Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor (23) adapted for a sensor and guide wire assembly for intravascular measurements in a living body, wherein the sensor (23) comprises a pressure sensitive part (24) and an electronic part (25), said pressure sensitive part (24) comprising a first chip (26) provided with at least one pressure sensitive device (27) and at least one piezoelectric element (35), and said electronic part (25) comprising a second chip (28) provided with at least one electric circuit, and wherein said pressure sensitive part (24) and electronic part (25) are spatially separated from each other and are electrically connected with at least one electrical lead (29).

Abstract: A sensor and insertion assembly 2 is used for intravascular measurement of pressure in a living body. The assembly includes, a sensor chip 6 having a substrate body 8 with a recess covered by a pressure sensitive film 10 thereby forming a cavity 12. A piezoelectric element, preferably in the form of a piezoelectric film 14, is arranged in connection with the pressure sensitive film, and energy is applied to the piezoelectric element such that acoustic waves are generated in the element. The piezoelectric element is arranged to generate an output signal, representing the pressure at the film, in dependence on the measured properties of the acoustic waves related to the deflection of the pressure sensitive film.

Abstract: The invention provides a femoral compression device (11; 21) for compressing a femoral artery of a patient. The femoral compression device (11; 21) comprises a pressurizing means (12; 22), a compression plate (13; 23) for compressive bearing against a puncture site, a base portion (14; 24) provided with two opposing extensions (15, 16; 25, 26), to the ends of which a belt, which is adapted to be arranged around the patient's body, can be fixed. According to the invention, the pressurizing means is in the form of a spring (12; 22), such as a coil spring (12; 22), the first end of which is connected to the compression plate (13; 23) and the second end of which is operatively connected to a handle (19; 29), which can be operated to adjusting the compression of the spring (12; 22).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for reducing leakage current in a guide wire assembly having conductor members (707, 708) arranged at a connector end of the guide wire (702) to provide electrical contact with electrical leads (705, 706) of the guide wire and to provide signals transferred via the electrical leads to an external device, said conductor members being separated by at least one insulator (709). An idea of the present invention is to minimize leakage current via the at least one insulator. When a physician places the guide wire into an appropriate location in the body, a male connector (100) of the guide wire may be contaminated by, for example, dirt, fat, moisture, etc., which is attached to the physician's fingers and deposited onto the male connector. An electrode (710) mounted at the female connector is used to apply a guard potential (Ud) to the insulator (709) to reduce potential difference and thereby reduce current leakage between members (707, 708).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor assembly arranged to be disposed in a body for measuring a physiological variable. A basic idea of the present invention is to provide a sensor and guide wire assembly which communicates with an external unit by an inductive coupling between a first coil provided in the sensor assembly and a second, external coil which is disposed in or connected to the external unit. The external unit is preferably the same unit that is used to numerically or graphically display the physiological variables that are measured with the sensor and guide wire assembly. With the terminology introduced above, it should here be clear that both the signal transfer from the sensor as well as the energy feeding from the external unit to the sensor may be accomplished through the inductive coupling between the first and second coils.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to sealing punctures in blood vessels (such as following an angio or PTCA procedure) are disclosed. The invention provides a system to sense the location of a distal portion of a member within a body. The system includes an introducer portion having a distal end adapted to be placed within a body and a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the distal end and is adapted to provide a pulsation which can be sensed by an operator when the distal end is placed within a pulsating portion of the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor (23) adapted for a sensor and guide wire assembly for intravascular measurements in a living body, wherein the sensor (23) comprises a pressure sensitive part (24) and an electronic part (25), said pressure sensitive part (24) comprising a first chip (26) provided with at least one pressure sensitive device (27) and at least one piezoelectric element (35), and the electronic part (25) comprising a second chip (28) provided with at least one electric circuit, and wherein the pressure sensitive part (24) and electronic part (25) are spatially separated from each other and are electrically connected with at least one electrical lead (29).

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor and guide wire assembly (20) for intravascular measurements of physiological variables in a living body, comprising a core wire (21) and a sensor element (22). The sensor and guide wire assembly (20) comprises further a jacket (25; 35; 45) provided with a first opening (26; 36; 46), in which at least a portion of the sensor element (22) is arranged, and a second opening (27; 37; 47), in which a portion of the core wire (21) is arranged, the first opening (26; 36; 46) and the second opening (27; 37; 47) being separated from each other.

Abstract: A femoral compression device includes a pressure applying device for compressive bearing at a puncture site at a femoral artery of a patient and for applying pressure on the puncture site, a belt adapted to be fixed around the patient's body, and a base plate provided with first and second extensions, with the end of the first extension being closer to the pressure applying device than the end of the second extension and being provided with a fastener in the ends thereof for fastening of an end of the belt. The compression device also includes a support plate, which is attached to the second extension and which is adapted to bear against the patient's body, thereby compensating for the imbalance, which originates from the different extents of the two extensions, that otherwise would be present.

