Composite catheter with dual functions of ultrasound imaging and fractional blood pressure measurement

Abstract

Provided herein is an integrated device with dual functions of ultrasound imaging and optical pressure sensing for intravascular assessment of any potential narrowing or blockage of blood vessels in a subject. The present device integrates both an elastic optical fiber having at least two gratings as pressure sensors with different reflection wavelengths and an ultrasound transducer into a hollow tube-like structure to form an intravascular composite catheter for simultaneous pressure sensing of blood flow flowing through a target blood vessel and imaging of its vessel wall in order to assess the morphology of potential plaques and also the degree of potential stenosis in the target blood vessel. Related methods for fabrication, application of and corresponding diagnostic system incorporating the present device for determining cardiovascular diseases of a subject and evaluating the efficacy of corresponding treatment regime are also provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.