# US 9,750,421 B2 · Catheter or guidewire device including flow sensing and use thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,421 B2 - Document ID: US9750421B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/047,333 - Filed: 2016-02-18 - Published: 2016-07-28 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-05 - Assignees: MC10, Inc. - Applicants: MC10, Inc. - Inventors: Roozbeh Ghaffari; Stephen Lee; John Work; John A. Wright, Jr.; Lauren Klinker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750421B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/36135: {using physiological parameters} - A61B 5/027: using catheters - A61B 5/6851: {Guide wires} - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 34/25: {User interfaces for surgical systems} - A61B 34/35: for telesurgery - A61B 90/30: Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure - A61B 90/70: Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments - A61N 1/0514: {Electrodes for the urinary tract} - A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control} - A61B 18/02: by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques - A61B 2017/00088: {using thermistors} - A61B 2017/00092: {using thermocouples} - A61B 2018/00005: {Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe} - A61B 2018/00214: {Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon} - A61B 2018/0022: {Balloons} - A61B 2018/00267: {having a basket shaped structure} - A61B 2018/00273: {Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue} - A61B 2018/00386: {Coronary vessels} - A61B 2018/00404: {Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart} - A61B 2018/00434: {Neural system} - A61B 2018/00494: {Stomach, intestines or bowel} - A61B 2018/00511: {Kidney} - A61B 2018/00517: {Urinary bladder or urethra} - A61B 2018/00541: {Lung or bronchi} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00642: {with feedback, i.e. closed loop control} - A61B 2018/00648: {using more than one sensed parameter} - A61B 2018/00666: {using a threshold value} - A61B 2018/00672: {lower} - A61B 2018/00678: {upper} - A61B 2018/00708: {switching the power on or off} - A61B 2018/00744: {Fluid flow} - A61B 2018/00791: {Temperature} - A61B 2018/00797: {measured by multiple temperature sensors} - A61B 2018/00815: {measured by a thermistor} - A61B 2018/00821: {measured by a thermocouple} - A61B 2018/00839: {Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG} - A61B 2018/00863: {Fluid flow} - A61B 2018/00875: {Resistance or impedance} - A61B 2018/0212: {using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter} - A61B 2018/1861: {with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter} - A61B 2018/20361: {with redirecting based on sensed condition, e.g. tissue analysis or tissue movement} - A61B 2018/205547: {Controller with specific architecture or programmatic algorithm for directing scan path, spot size or shape, or spot intensity, fluence or irradiance} - A61B 2034/252: {indicating steps of a surgical procedure} - A61B 2034/254: {being adapted depending on the stage of the surgical procedure} - A61B 2090/065: {for measuring contact or contact pressure} - A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Devices and methods are provided for performing procedure on tissue with flow monitoring using flow sensors. The devices include an elongated member, and at least one flow sensor disposed on the elongated member. The flow sensor includes at least one temperature sensor and at least one heating element having a cavity. At least a portion of the at least one temperature sensor is housed in the cavity. A temperature measurement of the temperature sensor provides an indication of the flow rate of a fluid proximate to the flow sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for displaying representations of parameters of an inflatable body and/or expandable body disposed proximate to a portion of a tissue, the inflatable body and/or expandable body comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to at least a portion of the inflatable body and/or expandable body, the apparatus comprising: a user interface; at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions; and at least one processing unit communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit: controls the user interface to display at least one representation of the parameters, the at least one representation comprising: (A) a first representation of a state of the inflatable body and/or expandable body, the first representation comprising: (i) a first form indicator to indicate that the inflatable body and/or expandable body is in an inflated and/or an expanded state; or (ii) a second form indicator to indicate that the inflatable body and/or expandable body is in a deflated and/or a collapsed state; and (B) a second representation of a state of at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, the second representation comprising: (i) a first activation indicator to indicate that the at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors measures a signal below a threshold value; or (ii) a second activation indicator to indicate that the at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors measures a signal above or about equal to the threshold value, wherein the second representation is indicative of a magnitude of an instantaneous velocity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal below the threshold value indicates that the at least one sensor is not in contact with a portion of the tissue, and wherein the signal above or about equal to the threshold value indicates that the at least one sensor is in contact with a portion of the tissue. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first activation indicator and the second activation indicator are displayed as binary visual representations. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first activation indicator and the second activation indicator are displayed as quantitative visual representations that correspond to a magnitude of the signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first form indicator and the second form indicator are displayed as color-coded symbols, where each color-coded symbol is indicative of a range of values of the magnitudes of the signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first form indicator and the second form indicator further provide an indication of a spatial location of the corresponding at least one sensor relative to the inflatable body and/or expandable body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit controls the user interface to cause display of the first representation and the second representation in a staged process, such that: no second representation is displayed while the first representation is the first form indicator; and the second representation is displayed once the first representation is the second form indicator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit controls the user interface to further cause display of an indication of at least one stage of a procedure being performed on the portion of the tissue. