U.S. patent application number 14/732209 was filed with the patent office on 2015-09-24 for wireless sensor wire system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Volcano Corporation. Invention is credited to Dale C. Flanders.
Application Number | 20150265181 14/732209 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47679054 |
Filed Date | 2015-09-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150265181 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Flanders; Dale C. |
September 24, 2015 |
WIRELESS SENSOR WIRE SYSTEM
Abstract
A sensor wire system is provided. The system includes a sensor
wire body configured to be inserted into a blood vessel of a
patient, the sensor wire body having a distal portion; a sensor
coupled to the distal portion of the sensor wire body and
configured to obtain intravascular information associated with the
blood vessel; and an electronics unit coupled to the sensor wire
body and configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular
information to a receiver unit outside of the patient, wherein the
electronics unit is further configured to vary a frequency at which
the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted. Associated
devices and methods are also provided.
Inventors: |
Flanders; Dale C.;
(Lexington, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Volcano Corporation |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47679054 |
Appl. No.: |
14/732209 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13364972 |
Feb 2, 2012 |
9084539 |
|
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14732209 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/301 ;
600/302 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/0215 20130101;
A61B 5/0002 20130101; A61B 5/6851 20130101; A61B 5/01 20130101;
A61B 5/027 20130101; A61B 5/02007 20130101; A61B 5/07 20130101;
A61B 2560/0214 20130101; A61B 5/0084 20130101; A61B 5/0008
20130101; A61B 5/02055 20130101; A61B 5/742 20130101; A61B
2560/0475 20130101; H01M 6/32 20130101; A61B 5/7225 20130101; A61B
5/026 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/07 20060101
A61B005/07; A61B 5/027 20060101 A61B005/027; A61B 5/0205 20060101
A61B005/0205; A61B 5/0215 20060101 A61B005/0215; A61B 5/02 20060101
A61B005/02; A61B 5/00 20060101 A61B005/00 |
Claims
1. A sensor wire system, comprising: a sensor wire body configured
to be inserted into a blood vessel of a patient, the sensor wire
body having a distal portion; a sensor coupled to the distal
portion of the sensor wire body and configured to obtain
intravascular information associated with the blood vessel; and an
electronics unit coupled to the sensor wire body and configured to
wirelessly transmit the intravascular information to a receiver
unit outside of the patient, wherein the electronics unit is
further configured to vary a frequency at which the intravascular
information is wirelessly transmitted.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor wire body
comprises a radio frequency antenna.
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor wire body is
configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular
information.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electronics unit
includes at least one of a sensor control circuit, a radio
frequency circuit, or a signal amplifier circuit.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electronics unit
includes: a sensor control circuit configured to perform at least
one of processing a signal associated with the intravascular
information or encoding the signal for wireless transmission; a
radio frequency circuit configured to perform at least one of
wireles sly transmitting the signal at a particular frequency or
varying the frequency at which the signal is wirelessly
transmitted; and a signal amplifier circuit configured to amplify
the signal prior to being wirelessly transmitted.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electronics unit is
configured to vary the frequency at which the intravascular
information is wirelessly transmitted based on a frequency of
another device.
7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: the
receiver unit.
8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising: a computer
system in communication with the receiver unit.
9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the computer system is
in communication with at least one of: a display device configured
to display a visual representation of the intravascular
information; a storage medium configured to store the intravascular
information; or a printer configured to generate a printout of the
intravascular information.
10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises
at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow
sensor, or an imaging device.
11. A method of sensing intravascular information, comprising:
obtaining intravascular information associated a blood vessel of a
patient using a sensor wire system, the sensor wire system
including: a sensor wire body positioned within the blood vessel
and having a distal portion; a sensor coupled to the distal portion
of the senor wire body; and an electronics unit coupled to the
sensor wire body and configured to wirelessly transmit the
intravascular information; and wirelessly transmitting the
intravascular information, using the electronics unit, to a
receiver unit outside of the patient; and varying, using the
electronics unit, a frequency at which the intravascular
information is wireles sly transmitted.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sensor wire body
comprises a radio frequency antenna.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein wirelessly
transmitting the intravascular information includes wirelessly
transmitting the intravascular information using the sensor wire
body.
