Guidewire with chemical sensing capabilities

1. A method for performing a therapeutic procedure, comprising:

providing a guidewire having an outside diameter, comprising:

an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member and an opening positioned so that the lumen is in fluid communication with the vessel,

a shaping ribbon having a distal and proximal end, the distal end secured to a rounded tip and the proximal end secured to a distal end of the elongated member, and

a sensor positioned within the lumen so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel through the opening, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide in the vessel,

wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of the distal end of the elongated member;

providing a treatment catheter including a lumen having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter to enable sliding of the treatment catheter over and along the guidewire;

positioning the guidewire at a specified location within a vessel;

allowing a body fluid to enter the lumen through the opening in the elongated member of the guidewire so that the body fluid is in contact with the sensor;

measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide of the body fluid in contact with the sensor; and

based on the measured level of nitric oxide or superoxide, performing the therapeutic procedure including the step of guiding a treatment catheter to the specified location by sliding the treatment catheter over and along the guidewire.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a blood vessel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring step includes delivering, using the guidewire, a stimulant to amplify a biological nitric oxide or superoxide response to improve nitric oxide or superoxide detection by the sensor.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the stimulant comprises acetylcho line.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the designated region within the vessel is affected by thrombosis or restenosis.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising bending the sensor away from a central longitudinal axis of the distal end of the elongated member in order to measure the level of nitric oxide or superoxide of the body.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sliding the sensor along the distal end of the elongated member in order to measure the level of nitric oxide or superoxide of the body.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising rotating the sensor.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing the therapeutic procedure includes the step of selecting angioplasty or stenting based on the measured levels of nitric oxide or superoxide.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guidewire includes a flexible coil having a helical configuration displaced around the distal end of the elongated member.

11. A method for performing a therapeutic procedure, comprising:

providing an guidewire having an outside diameter, comprising:

an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member,

a sensor positioned within the lumen of the elongated member so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide in the body fluid, wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of a distal end of the elongated member; and

a shaping ribbon having a distal and proximal end, the distal end secured to a rounded tip and the proximal end secured to the distal end of the elongated member;

providing a treatment catheter including a lumen having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter to enable sliding of the treatment catheter over and along the guidewire;

positioning the guidewire at a specified location within a vessel;

allowing a body fluid to make contact with the sensor;

measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide of the body fluid in contact with the sensor at the specified location; and

based on the measured level of nitric oxide or superoxide, performing the therapeutic procedure including the step of guiding a treatment catheter to the specified location sliding the treatment catheter over and along the guidewire.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the vessel is a blood vessel.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the designated region within the vessel is affected by thrombosis or restenosis.

14. The method of claim 11 , additionally including delivering a stimulant to increase the production of nitric oxide or superoxide.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the stimulant comprises acetylcholine.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising bending the sensor away from a central longitudinal axis of the distal end of the elongated member in order to measure the level of nitric oxide or superoxide of the body.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising sliding the sensor along the distal end of the elongated member in order to measure the level of nitric oxide or superoxide of the body.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising rotating the sensor.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the performing the therapeutic procedure includes the step of selecting angioplasty or stenting based on the measured levels of nitric oxide or superoxide.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the measuring step includes delivering, using the guidewire, a stimulant to amplify a biological nitric oxide or superoxide response to improve nitric oxide or superoxide detection by the sensor.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the stimulant comprises acetylcho line.

22. The method of claim 11 , wherein the guidewire includes a flexible coil having a helical configuration displaced around the distal end of the elongated member.

23. A method for performing a therapeutic procedure, comprising:

providing a guidewire having an outside diameter, comprising:

an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member, a tapered distal core section forming an opening, and a helical coil or polymeric jacket attached at a proximal end thereof to the distal core section and at a distal, rounded tip of the guidewire to a ribbon cable,

a sensor positioned within the lumen of the elongated member so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel through the opening, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide in the vessel,

wherein a tip of the sensor is disposable within the rounded tip when the guidewire is being advanced to the specified location within a vessel, and

wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of the distal core section;

providing a treatment catheter including a lumen having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter to enable sliding of the treatment catheter over and along the guidewire;

positioning the guidewire at a specified location within a vessel;

allowing a body fluid to enter the lumen through the opening in the elongated member of the guidewire so that the body fluid is in contact with the sensor;

measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide of the body fluid in contact with the sensor; and

based on the measured level of nitric oxide or superoxide, performing the therapeutic procedure including the step of guiding a treatment catheter to the specified location by sliding the treatment catheter over and along the guidewire.

24. A method for performing a therapeutic procedure, comprising:

providing an elongated guidewire having an outside diameter, comprising:

an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member, a tapered distal core section forming an opening, and a helical coil or polymeric jacket attached at a proximal end thereof to the distal core section and at a distal, rounded tip of the guidewire to a ribbon cable,

a sensor positioned within the lumen, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide in the body fluid,

wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of the distal core section, and

wherein a tip of the sensor is disposable within the rounded tip when the guidewire is being advanced to the specified location within a vessel;

providing a treatment catheter including a lumen having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter to enable sliding of the treatment catheter over and along the guidewire;

positioning the guidewire at a specified location within a vessel;

allowing a body fluid to make contact with the sensor;

measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide of the body fluid in contact with the sensor at the specified location; and

based on the measured level of nitric oxide or superoxide, performing the therapeutic procedure including the step of guiding a treatment catheter to the specified location sliding the treatment catheter over and along the guidewire.