Wireless sensor wire system

Abstract

A sensor wire system is provided. The system includes a sensor wire body configured to be inserted into a blood vessel of a patient, the sensor wire body having a distal portion; a sensor coupled to the distal portion of the sensor wire body and configured to obtain intravascular information associated with the blood vessel; and an electronics unit coupled to the sensor wire body and configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular information to a receiver unit outside of the patient, wherein the electronics unit is further configured to vary a frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted. Associated devices and methods are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor wire system, comprising:
 a sensor wire body configured to be inserted into a blood vessel of a patient, the sensor wire body having a distal portion;   a sensor coupled to the distal portion of the sensor wire body and configured to obtain intravascular information associated with the blood vessel; and   an electronics unit coupled to the sensor wire body and configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular information to a receiver unit outside of the patient, wherein the electronics unit is further configured to vary a frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor wire body comprises a radio frequency antenna. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensor wire body is configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular information. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronics unit includes at least one of a sensor control circuit, a radio frequency circuit, or a signal amplifier circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronics unit includes:
 a sensor control circuit configured to perform at least one of processing a signal associated with the intravascular information or encoding the signal for wireless transmission;   a radio frequency circuit configured to perform at least one of wireles sly transmitting the signal at a particular frequency or varying the frequency at which the signal is wirelessly transmitted; and   a signal amplifier circuit configured to amplify the signal prior to being wirelessly transmitted.   
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronics unit is configured to vary the frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted based on a frequency of another device. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the receiver unit.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a computer system in communication with the receiver unit.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the computer system is in communication with at least one of:
 a display device configured to display a visual representation of the intravascular information;   a storage medium configured to store the intravascular information; or   a printer configured to generate a printout of the intravascular information.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, or an imaging device. 
     
     
         11 . A method of sensing intravascular information, comprising:
 obtaining intravascular information associated a blood vessel of a patient using a sensor wire system, the sensor wire system including:
 a sensor wire body positioned within the blood vessel and having a distal portion; 
 a sensor coupled to the distal portion of the senor wire body; and 
 an electronics unit coupled to the sensor wire body and configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular information; and 
   wirelessly transmitting the intravascular information, using the electronics unit, to a receiver unit outside of the patient; and   varying, using the electronics unit, a frequency at which the intravascular information is wireles sly transmitted.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the sensor wire body comprises a radio frequency antenna. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein wirelessly transmitting the intravascular information includes wirelessly transmitting the intravascular information using the sensor wire body. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the electronics unit includes at least one of a sensor control circuit, a radio frequency circuit, or a signal amplifier circuit. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising at least one of:
 processing a signal associated with the intravascular information data using the sensor control circuit;   encoding the signal for wireless transmission, using the sensor control circuit;   wireles sly transmitting the signal at a particular frequency, using the radio frequency circuit;   varying the frequency at which the signal is wirelessly transmitted, using the radio frequency circuit; or   amplifying the signal prior to being wireles sly transmitted, using the signal amplifier circuit.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving the intravascular information at the receiver unit.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving the intravascular information at a computer system in communication with the receiver unit.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising at least one of:
 displaying a visual representation of the intravascular information using a display device in communication with the computer system;   storing the intravascular information on a storage medium in communication with the computer system; or   generating a printout of the intravascular information using a printer in communication with the computer system.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, or an imaging device. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the varying a frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted is based on a frequency of another device such that the sensor wire system and the another device operate without interference.