Sensor guide construction and use thereof

Claim 2

A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adapted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein, an inside portion of said tube acting as an air channel to establish communication between said sensor element and atomspheric pressure; a solid metal wire having a distal end, a proximal end, and a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility; and a coil attached to said distal end of said wire wherein 1) said wire is rigidly disposed a said tube and extends along the entire sensor guide inside said tube, 2) one of said plurality of sections is an enlarged position having a slot therein, and 3) said sensor element is disposed in said slot between said coil and said proximal end.

Claim 3

A sensor guide as recited in claim 1, wherein said coil is a radiopague coil and is connected to said tube via a glue or welded joint.

Claim 4

A sensor guide as recited in claim 2 wherein said coil is made from platinum.

Claim 5

A sensor guide as recited in claim 1, wherein said cable is an optic fiber cable and said sensor element is an optic sensor.

Claim 6

A sensor guide as recited in claim 1, wherein said cable is an electric cable and said sensor element is an electric sensor.

Claim 7

A sensor guide as recited in claim 1, wherein said wire is made from a memory metal.

Claim 8

A sensor guide as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensor element further comprises means for measuring intravascular pressure.

Claim 9

A sensor guide as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hose made from a flexible polymer material which is disposed around said enlarged portion of said wire and within said tube, and wherein said tube has an opening therein which is aligned with said sensor element such that said hose is disposed between said tube and said sensor element.

Claim 10

A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adapted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein, an inside portion of said tube acting as an air channel to establish communication between said sensor element and atmospheric pressure; a solid metal wire having a distal end and a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility, said wire being rigidly disposed in said tube and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; a coil attached to said distal end of said wire; and a security thread attached to said coil and to said wire, said security thread extending inside of said tube.

Claim 11

A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adapted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein, an inside portion of said tube acting as an air channel to establish communication between said sensor element and atmospheric pressure; a solid metal wire having a distal end and a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility, said wire being rigidly disposed in said tube and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; a coil attached to said distal end of said wire; and a security thread attached to said coil and to said wire, said security thread extending inside of said tube.

Claim 12

A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adapted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein, an inside portion of said tube acting as an air channel to establish communication between said sensor element and atmospheric pressure; a solid metal wire having a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility, said wire being rigidly disposed in said tube and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; a piece having a slot therein and a bottom surface with the same radius of curvature as an outside radius of curvature of said wire, said piece being attached at said bottom surface to an outer circumference of said wire and said sensor element being disposed in said slot.

Claim 13

A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adapted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein, an inside portion of said tube acting as an air channel to establish communication between said sensor element and atmospheric pressure; a solid metal wire having a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility, said wire being rigidly disposed in said tube and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; a piece having a slot therein and a bottom surface with the same radius of curvature as an outside radius of curvature of said wire, said piece being attached at said bottom surface to an outer circumference of said wire and said sensor element being disposed in said slot.

Claim 14

A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adopted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein, an inside portion of said tube acting as an air channel to establish communication between said sensor element and atmospheric pressure; and a solid metal wire having a proximal end and a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexiblity, said wire being rigidly disposed in said tube and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; wherein said wire has first and second slots therein, said wire is disposed in said tube, said air channel is a space existing between said tube and said wire, said air channel extends from said first slot to said second slot, said sensor element is disposed in said first slot, and said second slot is disposed in a proximal end of said wire and is in communication with atmospheric pressure.

Claim 15

A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adopted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein, an inside portion of said tube acting as an air channel to establish communication between said sensor element and atmospheric pressure; and a solid metal wire having a proximal end and a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexiblity, said wire being rigidly disposed in said tube and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; wherein said wire has first and second slots therein, said wire is disposed in said tube, said air channel is a space existing between said tube and said wire, said air channel extends from said first slot to said second slot, said sensor element is disposed in said first slot, and said second slot is disposed in a proximal end of said wire and is in communication with atmospheric pressure.

Claim 16

A sensor guide comprising; a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adopted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein, an inside portion of said tube acting as an air channel to establish communication between said sensor element and atmospheric pressure; a solid metal wire having a proximal end and a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility, said wire being rigidly disposed in said tube and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; wherein said wire has a slot therein having first and second ends, said sensor element is disposed in said slot at said first end, said second end is disposed at said proximal end of said wire, and said air channel is defined between an inner surface of said tube and said slot.

Claim 17

A sensor guide comprising; a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adopted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein, an inside portion of said tube acting as an air channel to establish communication between said sensor element and atmospheric pressure; a solid metal wire having a proximal end and a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility, said wire being rigidly disposed in said tube and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; wherein said wire has a slot therein having first and second ends, said sensor element is disposed in said slot at said first end, said second end is disposed at said proximal end of said wire, and said air channel is defined between an inner surface of said tube and said slot.

Claim 18

A sensor guide as recited in claim 10, wherein said slot includes a recessed portion located below said sensor element. .Iadd.

Claim 19

A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adapted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein; a solid metal wire having a distal end, a proximal end, and a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility; and a coil attached to said distal end of said wire; wherein 1) said wire is rigidly disposed in said sensor guide and extends along the entire sensor guide inside said tube, 2) one of said plurality of sections is an enlarged portion having a slot therein, and 3) said sensor element is disposed in said slot between said coil and said proximal end. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. A sensor guide as recited in claim 14, wherein said coil is a radiopaque coil and is connected to said tube via a glue or welded joint. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. A sensor guide as recited in claim 15, wherein said coil is made from platinum. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. A sensor guide as recited in claim 14, wherein said cable is an optic fiber cable and said sensor element is an optic sensor. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. A sensor guide as recited in claim 14, wherein said cable is an electric cable and said sensor element is an electric sensor. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. A sensor guide as recited in claim 14, wherein said wire is made from a memory metal. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. A sensor guide as recited in claim 14, wherein said sensor guide further comprises means for measuring intravascular pressure. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. A sensor guide as recited in claim 14, further comprising a hose made from a flexible polymer material which is disposed around said enlarged portion of said wire and within said tube, and wherein said tube has an opening therein which is aligned with said sensor element such that said hose is disposed between said tube and said sensor element. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adapted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein; a solid metal wire having a distal end and a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility, said wire being rigidly disposed in said sensor guide and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; a coil attached to said distal end of said wire; and a security thread attached to said coil and to said wire, said security thread extending inside of said tube. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adapted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein; a solid metal wire having a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility, said wire being rigidly disposed in said sensor guide and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; a piece having a slot therein and a bottom surface with the same radius of curvature as an outside radius of curvature of said wire, said piece being attached at said bottom surface to an outer circumference of said wire and said sensor element being disposed in said slot. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. A sensor guide as recited in claim 23, wherein said slot includes a recessed portion located below said sensor element. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adapted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein; and a solid metal wire having a proximal end and a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility, said wire being rigidly disposed in said tube and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; wherein said wire has first and second slots therein, said wire is disposed in said tube, said sensor element is disposed in said first slot, and said second slot is disposed in a proximal end of said wire. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. A sensor guide comprising: a sensor element; a signal transmitting cable adapted to connect said sensor element to an electronic unit; a flexible tube having said cable and said sensor element disposed therein; a solid metal wire having a proximal end and a plurality of sections each having a different thickness such that each of said plurality of sections has a different flexibility, said wire being rigidly disposed in said tube and extending along the entire sensor guide inside said tube; wherein said wire has a slot therein having first and second ends, said sensor element is disposed in said slot at said first end, said second end is disposed at said proximal end of said wire. .Iaddend.