Apparatus and method for sensor deployment and fixation

1. An implant assembly for deployment into a vessel at a location having an inner diameter D 1 and for lodging in the vessel at a downstream location having a smaller inner diameter D 2 , the implant assembly comprising:

an intracorporeal device having a first end and a second opposing end, the intracorporeal device body further having a longitudinal axis; and

a means for passively creating an interference fit between the implant assembly and the inner diameter D 2 of the vessel at a position downstream of the location within the vessel having an inner diameter D 1 , comprising at least one wire loop member, wherein each wire loop member comprises a deformable wire that is fixedly positionally anchored to and extends outwardly longitudinally from at least one end of the intracorporeal device and that is configured to resiliently contact the walls of the vessel, wherein the at least one wire loop member is positioned in an operative plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the intracorporeal device when the wire is in a deployed position,

wherein, in the deployed position, the implant assembly has a diameter less than the inner diameter D 1 but greater than or equal to the inner diameter D 2 , and wherein the intracorporeal device is adapted to be permanently fixed relative to the position of the created interference fit within the vessel.

2. The implant assembly of claim 1 , wherein the intracorporeal device comprises a pressure sensor.

3. The implant assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wire loop member comprises a single wire having a double loop configuration, wherein the double loop configuration is positioned in the operative plane.

4. The implant assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one wire loop member has an operative width that is greater than or equal to the inner diameter D 2 .

5. The implant assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wire loop member further comprises a first wire loop extending longitudinally from the first end of said intracorporeal device body.

6. The implant assembly of claim 5 , wherein the at least one wire loop member further comprises a second wire loop extending longitudinally from the second end of said intracorporeal device body, wherein that first and second wire loops are substantially co-planar.

7. The implant assembly of claim 1 , wherein the intracorporeal device comprises a coating and wherein the ends of the at least one wire loop member are inserted under the coating of the device to attach the at least one wire loop member to the intracorporeal device.

8. The implant assembly of claim 1 , wherein the implant assembly is at least partially radiopaque.

9. The implant assembly of claim 8 , wherein the implant assembly further comprises a radiopaque marker located at an anchor point.

10. The implant assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wire loop member is sufficiently stiff to prevent downstream movement of the implant assembly after the interference fit is created.

11. The implant assembly of claim 10 , wherein the implant assembly obstructs less that50% of the cross-sectional area of the inner diameter of the vessel into which the implant assembly is positioned after the interference fit is created.

12. The implant assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wire loop member comprises a single wire having a double loop configuration, and wherein at least a central portion of the single wire is threaded through a hole defined in the intracorporeal device.

13. An implant assembly for deployment in a vessel, the implant assembly comprising:

an intracorporeal device having a longitudinal axis, and

a means for passively creating an interference fit between the implant assembly and the inner diameter of the vessel at an operative location downstream of a release location within the vessel, comprising an anchor comprising at least one wire loop member that is substantially positionally anchored relative to a top surface of the intracorporeal device, wherein the at least one wire loop member extends outwardly longitudinally from at least one end of the intracorporeal device in an operative plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the intracorporeal device when the at least one wire loop member is in a deployed position,

wherein at least a portion of the at least one wire loop member is configured to yield to the vessel wall at the operative location, wherein the implant assembly has a width, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the intracorporeal device, that is less than the inner diameter of the vessel at the release location, and wherein, in the deployed position, the at least a portion of the implant assembly has a width, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the intracorporeal device, that is at least equal to the inner diameter of the vessel at the downstream operative location, and wherein the intracorporeal device is adapted to be permanently fixed relative to the operative location in the vessel.

14. The implant assembly of claim 13 , wherein the intracorporeal device further comprises a pressure sensor.

15. The implant assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one wire loop member comprises a single wire having a double loop configuration, wherein the double loop configuration is positioned in the operative plane.

16. The implant assembly of claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one wire loop member has an operative width that is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the vessel at the downstream operative location.

17. The implant assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one wire loop member comprises a first wire loop extending longitudinally from the first end of said intracorporeal device body.

18. The implant assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one wire loop member further a second wire loop extending longitudinally from the second end of said intracorporeal device body, wherein that first and second wire loops are substantially co-planar.

19. The implant assembly of claim 13 , wherein the intracorporeal device further comprises a coating and wherein the ends of the at least one wire loop member are inserted under the coating of the intracorporeal device to attach the at least one wire loop member to the intracorporeal device.

20. The implant assembly of claim 13 , wherein the implant assembly is at least partially radiopaque.

21. The implant assembly of claim 13 , wherein the implant assembly further comprises a radiopaque marker located at an anchor point.

22. The implant assembly of claim 13 , wherein the at least one wire loop member is sufficiently stiff to prevent downstream movement of the implant assembly after the interference fit is created at the operative location.

23. The implant assembly of claim 22 , wherein the implant assembly obstructs less that 50% of the cross-sectional area of the inner diameter of the vessel into which the implant assembly is positioned after the interference fit is created at the operative location.

24. The implant assembly of claim 11 , wherein the vessel is a vessel of the human body.

25. An implant assembly for deployment into a vessel at a location having an inner diameter D 1 and for lodging in the vessel at a downstream location having a smaller inner diameter D 2 , the implant assembly comprising:

an intracorporeal device having a first end and a second opposing end, the intracorporeal device body further having a longitudinal axis;

at least one wire loop member comprising a deformable wire fixedly anchored to and extending outwardly longitudinally from at least one end of the intracorporeal device, wherein the deformable wire is configured to resiliently contact and form an interference fit with a portion of a wall of the vessel, and wherein the at least one wire loop member is positioned in an operative plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the intracorporeal device when the wire is in a deployed position, and wherein, in the deployed position, the implant assembly has a diameter less than the inner diameter D 1 but greater than or equal to the inner diameter D 2 ,

wherein the intracorporeal device is adapted to be permanently fixed relative to the position of the created interference fit within the vessel.

26. An implant assembly for deployment in a vessel, the implant assembly comprising:

an intracorporeal device having a longitudinal axis, and

a means for passively creating an interference fit between the implant assembly and the inner diameter of the vessel at an operative location downstream of a release location within the vessel, comprising at least one wire loop member configured to extend outwardly longitudinally from at least one end of the intracorporeal device in an operative plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the intracorporeal device when the at least one wire loop member is in a deployed position,

wherein at least a portion of the at least one wire loop member is configured to yield to the vessel wall at the operative location, and wherein the intracorporeal device is adapted to be permanently fixed relative to the operative location in the vessel.