14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the electronics unit
includes at least one of a sensor control circuit, a radio
frequency circuit, or a signal amplifier circuit.
15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising at least
one of: processing a signal associated with the intravascular
information data using the sensor control circuit; encoding the
signal for wireless transmission, using the sensor control circuit;
wireles sly transmitting the signal at a particular frequency,
using the radio frequency circuit; varying the frequency at which
the signal is wirelessly transmitted, using the radio frequency
circuit; or amplifying the signal prior to being wireles sly
transmitted, using the signal amplifier circuit.
16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: receiving
the intravascular information at the receiver unit.
17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: receiving
the intravascular information at a computer system in communication
with the receiver unit.
18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising at least
one of: displaying a visual representation of the intravascular
information using a display device in communication with the
computer system; storing the intravascular information on a storage
medium in communication with the computer system; or generating a
printout of the intravascular information using a printer in
communication with the computer system.
19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises
at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow
sensor, or an imaging device.
20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the varying a
frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly
transmitted is based on a frequency of another device such that the
sensor wire system and the another device operate without
interference.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 13/364,972, filed Feb. 12, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. ______,
which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Heart disease is a leading cause of death for men and women
in the United States. Consequently, there are numerous medications,
medical procedures, and medical devices aimed at diagnosing and
treating heart disease.
[0003] One type of medical procedure aimed at diagnosing heart
disease is angiography. The procedure requires injecting a contrast
agent into the blood stream and then taking x-rays to determine if
there is a blockage within the blood vessel. A problem with an
angiography is that the procedure can only determine if a blockage
exists, but not whether the blockage is actually affecting the
blood flow within the blood vessel. As a result, many patients
elect to have unnecessary procedures to treat the blockage without
confirming the severity of the blockage.
[0004] Another procedure for assessing heart disease is fractional
flow reserve (FFR). FFR is a technique used in coronary
catheterization to measure the pressure difference and thus blood
flow across a partially blocked or constricted artery. Using a
guidewire system, measurements are taken on both sides of a
blockage within a blood vessel to determine if there is a pressure
gradient or reduced blood flow due to the blockage. If there is no
drop in pressure (or a nominal drop), then there may be no need for
further medical intervention because the blockage is not
significantly impeding the flow of blood. Conversely, if there is a
significant drop across the blockage, then the blockage may need to
be removed or treated because the blood flow is impaired by the
blockage.
[0005] Generally, the FFR procedure is performed by inserting a
guidewire system into the femoral or radial artery of the patient.
The guidewire is maneuvered into position within a partially
blocked blood vessel, and a sensor at the distal end of the
guidewire is used to measure pressure, temperature, and/or blood
flow to determine the severity of the blockage. The sensor is
connected to a display device such as a monitor of a computer
screen to display the patient's readings during the procedure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A problem with some sensor devices is that they must be
physically connected to both a power source and display device
during the procedure. These requirements limit the range and
mobility during the procedure and create wire management
challenges. They require the operator to manipulate the sensor
devices so that they are properly located in the patient. The
electrical connectors must be uncovered or cleaned for connection
to display and data processing devices. This adds extra steps and
may involve breaches of the procedure's sterile field.
[0007] The present invention is directed to a preferably single-use
sensor wire system and method that can have both an integrated
power source and integrated antenna for wireless transmission.
[0008] In general according to one aspect, the invention features a
sensor wire system. It comprises a sensor wire body having a distal
end that is inserted into a blood vessel of a patient, a sensor
that is mounted at the distal end of the sensor wire body, an
electronics unit of the distal end of the sensor wire body that
wireles sly transmits information generated by the sensor to a
receiver unit outside of the patient, and a power source that
supplies power to the electronics unit.
