Patent ID: 8419648

Claim:
A pressure sensor apparatus, comprising: a long proximal hypotube having an outside diameter of 0.018″ or less, a flexible floppy tip extending distal of the long proximal hypotube, the flexible floppy tip comprising: a first flexible element, disposed near a distal portion of the long proximal hypotube, with an outer diameter of 0.018″ or less and an increased flexibility relative to the long proximal hypotube; a short hypotube sensor housing disposed near a distal extremity of the first flexible element, the sensor housing having: a cylindrical external wall having an outer diameter of 0.018″ or less, a length between 1 mm and 5 mm, a lumen, and a cutout in the cylindrical external wall; a second flexible element, disposed near a distal extremity of the short hypotube sensor housing, with an outer diameter of 0.018″ or less and an increased flexibility relative to the long proximal hypotube; and a solid state pressure sensor mounted within the short hypotube sensor housing, such that: a pressure sensitive region located at or near one end of the solid state pressure sensor projects into the lumen of the short hypotube sensor housing without contacting the cylindrical external wall of the sensor housing; and the pressure sensitive region is exposed to ambient by the cutout in the cylindrical external wall of the sensor housing, wherein the pressure sensitive region includes a diaphragm structure, a base plate, and at least one resistive element responsive to changes in pressure; and three electrical conductors extending from a proximal portion of the long proximal hypotube to the solid state pressure sensor, the three electrical conductors coupled to the solid state pressure sensor such that the coupled portions of the three electrical conductors and the solid state pressure sensor are positioned within the short hypotube sensor housing.