Hemocath Ltd.

Three Rivers Cardiovascular Systems Inc.

Other

Eric Caron

Christopher Glover

Sylvain Abel

Luc Bilodeau

Luc (deceased) Bilodeau

Tom Glawdel

Michael Paquette

Michel Paquette

Des Regan

A system comprising a multi-sensor catheter for monitoring a cardiac hemodynamic condition, e.g. heart failure. The multi-sensor catheter comprises multi-lumen catheter tubing, first and second optical pressure sensors, and respective optical fibers and connectors. For right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization, a flow-directed multi-sensor catheter comprises a guidewire lumen, inflatable balloon tip, and sensor locations are configured for placement of a sensor in each of the right atrium and pulmonary artery, for measurement of central venous pressure in the right atrium and a pulmonary artery pressure. An optical fiber for oximetry may be included. The outside diameter is small enough for insertion through a vein of the arm. For monitoring of a cardiac shunt, sensors are configured for measuring pressures upstream and downstream of the cardiac shunt, e.g. in left and right atria, or left atrium and coronary sinus.

Multi-sensor catheter for right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization

Dual sensor system for continuous blood pressure monitoring during transcatheter heart valve therapies (TVT), such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR), comprises a controller, a support guidewire for TVT containing a first Fabry-P&#xe9;rot (FP) optical pressure sensor near its distal end, and a pigtail catheter for delivery of contrast medium containing a second FP optical pressure sensor near its distal end. For example, for TAVR, the support guidewire is positioned to place the first optical pressure sensor within the left ventricle (LV) for monitoring LV pressure, the pigtail catheter is positioned in the aorta to place the second optical pressure sensor in the ascending aorta for direct measurement of pressure in the aorta, downstream of the aortic valve, enabling continuous monitoring of blood pressure at both sensor locations during TAVR. The controller may be configured to interface with standard patient monitoring systems.

Dual sensor system for continuous blood pressure monitoring during transcatheter heart valve therapies

A system comprising a multi-sensor catheter for monitoring of a cardiac hemodynamic condition, e.g. heart failure, is disclosed. The multi-sensor catheter comprises multi-lumen catheter tubing comprising first and second optical pressure sensors, and their respective optical fibers and connectors. For right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization, a flow-directed multi-sensor catheter comprises a guidewire lumen, an inflatable balloon tip, and sensor locations are configured for placement of a sensor in each of the right atrium and pulmonary artery, for measurement of central venous pressure in the right atrium and a pulmonary artery pressure. An optical fiber for oximetry may be included. The outside diameter is small enough for insertion through a vein of the arm. For monitoring of a left atrial shunt, sensors of a multi-sensor catheter are configured for measuring pressures upstream and downstream of the shunt, e.g. in the left and right atria, or left atrium and coronary sinus.

System and apparatus comprising a multi-sensor catheter for right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization

A system and apparatus comprising a multi-sensor catheter for right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization is disclosed. The multi-sensor catheter comprises multi-lumen catheter tubing into which at least three optical pressure sensors, and their respective optical fibers, are inserted. The three optical pressure sensors are arranged within a distal end portion of the catheter, spaced apart lengthwise within the distal end portion for measuring pressure concurrently at each sensor location. The sensor locations are configured for placement of at least one sensor in each of the right atrium, the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, for concurrent measurement of pressure at each sensor location. The sensor arrangement may further comprise an optical thermo-dilution sensor, and another lumen is provided for fluid injection for thermo-dilution measurements. The catheter may comprise an inflatable balloon tip and a guidewire lumen, and preferably has an outside diameter of 6 French or less.

A system () and apparatus comprising a multisensor guidewire () for use in interventional cardiology, e.g., Transcatheter Valve Therapies (TVT), comprises a plurality of optical sensors () for direct measurement of cardiovascular parameters, e.g. transvalvular blood pressure gradients and flow. A conventional outer coil wire () contains a shaped core wire () having a cross-section defining a channel surface (), e.g. grooves (), extending along its length, to position optical fibers () and optical sensors () in a channel (). Advantageously, the core wire has a diameter that provides sufficient stiffness to the guidewire for use as a support guidewire for TVT, e.g. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), while accommodating multiple sensors and fibers within a guidewire of outside diameter &#x2264;0.89 mm. An optical connector () couples the guidewire to a control system (). Optionally, the guidewire includes a contact force sensor (), a pre-formed tip (--) and a separable micro-connector ().

System and apparatus comprising a multisensor guidewire for use in interventional cardiology

An apparatus, control system and methods are disclosed for directly measuring a blood pressure gradient, i.e. by real-time pressure measurements, with particular application for in situ measurement of transvalvular blood pressure gradients for the aortic valve and other heart valves, using minimally-invasive techniques. The apparatus takes the form of a multi-sensor assembly, enclosed within a micro-catheter or a steerable guidewire, and comprises a plurality of optical pressure sensors arranged along a length of the distal end portion, for measuring pressure simultaneously at each sensor location. For example, four MOMS optical pressure sensors, and optionally, a temperature and/or flow sensor, are incorporated into a distal end portion having a diameter of 0.89 mm or less, and preferably 0.46 mm or less. Beneficially, all sensors are optically coupled, via respective optical fibers, to an optical coupler at the proximal end of the multi-sensor apparatus, without requiring electrical connections.

Apparatus, system and methods for measuring a blood pressure gradient

An apparatus (), control system () and methods are provided for directly measuring a pressure gradient, i.e. by real-time pressure measurements, with particular application for in situ measurement of transvalvular blood pressure gradients for the aortic valve and other heart valves, using minimally-invasive techniques. The apparatus takes the form of a multi-sensor assembly, e.g. enclosed within a micro-catheter or a steerable guidewire, and comprises a plurality of optical pressure sensors () is arranged along a length of the distal end portion (), for measuring pressure simultaneously at each sensor location. For example, four MOMS optical pressure sensors (), and optionally, a flow sensor (), are incorporated into a distal end portion () having a diameter of 0.89 mm or less, and preferably 0.46 mm or less. Beneficially, all sensors are optically coupled, via respective optical fibers (), to an optical coupler () at the proximal end of the multi-sensor apparatus, without requiring electrical connections.

Growing community of inventors

Toronto, Canada

Eric Caron