Apparatus and method for intravascular measurements

Abstract

Intravascular diagnosis apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosed technology, a monitoring guidewire includes a core wire, a sensor disposed in a distal region of the core wire, and a hypotube substantially coextensive with the core wire and surrounding the core wire, the hypotube having laser etching along at most 40 cm of the distal portion of the hypotube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A monitoring guidewire comprising:
 a core wire;   a sensor disposed in a distal region of the core wire; and   a hypotube substantially coextensive with the core wire and surrounding the core wire, the hypotube comprising laser etching along at most 40 cm of the hypotube at a distal portion of the hypotube.   
     
     
         2 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 1 , wherein the core wire has a length of approximately 180 cm. 
     
     
         3 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 2 , wherein the hypotube has a length of approximately 177 cm. 
     
     
         4 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 1 , wherein the hypotube has an outer diameter between 0.013 and 0.014 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 4 , wherein the laser etching is configured to provide the hypotube with a torque response that approximates a torque response of a 0.014 inch workhorse guidewire. 
     
     
         6 . A monitoring guidewire comprising:
 a core wire having a first length;   a sensor disposed in a distal region of the core wire; and   a hypotube surrounding the core wire and having a second length that is slightly less than the first length, the hypotube comprising laser etching along at most a 40 cm length of a distal portion of the hypotube.   
     
     
         7 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 6 , wherein the core wire has a length of approximately 180 cm. 
     
     
         8 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 7 , wherein the hypotube has a length of approximately 177 cm. 
     
     
         9 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 6 , wherein the hypotube has an outer diameter between 0.013 and 0.014 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 9 , wherein the laser etching is configured to provide the hypotube with a torque response that approximates a torque response of a 0.014 inch workhorse guidewire. 
     
     
         11 . A monitoring guidewire comprising:
 a hypotube comprising laser etching along at least a portion of the hypotube; and   a sensor disposed in a distal region of the hypotube.   
     
     
         12 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 11 , wherein the hypotube has a length of approximately 177 centimeters, wherein the laser etching covers at least a portion of the 177 centimeter length. 
     
     
         13 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 12 , wherein the hypotube has an outer diameter of between 0.013 and 0.014 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 13 , wherein the laser etching is configured to provide the hypotube with a torque response that approximates a torque response of a 0.014 inch workhorse guidewire. 
     
     
         15 . The monitoring guidewire of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one signal wire connected to the sensor and positioned within the hypotube.