Insertable device for in vivo sensing

Abstract

Embodiments described relate to a medical device including an invasive probe such as a guidewire that, when inserted into a duct (e.g. vasculature) of an animal (e.g., a human or non-human animal, including a human or non-human mammal), may be used to aid in diagnosing and/or treating a lesion of the duct (e.g. a growth or deposit within vasculature that fully or partially blocks the vasculature). The invasive probe may have one or more impedance sensors to sense characteristics of the lesion, including by detecting one or more characteristics of tissues and/or biological materials of the lesion. There is further described a method of assembling such a medical device.

1 .- 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A guidewire, comprising:
 a solid elongated core;   a sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a sensor array configured to sense one or more characteristics of a biological structure contacting the sensor assembly;   a plurality of wire leads coupled to and extending proximally from the sensor assembly;   a multi-filar coil comprising one or more wires, wherein the multi-filar coil surrounds a distal portion of the solid elongated core, and the plurality of wire leads are positioned between the solid elongated core and the multi-filar coil; and   a jacket enclosing a proximal portion of the solid elongated core, wherein the plurality of wire leads are positioned between the solid elongated core and the jacket, wherein a distal portion of the jacket and a proximal portion of the multi-filar coil overlap.   
     
     
         59 . The guidewire of  claim 58 , further comprising a distal tip, wherein:
 the sensor assembly is 2-3 cm in length; and   at least a distal portion of the sensor assembly is positioned within 25 mm of the distal tip.   
     
     
         60 . The guidewire of  claim 59 , further comprising a radio-opaque coil wrapped around the solid elongated core and positioned distally of the sensor assembly. 
     
     
         61 . The guidewire of  claim 59 , wherein the solid elongated core is tapered at a distal end of the solid elongated core. 
     
     
         62 . The guidewire of  claim 58 , wherein the jacket is positioned between the multi-filar coil and the solid elongated core. 
     
     
         63 . The guidewire of  claim 58 , wherein the multi-filar coil is positioned between the jacket and the solid elongated core. 
     
     
         64 . The guidewire of  claim 58 , wherein the one or more wires of the multi-filar coil are wrapped around the solid elongated core in a repeating sequential pattern. 
     
     
         65 . The guidewire of  claim 58 , wherein:
 the multi-filar coil is a first multi-filar coil; and   the guidewire further comprises a second multi-filar coil, wherein the first multi-filar coil is bound to an outer surface of the solid elongated core, and the second multi-filar coil is bound to an outer surface of the first multi-filar coil.   
     
     
         66 . The guidewire of  claim 65 , wherein:
 the first multi-filar coil has a first wind direction around the solid elongated core; and   the second multi-filar coil has a second wind direction around the solid elongated core opposite of the first wind direction.   
     
     
         67 . The guidewire of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 a handle;   and a connector assembly located at a proximal end of the solid elongated core, wherein:
 the connector assembly couples the solid elongated core to the handle; and 
 the connector assembly comprises:
 an insulator tube mounted over the proximal end of the solid elongated core; and 
 a conductive contact ring mounted over the insulator tube. 
 
   
     
     
         68 . The guidewire of  claim 67 , wherein one of the plurality of wire leads are bonded to the conductive contact ring. 
     
     
         69 . The guidewire of  claim 68 , wherein:
 the connector assembly comprises a plurality of conductive rings spaced axially from each other and mounted over the insulator tube; and   each of the plurality of wire leads are bonded to a respective conductive ring of the plurality of conductive rings.   
     
     
         70 . A guidewire, comprising:
 a solid elongated core;   a sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a sensor array configured to sense one or more characteristics of a biological structure contacting the sensor assembly; and   a plurality of wire leads coupled to and extending proximally from the sensor assembly, wherein:
 the plurality of wire leads are attached together to form a multi-strand ribbon; 
 the multi-strand ribbon includes a ground wire positioned between two of the plurality of wire leads; and 
 the multi-strand ribbon is wound around the solid elongated core. 
   
     
     
         71 . The guidewire of  claim 70 , wherein the multi-strand ribbon extends proximally from the sensor assembly an entire length of the solid elongated core. 
     
     
         72 . A system, comprising:
 a guidewire, comprising:
 a solid elongated core; 
 a sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a sensor array configured to sense one or more characteristics of a biological structure contacting the sensor assembly; 
 a plurality of wire leads coupled to and extending proximally from the sensor assembly; 
 a multi-filar coil, wherein the plurality of wire leads are positioned between the solid elongated core and the multi-filar coil; and 
 a jacket, wherein the plurality of wire leads are positioned between the solid elongated core and the jacket, wherein a distal portion of the jacket and a proximal portion of the multi-filar coil overlap; and 
   a processing unit external to the guidewire, wherein the processing unit is configured to receive and display information on the one or more characteristics of the biological structure.   
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the guidewire further comprises one or more integrated circuits electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to perform analog-to-digital conversion of signals detected by the sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly and the one or more integrated circuits are positioned in a distal portion of the guidewire. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 73 , wherein:
 the sensor array comprises:
 a plurality of transmitting electrodes configured to be driven by the one or more integrated circuits to propagate electromagnetic waves toward the biological structure; and 
 a plurality of receiving electrodes configured to receive electromagnetic waves reflected by biological structure. 
   
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein two or more of the plurality of receiving electrodes are arranged in a row and positioned a different distance from one of the plurality of transmitting electrodes. 
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the jacket is positioned between the multi-filar coil and the solid elongated core. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 72 , wherein the multi-filar coil is positioned between the jacket and the solid elongated core.