[0009] In preferred embodiments, the sensor is a pressure sensor, a
temperature sensor, and/or a blood flow sensor. In other examples,
it is an imaging device, such as an IVUS, FLIVUS, OCT,
spectroscopic, ICE, or forward looking ICE analysis device, with
encoded images from the imaging device being broadcast to the
receiver unit.
[0010] In one embodiment, the power source is a power harvesting
device, such as one that converts the cyclic pressure changes of
surrounding blood into power to the electronics unit. In other
cases, the power source is a battery, such as a battery that is
activated upon insertion into the patient and that powers the
electronics unit until the power source is depleted.
[0011] In general according to another aspect, the invention
features a method of using a sensor wire. This comprises inserting
a sensor wire body having a distal end into a blood vessel of a
patient, mounting a sensor to the distal end of the sensor wire
body, supplying power to an electronics unit, and transmitting
information generated by the sensor to a receiver unit via the
electronics unit.
[0012] In an exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed
to a sensor wire system. The sensor wire system includes a sensor
wire body configured to be inserted into a blood vessel of a
patient, the sensor wire body having a distal portion; a sensor
coupled to the distal portion of the sensor wire body and
configured to obtain intravascular information associated with the
blood vessel; and an electronics unit coupled to the sensor wire
body and configured to wireles sly transmit the intravascular
information to a receiver unit outside of the patient, wherein the
electronics unit is further configured to vary a frequency at which
the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted.
[0013] In some embodiments, the sensor wire body comprises a radio
frequency antenna. In some embodiments, the sensor wire body is
configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular information. In
some embodiments, the electronics unit includes at least one of a
sensor control circuit, a radio frequency circuit, or a signal
amplifier circuit. In some embodiments, the electronics unit
includes: a sensor control circuit configured to perform at least
one of processing a signal associated with the intravascular
information or encoding the signal for wireless transmission; a
radio frequency circuit configured to perform at least one of
wirelessly transmitting the signal at a particular frequency or
varying the frequency at which the signal is wireles sly
transmitted; and a signal amplifier circuit configured to amplify
the signal prior to being wirelessly transmitted. In some
embodiments, the electronics unit is configured to vary the
frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly
transmitted based on a frequency of another device. In some
embodiments, the system further comprises the receiver unit. In
some embodiments, the system further comprises a computer system in
communication with the receiver unit. In some embodiments, the
computer system is in communication with at least one of: a display
device configured to display a visual representation of the
intravascular information; a storage medium configured to store the
intravascular information; or a printer configured to generate a
printout of the intravascular information. In some embodiments, the
sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature
sensor, a flow sensor, or an imaging device.
[0014] In an exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed
to a method of sensing intravascular information. The method
includes obtaining intravascular information associated a blood
vessel of a patient using a sensor wire system, the sensor wire
system including: a sensor wire body positioned within the blood
vessel and having a distal portion; a sensor coupled to the distal
portion of the senor wire body; and an electronics unit coupled to
the sensor wire body and configured to wirelessly transmit the
intravascular information; and wirelessly transmitting the
intravascular information, using the electronics unit, to a
receiver unit outside of the patient; and varying, using the
electronics unit, a frequency at which the intravascular
information is wireles sly transmitted.
[0015] In some embodiments, the sensor wire body comprises a radio
frequency antenna. In some embodiments, wireles sly transmitting
the intravascular information includes wireles sly transmitting the
intravascular information using the sensor wire body. In some
embodiments, the electronics unit includes at least one of a sensor
control circuit, a radio frequency circuit, or a signal amplifier
circuit. In some embodiments, the method further includes at least
one of: processing a signal associated with the intravascular
information data using the sensor control circuit; encoding the
signal for wireless transmission, using the sensor control circuit;
wirelessly transmitting the signal at a particular frequency, using
the radio frequency circuit; varying the frequency at which the
signal is wireles sly transmitted, using the radio frequency
circuit; or amplifying the signal prior to being wireles sly
transmitted, using the signal amplifier circuit. In some
embodiments, the method further includes receiving the
intravascular information at the receiver unit. In some
embodiments, the method further includes receiving the
intravascular information at a computer system in communication
with the receiver unit. In some embodiments, the method further
includes at least one of: displaying a visual representation of the
intravascular information using a display device in communication
with the computer system; storing the intravascular information on
a storage medium in communication with the computer system; or
generating a printout of the intravascular information using a
printer in communication with the computer system. In some
embodiments, the sensor comprises at least one of a pressure
sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, or an imaging device.
