Apparatus, system and methods for measuring a blood pressure gradient

An apparatus for measuring a blood pressure gradient during a minimally invasive intravascular or cardiac intervention comprising:

• a multi-sensor assembly contained within a tubular covering layer,
• the tubular covering layer comprising a micro-catheter or a coil of a steerable guidewire, the tubular covering layer extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and the distal end comprising a flexible distal tip;
• the multi-sensor assembly comprising:
• a plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of optical sensors,
• each optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end,
• each individual one of the plurality of optical sensors being attached and optically coupled to the distal end of a respective individual one of the plurality of optical fibers;
• the plurality of optical fibers being assembled as a bundle with distal ends of the plurality of optical fibers arranged to form a sensor arrangement wherein said plurality of optical sensors have sensor locations spaced apart lengthwise from each other;
• the multi-sensor assembly extending within the tubular covering layer from the proximal end into a distal end portion adjacent the distal end, with the sensor arrangement, comprising said plurality of optical sensors, being located within the distal end portion of the covering layer for measuring pressure at respective sensor locations spaced apart along a length of the distal end portion;
• and
• the proximal end of each one of the plurality of optical fibers being optically coupled to an optical input/output for connection to a control system;
• an aperture in the covering layer adjacent each optical sensor;
• said sensor arrangement providing for a measurement of pressure at each sensor location for determination by the control system of a blood pressure gradient;
• and
• at least the distal end portion of the tubular covering layer having an outer diameter suitable for introduction intravascularly or percutaneously.