Pressure-sensing guidewire and sheath

Abstract

A pressure sensing device is provided that can monitor and measure pressure at two points in a vessel or artery without moving the outer sheath or catheter of the device. The outer sheath or catheter includes two spaced apart openings that may be positioned in a vessel or artery on opposing sides of an occlusion. The device also includes an inner elongated tube with at least one opening. The inner elongated tube is slidable with respect to the outer sheath or catheter thereby permitting the opening of the elongated tube to be moved into selective registration with one of the openings of the outer sheath. A pressure measurement may be taken through one of the openings in the outer sheath by aligning the opening of the elongated tube with said opening and, then, a second pressure reading may be taken by sliding the elongated tube within the outer sheath so that the opening of the elongated tube is in registry with the other opening of the tubular sheath. As a result, pressure measurements at two points in a vessel or artery may be taken without moving the outer sheath or catheter.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pressure measuring medical device, comprising:
 a tubular sheath comprising at least one opening disposed in a distal end region thereof;   a pressure transfer tube disposed within the tubular sheath, the pressure transfer tube comprising distal opening adjacent to a distal end region of the pressure transfer tube; and   a pressure sensor coupled to the pressure transfer tube and positioned proximal to the distal opening;   wherein the pressure transfer tube is capable of being disposed within a blood vessel so that the distal opening is positioned distally of an intravascular occlusion and the pressure sensor is positioned proximally of the intravascular occlusion.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure measuring medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to obtain a pressure measurement distal to the intravascular occlusion and a pressure measurement proximal to the intravascular occlusion simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure measuring medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure transfer tube further comprises a proximal opening positioned proximally of the distal opening. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure measuring medical device of  claim 3 , wherein the distal opening of the pressure transfer tube is in fluid communication with a first lumen of the of the pressure transfer tube and the proximal opening of the pressure transfer tube is in fluid communication with a second lumen of the pressure transfer tube. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure measuring device of  claim 4 , wherein the first lumen is fluid isolated from the second lumen. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure measuring device of  claim 3 , wherein the proximal opening is circumferentially offset from the distal opening. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure measuring medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque marker disposed adjacent the distal opening of the pressure transfer tube. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure measuring medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque marker disposed adjacent the distal end region of the tubular sheath. 
     
     
         9 . A pressure measuring medical device, comprising:
 a pressure transfer tube, the pressure transfer tube comprising:
 a first opening and a second opening, the second opening axially spaced from the first opening; 
 a first lumen in fluid communication with the first opening; and 
 a second lumen in fluid communication with the second opening; and 
   at least one pressure sensor coupled to the pressure transfer tube and positioned proximal to the first opening and the second opening.   
     
     
         10 . The pressure measuring medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure transfer tube is capable of being disposed within a blood vessel so that a the first opening is positioned distally of an intravascular occlusion and the second opening is positioned proximally of the intravascular occlusion. 
     
     
         11 . The pressure measuring medical device of  claim 10 , wherein a pressure measurement at a location adjacent to the first opening and a pressure measurement at a location adjacent the second opening are obtained simultaneously. 
     
     
         12 . The pressure measuring medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the first lumen is fluidly isolated from the second lumen. 
     
     
         13 . The pressure measuring medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the second opening is circumferentially offset from the first opening. 
     
     
         14 . The pressure measuring medical device of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one radiopaque marker disposed on the pressure transfer tube adjacent a distal end thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A method for measuring pressure on opposing sides of an occlusion, the method comprising:
 inserting a pressure measuring device into a vessel having an occlusion, the pressure measuring device comprising:
 a pressure transfer tube disposed within the tubular sheath, the pressure transfer tube comprising a proximal opening and a distal opening axially spaced from one another; and 
 at least one pressure sensor coupled to the pressure transfer tube and positioned proximal to the proximal opening; 
   advancing the pressure measuring device through the vessel until the distal opening of the pressure transfer tube is on a first side of the occlusion and the proximal opening of the pressure transfer tube is on a second side of the occlusion;   measuring the pressure through the distal opening; and   measuring the pressure through the proximal opening.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the measuring steps are carried out simultaneously 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pressure transfer tube further comprises a first lumen in fluid communication with the distal opening and a second lumen in fluid communication with the proximal opening. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first lumen is fluidly isolated from the second lumen. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pressure transfer tube further comprises a radiopaque marker positioned adjacent to one of the proximal or distal openings. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the distal opening in the pressure transfer tube is circumferentially offset from the proximal opening in the pressure transfer tube.