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US 4,991,588 AGranted
Doppler guide wire
AssigneePfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.
InventorsD. Russell Pflueger, Cliff N. Cottonaro, Scott M. Evans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A guide wire for an intravascular catheter is disclosed. In one embodiment, the guide wire has Doppler means positioned on the distal end, with preferred Doppler means being piezoelectric ceramics or piezoelectric polymeric materials, both having electrical leads connected thereto. In another embodiment, the guide wire has a Laser Doppler means.
Claims10
A guide wire comprising
- (a) an elongated wire body having a distal portion, said wire body comprising a relatively straight central wire having a proximal and a distal portion, and a helically coiled wire spring surrounding said central wire, said relatively straight central wire and said helically coiled wire spring forming a guiding wire for steering said guide wire, said central wire and said helically coiled wire spring both comprised of a conductive material, and means for insulating said central wire and said wire spring from each other,
- (b) Doppler means for transmitting signal and for receiving a reflected signal, said Doppler means comprising a single piezoelectric transducer attached to said wire body adjacent said distal portion, said central wire and said wire spring being electrically connected to said piezoelectric transducer, whereby said central wire and said helically coiled wire spring serve as electrical leads to said piezoelectric transducer, said guide wire being adapted to steer an intravascular catheter within a blood vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.