Apparatus, system and methods for measuring a blood pressure gradient
US9149230B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG16H40/63
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus (100), control system (150) and methods are provided for directly measuring a pressure gradient, i.e. by real-time pressure measurements, with particular application for in situ measurement of transvalvular blood pressure gradients for the aortic valve and other heart valves, using minimally-invasive techniques. The apparatus takes the form of a multi-sensor assembly, e.g. enclosed within a micro-catheter or a steerable guidewire, and comprises a plurality of optical pressure sensors (10) is arranged along a length of the distal end portion (101), for measuring pressure simultaneously at each sensor location. For example, four MOMS optical pressure sensors (10), and optionally, a flow sensor (20), are incorporated into a distal end portion (101) having a diameter of 0.89 mm or less, and preferably 0.46 mm or less. Beneficially, all sensors are optically coupled, via respective optical fibers (11), to an optical coupler (112) at the proximal end of the multi-sensor apparatus, without requiring electrical connections.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.