 Tube connecting structure of endoscope |
| The present invention has been developed in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as ... |
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| Close clearance seal for rotatable therapeutic catheters |
| OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring generally to FIG. 1, the therapeutic catheter drive shaft 10 ... |
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| Doppler blood flow system and method using low frequency noise signal processing |
| In order to properly determine the rate flow of the blood flowing in tubing, a proper analysis of ... |
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| Low velocity aortic cannula |
| Aortic cannulas are used to return blood to the aorta while the heart is by-passed during heart ... |
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| Low velocity aortic cannula |
| Aortic cannulas are used to return blood to the aorta while the heart is by-passed during heart ... |
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| Magnet holder |
| For the foregoing purposes, the magnet holder of the present invention comprises a flexible plastic ... |
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| Method for adjustably restricting a body lumen |
| We claim: 1. A method for variably restricting a body lumen in a patient, comprising: guiding an ... |
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| Shredded tobacco supplying apparatus for a cigarette manufacturing machine |
| An object of the present invention is to provide a shredded tobacco supplying apparatus for a ... |
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| Method and apparatus for releasably securing a pressure monitor device |
| OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, a typical system 12 to which the invention relates, includes ... |
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Guide catheter with sensing element
| Details |
Inventors: Esch, Brady;
Assignee: Localmed, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA)
Primary Examiner: Bahr; Jennifer
Assistant Examiner: Yarnell; Bryan K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP
A guide catheter includes a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end. A pressure or other sensor is disposed at or near the distal end of the body, preferably having an active surface thereof disposed away from the direction of blood flow when the catheter is present in a particular blood vessel, such as the aorta adjacent to a coronary ostium. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention at least partially overcomes the above drawbacks by providing an apparatus and method with which blood pressure and other parameters can reliably and accurately be measured at the base of the aorta, while an interventional catheter is positioned within a guide catheter, to perform, for example, an angioplasty, atherectomy, drug delivery, stent placement or other procedure in the coronary arteries.
To accomplish the above and other objects, the present invention provides a guide catheter suitable for insertion into the vasculature of a patient, having an outer wall, and an inner luminal surface defined therein adapted for insertion of an interactive catheter, wherein at least one sensing element, usually a pressure sensing element but optionally a temperature or other sensing element, is provided in the wall, preferably adjacent a distal end of the guide catheter.
In an exemplary embodiment, the pressure sensor is a silicon piezoresistive element.
Preferably, the guide catheter is adapted for positioning of the sensor near or adjacent a coronary ostium, e.
g.
, it will have a shaped distal end which conforms to the vasculature in the region of the ostia.
Aortic blood pressure can be measured with a sensor so placed.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one spacing member, for example, comprising one or more flexible flaps is provided on the exterior wall of the catheter to maintain the sensor spaced away from the wall of a blood vessel (e.
g.
, aorta) in which the catheter is located.
In addition, or alternatively, the catheter may be shaped or geometrically configured to maintain the sensor spaced from a blood-vessel wall.
In another preferred embodiment, the sensor is mounted on a resiliently biased portion of the exterior wall of a catheter.
In this way, the sensor may be deformed inward, for example, upon insertion through an introducer sheath, so that even if the sensor increases the overall diameter of the guide catheter, the size of the hole required for insertion is not significantly increased
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Heart Surgery 
