Guidewire with internal pressure sensor

1. A pressure guidewire having a longitudinal axis comprising:

a shaft tube having a proximal section and a sensor housing having a distal end, the proximal section and the sensor housing being the continuity of the same shaft tube;

a tip portion extending distally relative to the sensor housing, the tip portion having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the sensor housing, the tip portion being the most distal portion of the pressure guidewire; and

a fiber optic pressure sensor embedded in the sensor housing and comprising an optical fiber extending within the sensor housing, the sensor adapted to measure a pressure of a fluid which is substantially applied in an axis collinear with the longitudinal axis of the guidewire;

a marker band to help in localizing the pressure guidewire in a patient's vessels, the marker band being embedded inside the sensor housing and fixed to the optical fiber for holding the pressure sensor inside the sensor housing.

2. The pressure guidewire of claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing defines a cavity, inside the sensor housing, which is distal relative to the pressure sensor and delimited at a proximal end thereof by the pressure sensor.

3. The pressure guidewire of claim 2 , wherein the cavity is further delimited at a distal end thereof by the proximal end of the tip.

4. The pressure guidewire of claim 2 , wherein the sensor housing comprises an opening for letting a fluid penetrate in the cavity and contact the pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of the fluid.

5. The pressure guidewire of claim 4 , wherein the pressure sensor comprises a diaphragm sensitive to a pressure of a fluid.

6. The pressure guidewire of claim 5 , wherein the diaphragm substantially defines a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

7. The pressure guidewire of claim 5 , wherein the cavity is delimited at a proximal end thereof by the diaphragm of the pressure sensor.

8. The pressure guidewire of claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises two apertures in the sensor housing, thereby allowing the fluid to flow through the opening.

9. The pressure guidewire of claim 1 , wherein the marker band is a radio opaque marker band.

10. The pressure guidewire of claim 1 , wherein the marker band is a non-radio opaque marker band.

11. A pressure guidewire comprising:

a shaft tube having a proximal section and a sensor housing having a distal end, the proximal section and the sensor housing being the continuity of the same shaft tube;

a tip portion extending distally relative to the sensor housing, the tip portion being the most distal portion of the pressure guidewire; and

a fiber optic pressure sensor embedded in the sensor housing and comprising an optical fiber extending within the sensor housing, the sensor; and

a marker band to help in localizing the pressure guidewire in a patient's vessels, the marker band being embedded inside the sensor housing and fixed to the optical fiber for holding the pressure sensor inside the sensor housing,

wherein the sensor housing defines a cavity for receiving a fluid, inside the sensor housing, which is distal relative to the pressure sensor and delimited at a proximal end thereof by the pressure sensor.

12. The pressure guidewire of claim 11 , wherein the tip portion has a proximal end and the cavity is further delimited at a distal end thereof by the proximal end of the tip portion.

13. The pressure guidewire of claim 11 , wherein the sensor housing comprises an opening for letting the fluid penetrate in the cavity and contact the pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of the fluid.

14. The pressure guidewire of claim 13 , wherein the pressure sensor comprises a diaphragm sensitive to a pressure of a fluid.

15. The pressure guidewire of claim 14 , wherein the sensor housing has a longitudinal axis and the diaphragm substantially defines a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

16. The pressure guidewire of claim 14 , wherein the cavity is delimited at a proximal end thereof by the diaphragm of the pressure sensor.

17. The pressure guidewire of claim 11 , wherein the opening comprises two apertures in the sensor housing, thereby allowing the fluid to flow through the opening.

18. The pressure guidewire of claim 17 , wherein the tip portion has a proximal end attached to the distal end of the sensor housing.

19. The pressure guidewire of claim 11 , wherein the marker band is a radio opaque marker band.

20. The pressure guidewire of claim 11 , wherein the marker band is a non-radio opaque marker band.