Reduced size catheter tip measurement device

Abstract

A device that contemplates a unique and advantageous reduced size catheter tip measurement device. By using a bottom support member and a thin outer insulating layer, rather than a tubular metal casing, to support and isolate the electrical measurement sensor, the present invention drastically reduces feature size possible with current structures for catheter tip measurement devices. More specifically, the device contemplates a reduced size catheter tip pressure transducer device. The device includes a catheter body that has a support member attached to its distal tip. The support member has a support surface for a semiconductor pressures sensor that provides mechanical stability to the pressure sensor. The exposed electrical and metal areas of the device are insulated from surrounding tissues and fluids by an outer insulating layer, which is preferably a polyimide sleeve. Utilizing the device catheter tip pressure transducers may be constructed having approximately half the current volume size of prior devices. This drastic reduction is size allows for placement inside small diameter lumens of catheters, small diameter veins and arteries, or other small biological features that have up to now been too small for high-fidelity measurements by prior catheter tip pressure transducers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.