Pressure-sensing guidewire and sheath

摘要

A pressure sensing device is provided that can monitor and measure pressure at two points in a vessel or artery without moving the outer sheath or catheter of the device. The outer sheath or catheter includes two spaced apart openings that may be positioned in a vessel or artery on opposing sides of an occlusion. The device also includes an inner elongated tube with at least one opening. The inner elongated tube is slidable with respect to the outer sheath or catheter thereby permitting the opening of the elongated tube to be moved into selective registration with one of the openings of the outer sheath. A pressure measurement may be taken through one of the openings in the outer sheath by aligning the opening of the elongated tube with said opening and, then, a second pressure reading may be taken by sliding the elongated tube within the outer sheath so that the opening of the elongated tube is in registry with the other opening of the tubular sheath. As a result, pressure measurements at two points in a vessel or artery may be taken without moving the outer sheath or catheter.

主权项

1. A method for determining the severity of an intravascular occlusion, the method comprising:
advancing a pressure-sensing medical device through a blood vessel; wherein the pressure-sensing medical device includes an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member, and a pressure sensor; wherein the inner tubular member has a first opening formed therein; wherein the outer tubular member has a distal opening formed therein adjacent to a distal end of the outer tubular member and a proximal opening formed therein at a position proximal of the distal opening; wherein advancing a pressure-sensing medical device through a blood vessel includes advancing the pressure-sensing medical device to a position where the distal opening is disposed distally of an intravascular occlusion and the proximal opening is disposed proximally of the intravascular occlusion; disposing the inner tubular member at a first position within the outer tubular member where the first opening is substantially aligned with the distal opening; measuring a first pressure within the blood vessel while the inner tubular member is disposed at the first position; disposing the inner tubular member at a second position within the outer tubular member where the first opening is substantially aligned with the proximal opening; and measuring a second pressure within the blood vessel while the inner tubular member is disposed at the second position.