Patent ID: 8567265
Filing Date: 2013-10-29
Classification: A61B,A61M,G01L

Abstract:
1. A catheter for exploration or treatment of a vessel or organ, said catheter comprising: a flexible elongated body having a proximal end and a distal extremity; and a fiber optic force sensing assembly disposed within said flexible elongated body proximate said distal extremity, said fiber optic force sensing assembly including: a structural member having an outer surface and defining a longitudinal axis, said structural member including a plurality of segments that are adjacent each other in a serial arrangement along said longitudinal axis to define a plurality of gaps, each of said plurality of gaps being located between adjacent ones of said plurality of segments, a plurality of flexures dispersed between said plurality of segments so that said adjacent ones of said plurality of segments are bridged by one of said plurality of flexures, each of said flexures defining a portion of said outer surface of said structural member; and a plurality of fiber optics operatively coupled with said structural member.