SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING FORCE APPLIED TO AN ENDOVASCULAR DEVICE
A force meter for detecting force applied to an endovascular device includes a housing, a passage in the housing configured to receive the endovascular device, and a sensor disposed in the housing to measure force from the endovascular device to the housing. The force meter may also include electronic components to process the force readings from the sensor, transmit the readings to an external receiver, and to indicate the force readings to a user.
1 . A force meter for an endovascular device, comprising:
a housing;
a hollow tube disposed in the housing formed with a bend, the hollow tube extending between two exterior sides of the housing and being configured to receive the endovascular device;
at least one support point disposed in the housing and configured to contact the hollow tube to support the bend; and
a sensor disposed in the housing configured to sense a force applied from the endovascular device.
2 . The force meter of claim 1 , further comprising electronic components disposed in the housing and configured to receive a reading from the sensor and to determine a force applied to the endovascular device based on the reading.
3 . The force meter of claim 2 , further comprising a transmitter disposed in the housing, the transmitter operably connected to the electronic components, wherein the electronic components are configured to use the transmitter to transmit at least one of the reading from the sensor or of the force applied to the endovascular device to an external receiver.
4 . (canceled)
5 . (canceled)
6 . The force meter of claim 2 , further comprising an indicator disposed in the housing, the indicator operably connected to the electronic components, wherein the electronic components are configured to use the indicator to indicate the force applied to the endovascular device.
7 . The force meter of claim 6 , wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a light disposed in the housing and visible from an exterior of the housing, a vibrating element disposed in the housing, or an audio element disposed in the housing.
8 . (canceled)
9 . (canceled)
10 . The force meter of claim 1 , further comprising a passage in the housing connecting two exterior sides of the housing and configured to receive the hollow tube.
11 . The force meter of claim 10 , wherein the at least one support point is disposed in the passage and configured to contact the hollow tube.
12 . The force meter of claim 1 , further comprising a lever disposed in the housing, the lever fixed to a pivot and positioned such that one portion of the lever is in contact with the hollow tube and a second portion of the lever is in contact with the force sensor, the lever configured to transmit a force applied from the endovascular device to the sensor.
13 . The force meter of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned directly in contact with the hollow tube.
14 . The force meter of claim 1 , further comprising a lever disposed in the housing and fixed to a pivot, the lever containing an opening to allow the hollow tube to pass through the lever, the lever being further configured to transmit a force applied from the endovascular device to the sensor.
15 . The force meter of claim 1 , wherein the hollow tube is a flexible hollow tube.
16 . The force meter of claim 1 , further comprising a valve disposed on an exterior side of the housing, wherein the hollow tube is connected to the valve at the exterior side of the housing, the valve being configured to receive the endovascular device and fluids.
17 . The force meter of claim 16 , further comprising an introduction port disposed in proximity to the at least one valve and configured to allow introduction of fluids.
18 . A system for measuring tensile force applied to an endovascular device, comprising:
the force meter of claim 1 ; and
an endovascular device disposed through the hollow tube of the force meter.
19 . (canceled)
20 . (canceled)
21 . A method of using a force meter to detect a tensile force applied to an endovascular device, comprising:
passing an endovascular device through a hollow tube of the force meter of claim 1 ;
detecting a force applied from the endovascular device to a force sensor disposed in the housing; and
processing the force to determine the tensile force applied to the endovascular device using electronic components operably connected to the force sensor.
22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising transmitting at least one of the force applied to the force sensor or the tensile force to an external receiver using a transmitter disposed in the housing.
23 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising indicating the tensile force applied to the endovascular device using an indicator disposed in the housing.
24 . (canceled)
25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the force further comprises detecting movement of a lever disposed in the housing, the lever fixed to a pivot and positioned such that one portion of the lever is in contact with the hollow tube and a second portion of the lever is in contact with the force sensor, the lever configured to transmit a force applied from the endovascular device to the sensor.
26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the force further comprises directly sensing the force from the hollow tube by the sensor.
27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the force further comprises detecting movement a lever disposed in the housing and fixed to a pivot, an opening formed in the lever to allow the hollow tube to pass through the lever, the lever configured to transmit a force applied from the endovascular device to the sensor.