Advanced Pressure Sensing Guidewire Systems
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
An innovative guidewire system that integrates temperature compensation, sensor calibration, and hydrophilic coatings to enhance trackability and accuracy in blood pressure measurement.
Background and Problem Solved
The original pressure sensing guidewires had limitations in thermal drift, sensor calibration, and trackability. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing a temperature compensation module, a sensor calibration module, and a hydrophilic coating to the guidewire system, ensuring more accurate and reliable blood pressure measurements.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The advanced pressure sensing guidewire system comprises an elongated shaft with a proximal region and a distal region, an optical pressure sensing block disposed within the shaft, and a temperature compensation module integrated into the optical pressure sensing block to reduce thermal drift. Additionally, the system features a sensor calibration module to automatically calibrate the optical pressure sensing block during use. The guidewire tip has a rounded atraumatic design to reduce vessel trauma, and the distal region of the shaft is coated with a hydrophilic material to enhance trackability. The system also includes a graphical user interface for real-time pressure waveform display and numerical pressure value display.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new inventive concept introduces novel features that distinguish it from the original patent, including the temperature compensation module, sensor calibration module, hydrophilic coating, and guidewire tip design. These features provide a significant improvement in accuracy, reliability, and usability of the pressure sensing guidewire system.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include varying the shape and size of the guidewire tip, using different materials for the hydrophilic coating, or integrating additional sensors to measure other physiological parameters. Variations could also include modifying the graphical user interface to accommodate different user preferences or integrating the system with other medical devices.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The advanced pressure sensing guidewire system has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the fields of cardiology, radiology, and interventional medicine. The system's improved accuracy, reliability, and usability make it an attractive solution for healthcare providers and medical device manufacturers.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61B5/6851 |
| A | A61 | A61B5/02154 |
| A | A61 | A61B2562/0233 |
| A | A61 | A61B2562/0247 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Medical device engineering, specifically intravascular diagnostic instrumentation with a focus on pressure sensing guidewires for cardiovascular interventional procedures. Requires expertise in optical sensing, medical device miniaturization, and biomedical engineering
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A biomedical engineer with advanced degree, 3-5 years experience in medical device design, familiar with optical sensing technologies, microfabrication techniques, and cardiovascular intervention device development
Obviousness Rationale
A person of ordinary skill would recognize that the PTD's variations represent predictable engineering improvements to the source patent's fundamental guidewire pressure sensing design. The additional features like temperature compensation, sensor calibration, and hydrophilic coatings are logical extensions of known medical device optimization strategies. These modifications address common performance limitations in intravascular sensing technologies through well-understood engineering approaches.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,345 |
|---|---|
| Title | Pressure sensing guidewires |
| Assignee(s) | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. |