In some embodiments, the varying a frequency at which the
intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted is based on a
frequency of another device such that the sensor wire system and
the another device operate without interference.
[0016] The above and other features of the invention including
various novel details of construction and combinations of parts,
and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with
reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the
claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device
embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as
a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this
invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments
without departing from the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to
the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not
necessarily to scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon
illustrating the principles of the invention. Of the drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a sensor wire
inserted into a patient's body.
[0019] FIG. 2 schematic cross-sectional view showing a sensor wire
within a partially blocked blood vessel of a patient that is
wirelessly transmitting information to a receiver.
[0020] FIG. 3 is schematic cross-sectional view showing the distal
end of a sensor wire with a protective sheath.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electronics unit in the
distal end of the sensor wire.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electronics unit in the
distal end of the sensor wire according to another embodiment using
a reserve battery power source.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the electronics unit in the
distal end of the sensor wire with a battery power source at the
proximal end.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a sensor wire 104 that is
inserted into a patient's body 102.
[0025] In operation, the sensor wire system 104 is inserted into
the artery, such as the femoral artery, of a patient 102 and guided
through the blood vessels until arriving at a potentially partially
blocked blood vessel of interest within the patient's body 102,
such as a coronary artery. In alternative embodiments, the sensor
wire 104 is inserted via the radial or other artery, or vein. In
other applications, other arteries or veins are the vessels of
interest.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates the sensor wire system 104 within a
partially blocked blood vessel of a patient 102 that is wirelessly
transmitting information to a receiver 218. In one embodiment, the
sensor wire 104 measures pressure, blood flow, and/or temperature
within the blood vessel 202 of the patient 102. Typically, the
distal end 215 of the sensor wire system 104 is inserted through
the femoral artery and guided to the blocked blood vessel 202 by
holding the sensor wire body. Steering the sensor wire 104 within
the blood vessels is often performed by manually manipulating the
proximal end 214 of the sensor wire body 105 or using a separate
guide wire.
[0027] Once in position, the sensor 212 measures pressure, blood
flow and/or temperature and encodes the information in the form of
electrical signals. In a preferred embodiment the sensor 212
includes a pressure transducer, a flow detector, and a temperature
transducer.
[0028] In other embodiments, the sensor 212 further includes an
imaging system. In one example, the sensor 212 included an
intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device. In another variant, the
sensor 212 includes a forward-looking IVUS (FLIVUS) device. In
still other embodiments, the sensor 212 includes optical coherence
tomography (OCT), near infrared spectroscopic, intracardiac
echocardiography (ICE), and forward looking ICE devices.
[0029] The electrical signals generated by the sensor 212 are
relayed to the electronics unit 210, which processes the signals.
The information is then wirelessly transmitted to an external
receiver 218. The sensor wire body 105 is preferably fabricated
from conductive materials such that the sensor wire body 105
operates as a radio frequency antenna capable of broadcasting the
information to the external receiver 218.
[0030] Depending on the implementation, the sensor signals
broadcast from the antenna are the encoded time-varying pressure,
flow, and temperature detected by the sensor 212.
[0031] In the cases where the sensor 212 includes an imaging
modality, the broadcast sensor signals are encoded images from the
IVUS, FLIVUS, OCT, spectroscopic, ICE, or forward looking ICE
analysis.
[0032] Additionally, a power source 208 of the sensor wire system
104 supplies power to the electronics unit 210 and possibly the
sensor 212 depending on the sensor technology used. In a typical
implementation, the power source is a battery. However, in other
embodiments, one or more storage capacitors supply the power
requirements.
