Sensor guide wire device and system including a sensor guide wire device
View Patent ↗A sensor guide wire device ( 200 ) for intravascular measurements of a physiological variable in a living body is disclosed. The sensor guide wire ( 200 ) may comprise a sensor element ( 213 ) and a connector unit ( 220 ). The connector unit ( 220 ) is attachable to a signal converting device ( 310 ). The sensor element ( 213 ) provides the signal converting device ( 310 ) with a signal indicative of a physiological variable sensed by the sensor element ( 213 ). Furthermore, the connector unit ( 220 ) comprises a battery ( 222 ). A system ( 300 ) comprising the sensor guide wire device ( 200 ) and the signal converting device ( 310 ) is also disclosed.
1. A sensor guide wire device comprising:
a sensor guide wire configured to perform an intravascular measurement of a physiological variable in a living body, the sensor guide wire comprising at least one sensor element configured to sense the physiological variable in the living body; and
a connector unit configured to be directly or indirectly connected to a proximal end of the sensor guide wire, the connector unit being physically attachable to a signal converter via electrical contacts, the connector unit being configured to provide the signal converter with a signal indicative of the physiological variable sensed by the sensor element, the signal converter being configured to convert the signal received from the connector unit into a processed signal that is receivable by a physiology monitor,
wherein the connector unit comprises a housing and a power supply disposed in the housing, the housing of the connector unit being separate from a housing of the signal converter,
wherein the housing of the connector unit is reversibly attachable to and detachable from the housing of the signal converter,
wherein the connector unit is configured such that, when the housing of the connector unit is attached to the housing of the signal converter, a surface of the housing of the connector unit abuts a surface of the housing of the signal converter, and the power supply of the connector unit powers the signal converter via the electrical contacts, and
wherein the sensor guide wire and the connector unit are disposable.
2. The sensor guide wire device according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor element is energized by said signal converter when the connector unit is attached to said signal converter.
3. The sensor guide wire device according to claim 2 , wherein said connector unit comprises a calibration memory that includes calibration data related to said sensor element.
4. The sensor guide wire device according to claim 1 , wherein said connector unit comprises a calibration memory that includes calibration data related to said sensor element.
5. The sensor guide wire device according to claim 1 , wherein the power supply comprises at least one battery.
6. The sensor guide wire device according to claim 1 , wherein the connector unit is positioned at a proximal portion of the sensor guide wire.
7. The sensor guide wire device according to claim 1 , wherein the connector unit comprises a male connector configured to connect with a female connector of the signal converter.
8. The sensor guide wire device according to claim 1 , wherein the connector unit comprises a female connector configured to connect with a male connector of the signal converter.
9. The sensor guide wire device according to claim 1 , wherein the signal converter is configured to process said signal such that the processed signal is receivable by any of multiple different physiology monitors having differing signal requirements.
10. The sensor guide wire device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor guide wire and the connector unit are heat-sterilizeable.
11. A system for intravascular measurements of a physiological variable in a living body, the system comprising:
a sensor guide wire device according to claim 1 ,
a signal converter attachable to the sensor guide wire device via the connector unit of the sensor guide wire device.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the signal converter comprises a power supply monitor configured to monitor a power level of the power supply when the signal converter is attached to the connector unit, and to generate a power level alert signal if said power level of the power supply is below a preset threshold.
13. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising: a power supply monitor, which is attachable to the connector unit and which is configured to monitor a power level of the power supply when attached to the connector unit, and to generate a power level alert signal if said power level of the power supply is below a preset threshold.
14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the signal converter is configured to convert said signal indicative of the physiological variable to a signal in accordance with an established standard.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the established standard is a BP 22-standard.
16. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said signal converter comprises an optical communication link configured to achieve a communication link having no galvanic connection between a signal processing part of the signal converter and a physiology monitor connectable to said signal converter.
17. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a physiology monitor communicatively connectable to the signal converter.
18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the physiology monitor is connectable to the signal converter via a wired connection.
19. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the physiology monitor is connectable to the signal converter via a wireless connection.