Abstract: Pressure measurement device (2) including a pressure sensor (6) adapted to perform pressure measurements in the left ventricle of a heart (8). The sensor is connected to a measurement unit (10) to receive pressure measurement values obtained from the sensor, and to a processing means (12) for determining a set of pressure values, said processing means then determines a set of first order time derivative values determined from the set of pressure values.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for replacing a first introducer, whose distal end is inside a vessel and whose proximal end is outside the skin of a patient, with a second introducer. The method comprises the steps of inserting a guide rod into the first introducer, removing the first introducer, passing the second introducer over the guide rod, and removing the guide rod. The guide rod to be used according to the method has preferably a flexible distal portion with a blunt distal end and a stiff proximal portion with a tapered proximal end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a grid (10) adapted to be arranged on a patient's skin to provide positioning information in CT-guided percutaneous operations. In one embodiment, the grid (10) comprises a flat and generally rectangular frame having two long sides (11a, 11b) and two short sides (12a, 12b), with a number of transverse ribs (13, 14) being provided between the two long sides (11a, 11b). According to the invention, at least some of the transverse ribs (13, 14) are elastic. By using his/her fingers, a doctor can thereby separate two neighbouring ribs (13, 14) such that an opening is provided in the grid (10). Through this opening access is obtained to the skin area under the grid (10), or the grid (10) can be threaded over and removed from a medical instrument which, between two adjacent ribs (13, 14), is inserted into the patient's body.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to sealing punctures in blood vessels (such as following an angio or PTCA procedure) are disclosed. The position of a distal end of an introducer assembly in tissue is determined using a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is connected to the proximal end of the introducer assembly. The introducer assembly has a fluid path between its distal end and its proximal end. Measured blood pressure is outputted as an indication of the position of the distal end of the introducer assembly in the tissue. Proper positioning of a seal is confirmed by placing the introducer assembly such that its distal end is in tissue outside a puncture in a blood vessel wall and observing a characteristic of blood at the proximal end of the introducer assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems related to sealing punctures in blood vessels (such as following an angio or PTCA procedure) are disclosed. The position of a distal end of an introducer assembly in tissue is determined using a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is connected to the proximal end of the introducer assembly. The introducer assembly has a fluid path between its distal end and its proximal end. Measured blood pressure is outputted as an indication of the position of the distal end of the introducer assembly in the tissue. Proper positioning of a seal is confirmed by placing the introducer assembly such that its distal end is in tissue outside a puncture in a blood vessel wall and observing a characteristic of blood at the proximal end of the introducer assembly.

Abstract: A sensor and guide wire assembly (21) for intravascular measurements of physiological variables in a living body includes a core wire (22; 32) and a sensor element (23; 33). The sensor element (23; 33) includes basically a mounting portion (12; 34), which is mounted to the core wire (22; 32), and a pressure sensitive end portion (25; 35) whose upper side is provided with a pressure sensitive device, such as a membrane (26; 36). A recess (27; 37), which is provided between the mounting portion (24; 34) and the pressure sensitive portion (25; 35), provides the sensor element (23; 33) with an articulated action when the core wire (22; 32) is bent.

Abstract: Expandable stent for insertion into a body passage having a mesh structure of interconnecting portions (6) joined together by joining portions (5). The stent, when inserted into said body passage, is adapted to dissolve into smaller parts, wherein the joining portions dissolve faster than the interconnecting portions. In a preferred embodiment the joining portions are made from a first material and the interconnecting portions are made from a second material different from said first material, wherein the first material dissolves faster than said second material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to A device for measurements, insertable into a living body, comprising an elongated flexible member (2, 30) with a proximal end and a distal end and a central lumen with an inner wall. The lumen is filled with a core (22) and an insulating material (21) is provided between the core and the inner wall; the core (22) is made of an electrically conductive material and has an essentially constant diameter over its entire length. An electrical sensor (44) is attached to the distal end of the elongated flexible member and is electrically connected (52) to the core (22).

Abstract: A sensor and guide wire assembly (21; 31; 41) for intravascular measurements of physiological variables in a living body includes a core wire (22; 32; 42) and sensor element (23; 33; 43). The sensor element (23; 33; 43) includes basically a mounting base (24; 34; 44) and a pressure sensitive end portion (25; 35; 45) whose upper side is provided with a pressure sensitive device, such as a membrane (26; 36; 46). The mounting base (24; 34; 44) extends downwards from the end opposite to the pressure sensitive end (25; 35; 45), such that, when the sensor element (23; 33; 43) is mounted on the core wire (22; 32; 42), a clearance (27; 37; 47) is formed below the pressure sensitive end (25; 35; 45).

Abstract: The invention provides a closure device (1) for sealing an incision channel leading through a vessel wall and into the vessel. The closure device (1) comprises a haemostatic material (3), which is contained in the distal end of an elongated insertion assembly (2). The insertion assembly (2), which comprises a stationary part (4) and a retractable part (5) being slidably movable with regard to each other, is adapted to be attached to an introducer (7) being in position in the incision channel, so that the insertion assembly (2) can be slid along the introducer (7) until the distal end of the insertion assembly (2) is in contact with the vessel wall, where the haemostatic material (3) is delivered in the incision channel by a retracting movement of the retractable part (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring pressure, temperature and/or flow velocity. It includes a sensor (6) with a sensor support body (13) provided with a diaphragm (15) covering a cavity (14) formed in the support body (13). A pressure sensitive element (41) is mounted on the diaphragm, for recording pressure. Furthermore, a temperature sensitive resistor (42) is mounted in the vicinity of the pressure sensitive resistor and has a known temperature dependence, for recording temperature. It also includes an electrical circuit (43, 44, 45, 46) selectively outputting signals from either of the pressure sensitive element and the temperature sensitive resistor.