Sensor for intra-corporeal medical device and a method of manufacture

A sensor attached to a distal end of an intra-corporeal medical device for guiding the medical device by detecting forces applied thereto when the distal end contacts an intra-corporeal tissue, said sensor comprising:

• a generally planar chip deformable in accordance with the forces;
• a plurality of strain gauges located on said chip for issuing variable signals corresponding to said deformation of the chip, wherein said forces are detected in accordance with said signals;
• a force transmitter attached to the distal end of the device at a location more distal than said chip for transmitting said forces to said chip, wherein said force transmitter has a longitudinal axis that extends perpendicular to the plane of said chip;
• and
• a smooth cover that covers said chip, strain gauges and force transmitter, wherein said chip comprises:
• a base located at the distal end of the device;
• a pole standing on said base;
• a sensing plate attached to a distal end of said pole;
• and, wherein said strain gauges are provided on a surface of said sensing plate.

A sensor attached to a distal end of an intra-corporeal medical device for detecting forces applied thereto, said sensor comprising:

• a chip deformable in accordance with the forces;
• a plurality of strain gauges located on said chip for issuing signals corresponding to said deformation of the chip, wherein said forces are detected in accordance with said signals;
• a force transmitter attached to the distal end of the device at a location more distal than said chip for transmitting said forces to said chip;
• and
• a cover that covers said chip, strain gauges and force transmitter and that gives a tapered shape to said distal end and wherein said chip comprises:
• a base located at said distal end of the device;
• a pole standing on said base;
• and
• a sensing plate attached to a distal end of said pole, wherein said strain gauges are provided on said sensing plate.

A sensor attached to a distal end of an intra-corporeal medical device for detecting forces applied thereto, said sensor comprising:

• a generally planar chip deformable in accordance with the forces;
• a plurality of strain gauges located on said chip for issuing variable signals corresponding to said deformation of the chip, wherein said forces are detected in accordance with said signals;
• a force transmitter attached to the distal end of the device at a location more distal than said chip for transmitting said forces to said chip, wherein said force transmitter has a longitudinal axis that extends perpendicular to the plane of said chip;
• and
• a smooth cover that covers said chip, strain gauges and force transmitter, wherein said chip comprises:
• a base located at the distal end of the device;
• a pole standing on said base;
• and
• a sensing plate attached to a distal end of said pole;
• and, wherein said strain gauges are provided on a surface of said sensing plate.

A sensor attached to a distal end of an intra-corporeal medical device for detecting forces applied thereto, said sensor comprising:

• a generally planar chip deformable in accordance with the forces;
• a plurality of strain gauges located on said chip for issuing variable signals corresponding to said deformation of the chip, wherein said forces are detected in accordance with said signals;
• a force transmitter attached to the distal end of the device at a location more distal than said chip for transmitting said forces to said chip, wherein said force transmitter has a longitudinal axis that extends perpendicular to the plane of said chip;
• and
• a smooth cover that covers said chip, strain gauges and force transmitter, wherein one of said strain gauges is placed in alignment with a first axis to detect forces aligned with the first axis and a second one of said strain gauges is placed in alignment with a second axis orthogonal to said first axis to detect forces aligned with the second axis.

A sensor attached to a distal end of an intra-corporeal medical device for guiding the medical device by detecting forces applied thereto when the distal end contacts an intra-corporeal tissue, said sensor comprising:

• generally planar chip deformable in accordance with the forces;
• plurality of strain gauges located on said chip for issuing variable signals corresponding to said deformation of the chip, wherein said forces are detected in accordance with said signals;
• a force transmitter attached to the distal end of the device at a location more distal than said chip for transmitting said forces to said chip, wherein said force transmitter has a longitudinal axis that extends perpendicular to the plane of said chip;
• and
• a smooth cover that covers said chip, strain gauges and force transmitter, wherein one of said strain gauges is placed in alignment with a first axis to detect forces aligned with the first axis and a second one of said strain gauges is placed in alignment with a second axis orthogonal to said first axis to detect forces aligned with the second axis.