Sensor Housing with Cantilevered Mounting for Pressure Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intraluminal physiology sensing devices face challenges in securing sensors to guidewires, leading to inaccurate pressure signals, drift, and electrical signal disruption due to mechanical stresses, air bubbles, and chemical reactions, which also increase manufacturing complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A rigid sensor housing is designed with a 3D structure that isolates the sensor from stresses, includes a cantilevered platform, and incorporates features like adhesive channels and fluid flow ducts to prevent air bubbles and mechanical interference, reducing manufacturing defects and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple components are used to support and protect the sensor, then the sensor is better protected from mechanical stresses and environmental factors, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple protective functions (sensor mounting, stress isolation, environmental protection, fluid access) into a single integrated sensor housing component. This housing includes a mounting cavity for the sensor, isolation features to prevent stress transmission, protective barriers against chemical reactions, and fluid flow channels - eliminating the need for separate sensor mount, housing, and protective components while maintaining comprehensive sensor protection
2Ease of operation
If manual assembly methods are used for securing sensors and filars, then flexibility in positioning is achieved, but manufacturing time and scrap rates increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor housing is pre-designed with integrated mounting features, pre-positioned fluid flow channels, and pre-formed stress isolation structures. The housing includes predetermined cavity geometries and attachment features that guide proper sensor and filar positioning during assembly, eliminating the need for manual positioning adjustments while ensuring correct placement and reducing assembly time
3Measurement precision
If the sensor is exposed to the use environment without adequate protection, then fluid access to the sensor is improved, but chemical reactions and contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor housing provides selective protection: the sensor mounting area and electrical connection regions are enclosed and protected from chemical reactions and contamination, while specific designated areas (fluid flow channels and sensor diaphragm regions) remain accessible to fluid. This localized approach ensures chemical protection where needed while maintaining fluid access where required for sensing operation
4Measurement precision
If a rigid housing is used to isolate the sensor from stresses, then measurement accuracy is improved, but friction with internal anatomy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor housing employs a thin-walled rigid structure that provides stress isolation while maintaining flexibility to conform to the guidewire profile. The housing includes rounded external surfaces and smooth contours that reduce friction with internal anatomy during insertion and navigation, while the rigid material and internal structure maintain sensor isolation from mechanical stresses
Data Source
AI summary
An intraluminal sensing device is provided, which includes a guidewire to be positioned within a body lumen. The guidewire includes a core wire, a sensor configured to obtain medical data from the body lumen, and a sensor housing fixedly attached to the core wire. The sensor housing is a single component that defines an outer profile of the guidewire. The sensor housing includes a core wire lumen configured to receive the core wire through the entire length of the sensor housing such that a cross section of the core wire lumen completely surrounds a cross section of the core wire. The sensor housing also includes an open sensor cavity (different from the core wire lumen) to receive the sensor. The sensor cavity includes an attachment platform fixedly attached to a fixed portion of the sensor, such that a cantilevered portion of the sensor is suspended within the sensor cavity.