Patent ID: 7532920
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus configured for being introduced into a patient's anatomy comprising: a therapeutic hollow guidewire having a high strength proximal core section, a flexible distal core section, a lumen extending within the proximal and distal core sections, and a distal end comprising a distal tip coil bonded to the distal core section and an atraumatic distal tip member bonded to a distal end of the coil; and at least one optical fiber slideably disposed within the lumen of the therapeutic guidewire, having a distal tip which is slidably positionable within the atraumatic distal tip member and which has an optically exposed configuration in which the optical fiber distal tip is in optical contact with the patient's anatomy outside the guidewire from within the distal tip member such that the optical fiber distal tip is configured for light transmission and/or reception so that the optical fiber is configured to sense and transmit diagnostic information from at least one of before, during, and after a therapeutic treatment.