[0033] In a one embodiment, the battery power source 208 includes
an anode and a cathode, but initially lacks the necessary
electrolyte needed to complete a battery. In operation, the power
source 208 is activated by injecting an electrolyte 216 into the
sensor wire 104 or between the sensor wire 104 and a surrounding
protective sheath. The electrolyte reacts with the anode and
cathode to create a battery. Once the power source 210 is
activated, the sensor wire system 104 wireles sly transmits the
information generated by the sensor 212 until the power source 208
is exhausted.
[0034] In still another embodiment, the power for the electronics
unit 210 is provided by a power harvesting system that converts the
biological motion of the patient into power. In one example, the
power source 208, or possibly the sensor wire body 105 itself,
includes a piezo-electric power source that converts the cyclic
pressures changes of the surrounding blood into electricity that
powers the electronics unit 210.
[0035] The receiver 218 is connected to a display device 220 that
displays the information on a screen. The display device is part of
a computer system or medical workstation that includes a storage
medium and printer to generate a printout of the information as
well as to store a copy for future analysis.
[0036] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the distal end of a sensor wire
104 with a protective sheath 206.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the sensor wire 104 is contained
within a protective sheath 206. The sheath 206 isolates the sensor
212, electronics unit 210 and power source 208, and wire body 105
from the patient's body 102. In alternative embodiments, however,
the sensor wire 104 will not have a protective sheath.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electronics unit 210 in the
distal end 215 of the sensor wire system 104.
[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the sensor 212 is located in the
tip of the distal end of the sensor wire 104. The sensor 212
generates pressure, blood flow and/or temperature information,
usually in the form of electrical signals generated by a
transducer. The electrical signals from the sensor 212 are sent to
the electronics unit 210. The electrical signals are processed by
the sensor control circuit 224 and encoded for transmission to the
external receiver 218 and displayed on the screen 220.
[0040] The radio frequency (RF) circuit 226 is designed to wireles
sly broadcast the information via the sensor wire body 105 at a
specific frequency. In an alternative embodiment, the RF circuit
allows the frequency to be varied so that multiple sensor wires
operate at different frequencies in close spectral proximately
without creating interference.
[0041] The electronics control unit 210 further includes a signal
amplifier circuit 222 to amplify the signal prior to being
wirelessly broadcast to the receiver 218.
[0042] An added benefit is that the sensor wire 104 can be used as
a guidewire. Catheters can be threaded over the sensor wire 104.
This process is facilitated by the fact that there are no
electrical connections to the external receiver.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electronics unit 210 in the
distal end 215 of the sensor wire system 104 according to another
embodiment.
[0044] In this example, the power source 208 is a reserve battery.
These are devices that are commonly used in ordinance, for example.
Reserve batteries are activated by addition of material or a change
in temperature, the activator 250. With this addition or change,
then the reserve battery 208 delivers current for several minutes
to hours.
[0045] In one example, the activator 250 is water or other fluid
that functions as an electrolyte causing the battery 208 to begin
delivering current and thus power the electronics unit 210. The
medical professional, in one example, injects the activator
material 250 into the battery or breaks a bladder or capsule filled
with the material, which then flows into the battery. In another
example the activator is a gas that is either the active cathode
material or part of the electrolyte.
[0046] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the electronics unit 210 in the
distal end 215 of the sensor wire system 104 according to another
embodiment, in which the reserve battery 208 is located at the
proximal end 215 of the sensor wire system 104. This embodiment has
the advantage that the reserve battery 208 can be activated by the
operator/surgeon only after the wire system 104 has been placed in
the patient. Wires 209 extending through the system 104 carry the
current from the reserve battery 208 at the proximal end 214 to the
electronics unit 210 at the distal end 215.
[0047] In another example, the reserve battery 208 is wire shaped
extending through the length of the sensor wire system 104. In some
examples, the wire-shaped reserve battery provides mechanical
support for the system 104.
[0048] While this invention has been particularly shown and
described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details may be made therein without departing from the
scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.
* * * * *