APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INTRAVASCULAR MEASUREMENTS
Intravascular diagnosis apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosed technology, a monitoring guidewire includes a core wire, a sensor disposed in a distal region of the core wire, and a hypotube substantially coextensive with the core wire and surrounding the core wire, the hypotube having laser etching along at most 40 cm of the distal portion of the hypotube.
1 . A monitoring guidewire comprising:
a core wire;
a sensor disposed in a distal region of the core wire; and
a hypotube substantially coextensive with the core wire and surrounding the core wire, the hypotube comprising laser etching along at most 40 cm of the hypotube at a distal portion of the hypotube.
2 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 1 , wherein the core wire has a length of approximately 180 cm.
3 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 2 , wherein the hypotube has a length of approximately 177 cm.
4 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 1 , wherein the hypotube has an outer diameter between 0.013 and 0.014 inches.
5 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 4 , wherein the laser etching is configured to provide the hypotube with a torque response that approximates a torque response of a 0.014 inch workhorse guidewire.
6 . A monitoring guidewire comprising:
a core wire having a first length;
a sensor disposed in a distal region of the core wire; and
a hypotube surrounding the core wire and having a second length that is slightly less than the first length, the hypotube comprising laser etching along at most a 40 cm length of a distal portion of the hypotube.
7 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 6 , wherein the core wire has a length of approximately 180 cm.
8 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 7 , wherein the hypotube has a length of approximately 177 cm.
9 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 6 , wherein the hypotube has an outer diameter between 0.013 and 0.014 inches.
10 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 9 , wherein the laser etching is configured to provide the hypotube with a torque response that approximates a torque response of a 0.014 inch workhorse guidewire.
11 . A monitoring guidewire comprising:
a hypotube comprising laser etching along at least a portion of the hypotube; and
a sensor disposed in a distal region of the hypotube.
12 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 11 , wherein the hypotube has a length of approximately 177 centimeters, wherein the laser etching covers at least a portion of the 177 centimeter length.
13 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 12 , wherein the hypotube has an outer diameter of between 0.013 and 0.014 inches.
14 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 13 , wherein the laser etching is configured to provide the hypotube with a torque response that approximates a torque response of a 0.014 inch workhorse guidewire.
15 . The monitoring guidewire of claim 11 , further comprising at least one signal wire connected to the sensor and positioned within the hypotube.