising an outer member forming an outer covering around the guidewire.

23. The guidewire assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one electromagnetic microsensor comprises an electromagnetic microcoil with a ferrite core and wire wound around the ferrite core.

24. The guidewire assembly of claim 15, wherein the plurality of projections extend within the center of the coils.

25. The guidewire assembly of claim 15, wherein the substantially flexible flat member tapers to an end thereof.

26. The guidewire assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of projections extending from the substantially flexible flat member terminates at its own separate end.

27. The guidewire assembly of claim 15, wherein the substantially flexible flat member and each of the plurality of projections are formed from a single piece of material.

28. The guidewire assembly of claim 15, wherein the electromagnetic microsensor is attached around each of the plurality of projections.