RAPID EXCHANGE GUIDE UNIT
Rapid exchange guide unit comprising an elongated support member 3 , and a guide wire member ( 11 ) provided with a guide wire lumen ( 13 ) having a distal guide wire opening ( 15 ) and a proximal guide wire opening ( 17 ), the guide wire lumen is arranged close to the distal end of said elongated support member, and is adapted to receive a guide wire. The rapid exchange guide unit further comprises at least one sensor ( 19 ) arranged close to the distal end of the elongated support member, and being adapted to measure a parameter in a living body, and to generate a sensor signal in dependence of the measured parameter. The sensor signal is applied to a signal processing unit adapted to process the sensor signal and to generate a processed sensor signal.
1 - 26 . (canceled)
27 . A rapid exchange guide unit, comprising:
an elongated support member configured for at least partial insertion into a patient's coronary system;
a guide wire member provided with a guide wire lumen having a distal guide wire opening and a proximal guide wire opening, the guide wire member having a longitudinal extension of 1-5 cm and the guide wire lumen being arranged close to a distal end of the elongated support member and being configured to receive a guide wire, the guide wire lumen having an inner opening less than 2 mm across;
a sensor arranged proximate to the distal end of the elongated support member, and being configured to measure a parameter while inside the patient, and to emit a signal in dependence on the measured parameter.
28 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 where the sensor comprises a pressure sensor that includes a sensor support body with a maximal geometrical extension of 1.5 mm and provided with a diaphragm covering a cavity formed in the support body having a pressure sensitive element mounted on the diaphragm, for determining pressure, the pressure sensitive element being a piezoresistive, piezocapacitive or a piezoelectric element, wherein the signal is applied to a signal processing unit adapted to process the signal and to generate a processed pressure signal.
29 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the elongated support member is in the form of a wire.
30 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the elongated support member is in the form of a thin metal tubing.
31 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the elongated support member is in the form of a combination of a wire and a metal tubing.
32 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the elongated support member is a catheter member provided with a catheter lumen having a proximal catheter opening and a distal catheter opening,
and the guide wire lumen runs essentially parallel to the catheter lumen, wherein the proximal guide wire opening is arranged at a location along the catheter member distally of the proximal catheter opening of the catheter member, and the distal guide wire opening is arranged at a location close to the distal catheter opening.
33 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 32 , wherein the sensor is arranged at an outer surface of the catheter member.
34 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 32 , wherein the sensor is arranged in a recess in an outer surface of the catheter member.
35 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 32 , wherein the sensor is arranged at an inner surface of the catheter member.
36 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 32 , wherein the sensor is arranged in a catheter member wall.
37 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor is arranged at an outer surface of the guide wire member.
38 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor is arranged in a recess in an outer surface of the guide wire member.
39 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor is arranged at an inner surface of the guide wire member.
40 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor is arranged in a guide wire member wall.
41 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 28 , wherein the signal processing unit comprises a Wheatstone bridge.
42 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein two pressure sensors are arranged a predetermined distance from each other along a longitudinal direction of the guide unit.
43 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 42 , wherein the predetermined distance is such that, when in use, the proximal pressure sensor senses a reference pressure in relation to the pressure sensed by the distal pressure sensor, and obtained pressure values are used to determine Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) values.
44 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 28 , wherein the guide unit further comprises electrical cables connected to the sensor and the signal processing unit and running along the guide unit and connected to a connector unit arranged at the proximal end of the guide unit.
45 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 32 , wherein the guide wire member is arranged such that the guide wire lumen runs parallel to and outside the catheter lumen.
46 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 32 , wherein the guide wire member is arranged such the guide wire lumen runs parallel to and within the catheter lumen.
47 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the proximal guide wire opening is arranged as an opening in a catheter member wall.
48 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 32 , wherein an inner diameter of the guide wire lumen is less than an inner diameter of the catheter lumen.
49 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein an inner diameter of the guide wire lumen is less than 1 mm.
50 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the signal is wirelessly transferred to an external monitor.
51 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.
52 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor comprises a flow sensor.
53 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor comprises a frequency tuned circuit.
54 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor.
55 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor measures electromagnetic waves.
56 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor measures radio waves.
57 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , comprising a device such that information based on measurement by the sensor is wirelessly transferred to an external device.
58 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor is configured to enable position determination of at least a portion of the guide unit.
59 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor comprises at least two sensors.
60 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic detection probe.
61 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the guide wire lumen is within a catheter lumen.
62 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the guide wire member comprises a slot configured to admit a guide wire therethrough.
63 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor comprises at least two sensors spaced apart longitudinally along the guide unit.
64 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the guide unit comprises at least one signal line embedded in a wall of the guide unit.
65 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the signal is an electrical signal.
66 . The rapid exchange guide unit according to claim 27 , wherein the sensor is proximal of the proximal guide wire opening.