Pressure Guide Wire Pullback Catheter with Movable Sensor
Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravascular devices with pressure sensing capabilities have limited performance due to fixed pressure sensors, requiring re-crossing of distal lesions to take multiple pressure readings, which complicates the assessment of stenosis severity and restenosis monitoring in blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
An intravascular device with a tubular member and multiple openings along its distal portion allows a pressure sensing device to translate within the lumen, enabling precise pressure measurements at various locations within the blood vessel without repositioning the device, facilitated by markings for accurate positioning using external imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a single fixed pressure sensor is used in existing guide wires, then the device structure remains simple, but multiple pressure readings at different locations require re-crossing the distal lesion which increases procedural complexity and time
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is made movable within the catheter lumen, allowing it to be positioned at different locations along the catheter body. This dynamic positioning capability enables the sensor to access multiple measurement points without requiring the entire device to be repositioned, thereby reducing the time needed to obtain multiple pressure readings while accepting increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is divided into multiple sections with openings at different locations along its body. Each opening provides access to pressure at a specific segment of the blood vessel. This segmentation allows the single sensor to take multiple readings by moving to different segments, solving the time loss problem while managing device complexity through modular design
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single pressure sensor is positioned 3 cm from the distal tip, then manufacturing is simplified, but the ability to measure pressure at multiple locations is limited requiring device repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor can be dynamically repositioned along the catheter body to different locations corresponding to the spaced openings. This adaptability allows the device to measure pressure at multiple locations without requiring multiple fixed sensors, enhancing versatility while controlling complexity through a single movable sensor rather than multiple fixed ones
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter design allows a single sensor to perform multiple measurement functions at different locations along the blood vessel. The spaced openings provide universal access points that the sensor can utilize for various measurement needs, making the device versatile for different measurement scenarios without requiring location-specific sensor configurations
3Ease of operation
If fixed pressure sensors are used in existing guide wires, then device operation is straightforward, but assessment of stenosis severity and restenosis monitoring becomes complicated requiring re-crossing of lesions
Solution Approach 1:
The movable sensor mechanism allows the operator to easily reposition the sensor along the catheter body to obtain multiple pressure readings during a single procedure. This dynamic capability simplifies the operational process of assessing stenosis severity and monitoring for restenosis, making it easier to perform comprehensive evaluations without the complicated step of re-crossing lesions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and efficient pressure measurement along the length of the blood vessel, improving the assessment of stenosis severity and reducing uncertainty in treatment decisions by allowing continuous monitoring without re-crossing lesions.
Implementation Method 1
openings spaced along the distal portion of the tubular member, the openings sized and shaped to provide fluidic communication between the lumen and a region surrounding the tubular member
Data Source
AI summary
Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are provided. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices are catheters with a plurality of openings in a distal portion to facilitate taking pressure measurements from within a lumen of the catheter. The intravascular device includes a tubular member that has a proximal portion and a distal portion; a lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion along a longitudinal axis of the tubular member, the lumen sized and shaped to receive a pressure sensing device; and openings spaced along the distal portion of the tubular member, the openings sized and shaped to provide fluidic communication between the lumen and a region surrounding the tubular member to allow the pressure sensing device to measure an ambient pressure of the region surrounding the tubular member from within the lumen. An intravascular system and a method for obtaining pressure measurements are also provided.