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit controls the user interface to cause display of an indication of an endpoint of a procedure being performed on the portion of the tissue. ### Claim 10 An apparatus for displaying representations of parameters of an inflatable body and/or expandable body disposed proximate to a portion of a tissue, the inflatable body and/or expandable body comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to at least a portion of the inflatable body and/or expandable body, the apparatus comprising: a user interface; at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions; and at least one processing unit communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit: controls the user interface to display at least one representation of the parameters, the at least one representation comprising: (A) a first representation of a state of the inflatable body and/or expandable body, the first representation comprising: (i) a first form indicator to indicate that the inflatable body and/or expandable body is in an inflated and/or an expanded state; or (ii) a second form indicator to indicate that the inflatable body and/or expandable body is in a deflated and/or a collapsed state; and (B) a second representation of a state of at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, the second representation comprising: (i) a first activation indicator to indicate that the at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors measures a signal below a threshold value; or (ii) a second activation indicator to indicate that the at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors measures a signal above or about equal to the threshold value, wherein the second representation is indicative of a magnitude of a volumetric flow. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the signal below the threshold value indicates that the at least one sensor is not in contact with a portion of the tissue, and wherein the signal above or about equal to the threshold value indicates that the at least one sensor is in contact with a portion of the tissue. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first activation indicator and the second activation indicator are displayed as binary visual representations. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first activation indicator and the second activation indicator are displayed as quantitative visual representations that correspond to a magnitude of the signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first form indicator and the second form indicator are displayed as color-coded symbols, where each color-coded symbol is indicative of a range of values of the magnitudes of the signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first form indicator and the second form indicator further provide an indication of a spatial location of the corresponding at least one sensor relative to the inflatable body and/or expandable body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit controls the user interface to cause display of the first representation and the second representation in a staged process, such that: no second representation is displayed while the first representation is the first form indicator; and the second representation is displayed once the first representation is the second form indicator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit controls the user interface to further cause display of an indication of at least one stage of a procedure being performed on the portion of the tissue. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit controls the user interface to cause display of an indication of an endpoint of a procedure being performed on the portion of the tissue. ### Claim 19 An apparatus for displaying representations of parameters of an inflatable body and/or expandable body disposed proximate to a portion of a tissue, the inflatable body and/or expandable body comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to at least a portion of the inflatable body and/or expandable body, the apparatus comprising: a user interface; at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions; and at least one processing unit communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit: controls the user interface to display at least one representation of the parameters, the at least one representation comprising: (A) a first representation of a state of the inflatable body and/or expandable body, the first representation comprising: (i) a first form indicator to indicate that the inflatable body and/or expandable body is in an inflated and/or an expanded state; or (ii) a second form indicator to indicate that the inflatable body and/or expandable body is in a deflated and/or a collapsed state; and (B) a second representation of a state of at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, the second representation comprising: (i) a first activation indicator to indicate that the at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors measures a signal below a threshold value; or (ii) a second activation indicator to indicate that the at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors measures a signal above or about equal to the threshold value, wherein the second representation is indicative of a magnitude of a vascular resistance. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the signal below the threshold value indicates that the at least one sensor is not in contact with a portion of the tissue, and wherein the signal above or about equal to the threshold value indicates that the at least one sensor is in contact with a portion of the tissue. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first activation indicator and the second activation indicator are displayed as binary visual representations. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first activation indicator and the second activation indicator are displayed as quantitative visual representations that correspond to a magnitude of the signal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first form indicator and the second form indicator are displayed as color-coded symbols, where each color-coded symbol is indicative of a range of values of the magnitudes of the signal. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first form indicator and the second form indicator further provide an indication of a spatial location of the corresponding at least one sensor relative to the inflatable body and/or expandable body. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit controls the user interface to cause display of the first representation and the second representation in a staged process, such that: no second representation is displayed while the first representation is the first form indicator; and the second representation is displayed once the first representation is the second form indicator. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit controls the user interface to further cause display of an indication of at least one stage of a procedure being performed on the portion of the tissue. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit controls the user interface to cause display of an indication of an endpoint of a procedure being performed on the portion of the tissue.